The importance of sunset. Heading home along the highway we hitched a ride, then right where we were walking the previous night came across three elephants and a few kilometers later a massive herd of buffalo (both of which is on the list of the Big Five dangerous animals in Africa). Because I am now walking home from the gym alone and the sun sets in like five minutes here. I try and make every effort to leave before dusk. Also someone in the neighboring village was attacked by a leopard yesterday. It is just UNREAL the amount of animals here and how the people just live among them. There are so many warthogs roaming the streets. Mostly eating garbage (as trash cans are not common practice). When we first got here we started naming them pumba, pumba 2, pumba 3, pumba 4, 5, 6, 7, 8… and then I eventually lost count/ don’t even bother anymore because they are EVERYWHERE. A similar situation to Kingston squirrels, perhaps even less dangerous.
The implications of the wildlife on the people’s lives is so significant and actually quite relevant to the work we are doing. The tribal lands and plots allocated to the people are sandwiched. One side is the river, the other forest reserve and another Chobe National Park. There are no fences or boundaries for the animals, they are allowed to roam free. And while African elephants are on the endangered species list, there are approximately 150 thousand in the country.
When you plow the animals will come and destroy the crops further elevating poverty levels to which the government does not subsidize these losses. And yet is extremely illegal to kill an elephant. Even if one person can afford a fence, if their neighbor cannot the fields remain open. There is no defense. Being here now I feel crazy forever considering bears a threat back home.
And then there is Africa’s most deadly animal, the mosquito. As a protection method I am taking doxycycline with the lovely added side effect of increased sun sensitivity (which is just wonderful being as I have not seen a single cloud since being here). On the plus side it is also supposed to help with acne.. which given the access to normal hygiene measures would be nice if that side effect could kick in sometime soon.
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