Best Lab Equipment

Here are some more information for Binocular Double Arm:

An Encounter With a Fighter Buffalo

Nakuru national park is one of the few black rhino sanctuaries that are under surveillance twenty four hours a day. All the rhinos in the park must be observed and their exact locations be documented every three hours. It is an exercise that involves close monitoring and allocation of resources. The staff on duty must have a standby vehicle and pairs or powerful binoculars for observing animals that appear in a distance. Kenya Wildlife Services attaches great importance to saving the rhino and therefore the department is well equipped to face the challenges.

Sometime early this year, my colleague Martin was working in the park during his internship. He observed that Henry, one of the mature male rhinos had overstayed in a swamp. Due to their massive weight, rhinos often get stuck in the mud. Whenever that happens, it is the responsibility of the surveillance team to quickly organize for rescue operations. Martin was the advance team that was sent to ascertain whether the rhino was in trouble and what kind of equipment would be required to assist it out of the mud.

The swamp is about eight kilometres from the main gate. The advance team comprised of a senior warden who was also the team leader, two armed warders, three interns- all university undergraduates studying tourism from various institutions. They drove a Toyota double cab four wheel drive. Martin and Jane both interns and a warder Mr. Maritim rode at the open rear. When doing this kind of work, the KWS staff do not follow the marked roads and it is usually a bumpy ride. Mr Maritim was uncomfortable with his rifle behind the pick up. He handed it over to his colleague who was seated behind the driver to hold it for him.

It did not take long before they were at the bank of the swamp. Everyone was relieved to see the massive weight of Henry was actually moving meaning it was not trapped. They almost failed to notice the bufallo that had been lying at one edge of the swamp stand. It straightened its head up looking directly at the intruders. It then started charging. It looked like just a walk towards the them. But within minutes the animal had attained its full speed charging dangerously towards the vehicle.

Maritim realised he had to act fast. His rifle was in the front cabin. He gestured at his colleague to give him the rifle and leaned forward to receive it. In the meantime Jane, who had never before seen a charging wild animal was becoming hysterical. She repeatedly called for Jesus. Martin Knew the danger of drawing any animal's attention to yourself especially by making noise. He held the roof reinforcement bar with both his hands, pushed Jane on the vehicle floor and held on tight. A fast glance at the charging animal confirmed his worst fears. The buffalo had lost one of its horns meaning it was a fighter buffalo. It was less that five metres away now and everything was happening too fast.

Like a fighting goat, the buffalo hit the side of the pick up with its full force. The pick up jerked up throwing Maritim out on the opposite side from the beast. Martin and Jane barely held on. Maritim, an experienced warder knew the danger of being exposed to an incessed fighter bufallo. He quickly climbed back up onto the pick up. But as he prepared to jump into the vehicle, the buffalo was behind him. Breathing vaciously, the beast reached for Maritim with its foaming mouth. It bit the back of his jungle jacket and tried to pull him off the pick up. Luckily for him, his colleague who was inside the pickup shot in the air. The sound of the riffle scared the animal and it ran away. Not far though, but at a nearby thicket where it buried its head waiting for another opportunity to show its fighting prowess.

The experience left all in the vehicle badly shaken, though they all escaped without any injuries. Once the territorial males are pushed out of the herd by riffle bulls, buffalos become very stressed. They can be seen breaking tree branches and daring anyone and anything to fights. Indeed the bufallo is the most dreaded of all animals to encounter in parks, more so if its rogue and solitary. KWS reminds all visitors to remain in the vehicles whenever they are visiting the parks because the animals are wild and can be dangerous.

About the Author

James G. Kamweru is a tour operator and has been organizing and reporting on Vacation, Travel and Tours for years. For More Information Visit his site at Kenya

Rumblings and Grumblings: Hanley Ramirez needs to wake up … beginning right now
Extremely talented Marlins shortstop needs to grow up and stop being so 'immature'

Thanks for visiting!