Dead Gemsboks for Dinner!

Michael Alexander · January 17, 2011, 07:46:54 AM

The mind boggles, I believe that people are being allowed to cart of bloated gemsbok carcasses from the beach to consume..... These are the poor fella's that have been caught up in the flood.....

Wonder which smart

approved this .....

Tryge has only just retired and things are being done differently......

Michael Alexander · January 17, 2011, 09:18:53 AM

Thanks to Jacques Kemp for the snaps...

Bob Molloy · January 17, 2011, 10:00:58 PM

What happened to the natural disposal system - the strandwolve, jackals and gulls? I can recall a time when a gemmie or a bok went down it was consumed that same night, with any pickings going to the gulls next day. The bulk went to the strandwolve who would totter off around midnight totally sated, allowing the jackals to come in and feast until sun up, then it was the turn of the birds.
Is it possible that beach mining interrupted the natural nocturnal patterns of the predators?

Michael Alexander · January 18, 2011, 04:38:17 AM

Stennie, was just commenting how he spotted a Strandwolf outside his place last week..... seem's that they are more apt to wandering the streets these days.....

Bob Molloy · January 18, 2011, 10:03:00 PM

The hyena is the only animal I was ever poep-scared of during my stay in Omund. Though very cowardly it has a nasty habit of using pack attack in which they ring around an animal and nip in for quick bites. Their jaws are so powerful they can bite through bone with ease. At camp sites they go for any exposed part of the person, usually the face poking out of a sleeping bag. After dark is their preferred feeding period but in times of hunger they will attack at any hour of the day if they see an opportunity.
I once had a call-out for a night time power failure at Mittag. After isolating the fault and repairing it I waited at the substation to be picked up, got impatient and started to walk along the sand road in the direction from which I expected the vehicle to come. Within minutes I realised I was being followed and caught a reflection of hyena eyes in the torchlight. I quickly found a power pole that I could get my back against and held them off by sweeping the flashlight around. Or so I thought. Years later I was told by the chief ranger at the Skeleton Coast Park that they were only waiting for me to get tired enough and then they'd rush me.
Fortunately - very fortunately as the bloody torch battery was failing - I saw headlights and signalled the vehicle to stop. My lift thought my story was hilarious and said "everybody knew" hyenas were too cowardly to attack people. I offered to swop the torch for the vehicle and come back in half an hour for him so that he could test his theory but, unlike the hyenas, he didn't bite.
If the buggers have now appeared in Oranjemund it means the kids are at risk. Time to do some culling.

Mike Stenson (RIP) · January 19, 2011, 02:33:03 AM

A pic of a small Standwolf seen in town recently, don't let the back ground/scaling deceive you this guy is much bigger than he appears to be in the picture.

Bertie Horak · January 19, 2011, 05:09:28 AM

Well these strandwolwe were the animals I was most scared of when I grew up in Oranjemund.
Nice pics, thanks Stennie!

Michael Alexander · January 19, 2011, 06:44:26 AM

Wonder where the big one is?

Alfred Boehme · January 19, 2011, 03:02:17 PM

In the long alley behind your house LOL

Bob Molloy · January 19, 2011, 09:31:03 PM

Michael,
These are the most dangerous animals in Africa. They have no place anywhere near human habitation. Children most definitely are at risk. Late night drunks and anyone walking alone are also targets.
I can't stress this too strongly. Respectfully suggest you get onto the powers that be for some action here. Either poisoning, trapping or shooting - whatever it takes, but get them out and keep them out of the township.

Bertie Horak · January 20, 2011, 05:29:54 AM

Yes, I'm very scared of them as well. But like you say- they are dangerous when hunting in packs. I have never heard of any "packs" in the desert. As far as I know, these "strandwolwe" are usually loners, scavenging for food usually close to the beaches. Does anybody know of ANY attacks in the past in any coastal area of Namibia?
Oh, and Bob - don't like your poisoning idea at all. How will you make sure you will only kill the strandwolf without killing dozens of innocent silver back jackals, bak-oor jakkalsies, meerkats, etc. etc... and the neighbor's dog?

SandyB · January 20, 2011, 08:33:57 AM

Quote from: Bertie Horak on January 20, 2011, 05:29:54 AM
Oh, and Bob - don't like your poisoning idea at all. How will you make sure you will only kill the strandwolf without killing dozens of innocent silver back jackals, bak-oor jakkalsies, meerkats, etc. etc... and the neighbor's dog?

Agreed Bertie --

Carl Zeelie · January 20, 2011, 11:37:58 AM

One night shift as production foreman at No 1 Plant I decided to give the guy on the tailings dump a scare....but he would see me coming in my bakkie, so I decided to climb the dump from the disposal side and I arranged with hugo vd Merwe to fetch me in 30 minutes. Arriving at the top...dead tired, I crawled to the shelter the guy built for himself growled like strandwolf and scrathed at the asbestos. The guy jumped out with a pick handle in his hand and nearly beat me....I dont know who got the biggest fright!!! Luckily for me Hugo just arrived and intervened...the story goes on...but that was one of my experiences with strandwolves!

Michael Alexander · January 20, 2011, 11:51:17 AM

How high was that dump at the stage you climbed it?

Carl Zeelie · January 20, 2011, 12:04:23 PM

Dont know exactly, but Ronnie Potgieter just to run against the tailings with a tyre tied to his middle. About the size of 4 plat "current dump" Was quite an effort I tell you!