Week 359 ( 9th to 15th July 2010 )
Feeding frenzies
Early in the week, both Cathay and TigerWoods were hanging around at the fence waiting for their dinner. I picked up two Springbuck legs and they both bounced around salivating. When that didn’t make me hurry it up they raced back and forth along the fence and then held a wrestling match during which Cathay threw TW to the ground and stood on his belly. He nibbled on her feet and she was persuaded to get off. They both then stood at the fence panting, watching me get the legs ready for airmail. I threw one Springbuck leg over the fence and whilst I readied the second leg they fought over the first. Each had an end and they were pulling in opposite directions with all their might. Because their leg is only so big and they had stuffed as much of the leg into their mouths as possible, they were tussling nose-to-nose and snorting into each other’s faces. Cathay was the victor and as TW looked around in dismay his landed in front of his feet, much to his delight.
Two days later they were due to receive the rest of the springbuck and they both hastened into the annex in anticipation. Cathay paced sporadically in front of the gate and TW, who couldn’t resist a chance to show off, rolled around on his back as soon as he saw a camera. They both watched in dismay and disbelief as we drove off without offloading the meat that they knew we had on the back of the truck. Later when we returned Cathay had moved to a tree some distance away and TigerWoods was still lying in the annex. Cathay ran closer and together they raced into the Quarantine Camp. They watched as two carcasses were carried in but as soon as the gate was opened they both made a B-line for the same one. This time TW gave up without much of a fight and looked around in search of the other. Cathay dragged hers off some distance and began plucking. TigerWoods on the other hand did not care to waste time on such trivialities and immediately began eating.
The same day feeding time arrived at the Ravine Camp and King Henry and Princess lost no time in making their way over to the gate and sat around fretting at the time we were taking in dragging the carcass in. Once we had done so King Henry was first into the front section with a small hesitation as he looked around trying to locate the carcass. Princess hung back for a bit until our volunteers had moved off. King Henry bounced around the carcass clawing its rump vigorously and then sat down to clean it. Princess then raced in and after clamping her teeth around a hind leg dragged it away from her brother and also bounced around a bit before she too got to licking it clean. King Henry then pottered over to the gate to watch avidly as we dragged the Boy’s dinner into the camp next door. He sat around for a while watching Hulooo and his brothers sort out their feeding order and then suddenly realised that Princess had left their carcass. He then raced to it and took over where Princess had left off.