The One Horned Gemsbok!

Delia · July 30, 2008, 12:59:54 PM

Thanks for the LOL Bertie - i can just picture it

Lance Olivier · July 30, 2008, 07:29:54 PM

Dee the story I recall was that the gemmie charged the Land Rover from the passenger's side, the horn penetrated the door and almost reached Dad, don't know whereabouts on the front seat he was sitting. Luckily there was no passenger. Bertie I also seem to recall a gemmie in the 70's with one of his horns which had grown sideways from his head as opposed to upwards. Can't remember his nickname, but I think he was given an Afrikaans nickname. Sandy we have a huge date palm tree in our garden which is home to many birds; starlings obviously, rock pigeons, ring neck doves, wagtails sometimes, cape weavers, etc. I agree it is lovely to hear and have them in your life, don't talk to them though, but I do give the juveniles a bollicking for not flying when I see them on the ground and maybe becoming cat or dog food. Our daughter and I actually sat and watched a weaver for about two hours one Sunday building his nest, stripping leaves from bulrushes growing in our garden. Educational for the kids as far as I'm concerned.

SandyB · July 30, 2008, 09:12:21 PM

For me the laugh is the way they do the job of cleaning up a bit of scale etc .. meat ?/ and then rush and grab some airplant .. and off they go happy in the fact that they apid for their bit of nesting material .. with winter its quiet .. when th sun comes out and we get a warm day .. the starlings are busy eating the schlefera berries ( i must take pics ) .. but summer comes again soon and then they will be back in force making thier lovely sounds and appreciating what we have given them ..

Bertie Horak · July 31, 2008, 04:08:37 AM

@ Lance - Yes, we're talking about the same one. I think he was called "Ou kromhoring" or something to that effect. He was quite tame, and one of the older gemsbok gracing our parks.

Delia · July 31, 2008, 06:15:03 AM

Boet - at least i know now it's not my fertile imagination running wild or me going senile............i have these hazy patches of memory from my childhood and sometimes wonder if they really did happen. reassuring to know i haven't quite left for la la land yet.............happy chappy

Lance Olivier · July 31, 2008, 06:33:52 PM

Bertie the name seems to ring a bell. As a lightey walking down the 7th Avenue alley (it was a long alley as I recall) at night, friends of mine and I encountered a gemsbok in the alley. Tell you what, we turned and ran hell for leather in the opposite direction obviously, contemplating jumping fences into gardens if he decided to chase us. Luckily he was a cool chap and most probably thought that his spot hadn't been threatened too much by our interference.

Bertie Horak · August 01, 2008, 02:50:40 AM

@ Lance - Talking about the alley - yes that one was a long one, totally different from the other alleys, with a lot of plants and trees hanging over the fences. We used to chase down it with our bicycles. If I remember correctly, there was a lemon tree which had nice thick-skinned lemons which we used to pick - they were delicious!