Superhero's? We're working on it!

Some of you might be wondering what ever happened to our baby Waterbuck and Jackal?

Here are the full stories – unfortunately both sad ones….

Baby Jackal

This little munchkin was found on the reserve during a game drive, covered in mud from head to toe! He was brought in to the office where Armand gave him a thorough inspection and noticed his back leg was broken and he had internal bleeding. We took him back to Hunters (our staff house) and put him in the bath for a clean! 

Armand "bathing" the little Jackal

We then tried to make a cosy little corner for him to spend the night in the bathroom away from inquisitive Askari! (our teenager ridgeback)

Comfy on my bath mat!

The next day I took him to the Vet in Bela-Bela where he was put onto a drip and had some X-rays done. It was not looking good! He was still not eating and he could not hold himself up on his unbroken back leg. After 3 days of drips and monitoring the vet phoned to say that they would have to euthanize the little guy because he had severe nerve damage and he would never be able to use his back legs! 

On the road - the trip to the Vet

We tried our best but unfortunately this time to no avail! :(

Baby Waterbuck

One day at Hippo dam Armand heard crying, like a lamb bleating. He followed the noise and found a male baby Waterbuck lying on his tummy. He saw that the waterbuck could not walk properly so he picked it up – as he does with any animal he finds – put it on his lap and drove it back to Hunters. By the time I got there he was neatly placed in Askari’s hok. The poor little thing was covered in ticks and battling to walk.

Armand holding baby

We think that his front knees were double jointed because he managed to stand and take one or two steps but then his knees would wobble and give way and he would flop down.

Our neighbours have a tiny rehabilitation center so we decided we would take him there because we would not be able to look after a baby that was still suckling!

Look at his little horns starting to grow!

The 3 of us pile into Armand’s car – Armand driving, me in the passenger seat and baby on our laps…. Not a good idea…. After about 5 minutes of driving, baby decides he wants out! With that he leapt forward and into the windscreen of the car – smash – a huge crack in Armand’s windscreen and a dizzy waterbuck with wobbly knees – not a good combination! We decided it would be best if I drive and Armand holds the baby on the back of the bakkie! Eventually we get to where we going!

We fed him some milk, placed him in his new little hok, said our goodbyes.

Feeding time!

After about 2 weeks we got a call to say that he didn’t make it! :( We are still not too sure why but he would never have been able to be released with wobbly legs anyway so maybe it was better for him. Mother Nature has a strange way.

Hopefully we have better luck next time! Regardless, we will keep trying!!!