Selomie claimed that it was not I that heard the shots, she did. Check the date I wrote this post. Selomie was at the premier of a movie she “stars” in, in Cape Town. Bloody good hearing this woman has.
Early Saturday morning, Jan and I are on the spoor of our Rhino, we are making sure they are alive and well plus checking for foreign spoor, poachers spoor. Suddenly both Jan and I pull up short. We both heard a sound that no anti-poaching guy wishes to hear. The only worse sound would be a zip/buzz thump and then the bang. The shot sounded like it came from about a kilometre in the opposite direction from the path we were walking. Shit, shit. What to do? We are reasonably sure the Rhino are in front of us, but not 100% sure, do we back track and find the source of the gunshot or hasten to where we think our Rhino are? I decide to go find out about the shot. The terrain is thick bush, gullies and rocks so it takes time to get to the point where we believe the sound originated. We have cell phone comms and I call Neil to see if he fired a weapon as the shot came from the direction of the farmhouse, or so we believed. Neil is on his way to town, he calls his foreman, Lucas, and gets all the workers mobilised to find the Rhino. Brave lot these little Pedis, they dash off into the bush unarmed, not even a panga or knopkerrie. Meanwhile Jan and I reach the area we think the sound came from. Nothing. Then two more bangs! This time it sounds like from behind the farmhouse. I scan the hill, nothing. Jan and I decided to go back to the place we last saw the Rhino tracks. Again about a kilometre or so, on the way we pick up two of the farm workers, we set routes and split up. Half a kilometre later we find Lucas and the signs of where our Rhino slept last night. Finally the two workers find our Rhino, all safe, just stressed out about all the noise the workers have been making. Neil and I have had some cell phone comms and he is already back at the farm.
Because of the hills and the wind, Jan and I heard the sound echo and were in the wrong place, Lucas, closer to the sounds pin pointed it correctly but could not tell Jan and I in time as we were in a dead zone, no cell reception for some time. The farm behind us is not a game farm, perhaps they shot some pigs….
Point of this story? Any one that has worked with me in the bush before will verify that I am quite capable of doing this job, BUT, I am severely handicapped in my efficiency by lack of equipment and manpower. This was made glaringly apparent today.
I am adding these links as a response to the attacks on my character and threat made on my life.
Other people’s information on the goings on at Palala
Tags: Africa, Anger, Mexican Horse Thief, money, Palala, Rhino horn, Rhino poaching, Selomie Maritz, Soldiers, South Africa, War, Wayne Bisset
December 10, 2011 at 2:16 pm |
Proud to have Wayne as my friend. You have done a brilliant job at creating the awareness of Rhino poaching. I hope we can all help to put an end to it as soon as possible!
December 11, 2011 at 4:34 pm |
Very nice and kind words Noelene. Thank you. I am privilaged to have you call me “friend.”
December 10, 2011 at 6:04 pm |
Huge thanks to Wayne, Jan, Niel and all the staff for being there to protect the animals. Thank God everyone is safe. Hopefully in the light of day the tracks of the shooter can be followed right to their door. Anyone nearby have a bloodhound to help these guys? You and the amazing work you do are truly appreciated. Stay safe!
December 10, 2011 at 6:37 pm |
Hi Jan.
The shooter was the neighbor, killing some pigs. I shall ask him to let me know beforehand when he shoots again.
December 11, 2011 at 4:33 pm |
You will see a chap called Anton on the SAVE OUR RHINO page, he is what we called a “Doggie” in my army days. We are talking.
December 10, 2011 at 8:50 pm |
I was in the Imfolozi GR last week with conservationist Paul Dutton and we thought it might be good if some company like GARMIN could develop a system to detect noise over a grid of solar charged satnav units to pinpoint any activity in GR areas
December 11, 2011 at 4:31 pm |
Interesting concept, I am not a very technical person, but I like the idea.
December 10, 2011 at 10:59 pm |
better be safe than sorry Great job
December 11, 2011 at 4:31 pm |
Yip. Check everything, twice.
December 11, 2011 at 3:34 pm |
Much respect to you all that put in everything you’ve got to make a difference, you have a very frustrating and challenging task. Thank you so much for the life of every rhino that you save <3
December 11, 2011 at 4:30 pm |
Hi. It is a bit, but I will get the things I need sooner or later.
December 12, 2011 at 4:20 am |
You doing a fantastic job Wayne with making do what you do have at the moment, hope you get all what you need very soon. You are doing your utmost best trying to stop all the poaching & need this equipment as it is a necessity. I’m so very glad the Rhino was safe. I’m very proud to have you as a friend on my list, you are a top man. We all are hoping all this poaching does come to an end. Keep up the good work.
December 16, 2011 at 7:01 pm |
Hi. Thank you for your kind words. My Rhino are all still alive and well 16 Dec.