AN AGENT ABROAD: ZIMBABWE GAME CAPTURE AND WILDLIFE CARE


During a recent trip to Zimbabwe, Travel Counsellor PAULA EMMENEGGER had the opportunity to attend a course that offers those with an interest in wildlife and animal welfare an opportunity to learn more about veterinary care for wildlife and game capture...


UR small group of 12, some vet students, actually took part in two real game-capture events, one the capture of a family group of zebra and the other, the capture of a dozen impala. It was an absolutely amazing experience that I will never forget. Game capture is not for the faint- hearted, and because there are so many things that can go wrong on a game capture, it is vital that every participant knows what to do and when. A game capture event can be a very traumatic situation for the animals, but can also lead to injury of any of those involved in the event. It is important to remember that you are dealing with live animals, that can be unpredictable when cornered, and it is vital to follow all instructions given by the game capture team to minimise the risk of injury to the participants or the wildlife.


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The game capture team we worked with is one of the best in the business, and they do this for a living, day in, day out. We were in safe hands, thoroughly briefed on all aspects of the event, both by the helicopter pilot and by the dangerous drugs expert who would sedate the animals once safely contained. Firstly, as part of the preparation, there was a boma to be set up, the temporary corral that the animals would be herded into. The day started early, you don’t set up a boma in a few minutes and it is not advisable to do so in the heat of the day so we had to have it all set up by lunchtime to grab a quick bite to eat, then head back to where the action would take place for the briefings and afterwards, around 4pm. we would see the action unfold, and actually be smack in the middle of it. Of course we were assisted by the game capture team in setting up the boma - or rather, we assisted them as best we could - but this was no easy task. Heavy duty metal wiring had to be looped from tree to tree, and then heavy tarps had to be carried deep into the bush, and attached to the metal wiring so that part of it would hang like a curtain, creating something like a funnel (the crush) which would lead to the capture truck. The ‘entrance’ through which the game would come into the boma, was left open but could be pulled closed like a curtain once all animals were inside. During the briefing, our chopper pilot told us what signals he would use so that we on the ground would


be aware when the actual capture event commenced and when the last of the animals had entered the centre part of the boma. Once that happened, the ‘entrance’ curtain could be closed. You don’t want to close the entrance too early when there are still a few agitated zebs running around like headless chickens. They would knock you down in the process and their hooves are sharp.


Everybody in the small group was assigned a role and a place in the line-up, each with an experienced local team member of the came capture team right beside us.


And then it was time. Our chopper pilot got into his flying machine and started his engines, we heard the rotor blades whirring and then, before we knew it, he was soaring above us, first trying to locate the group of zebs, and once he had them and started herding them towards the open boma, the first siren signal – the capture had started.


The capture of this family group of zebra that were to be relocated to a different site was going to be handled with the utmost care. During the last sighting of the animals, it had been established that one of the mares was in foal, and as with any pregnant female, additional care had to be taken with her. Before we knew it we had a stampede unfolding right in front of our eyes, a really emotional moment, realising that you were part of something very special that not everybody gets to experience, and also only too aware that the slightest mistake could result in serious injury or worse to wildlife or ourselves. Then, suddenly, the second siren sounded. This was our signal that the last of the zebra had now entered the boma, the pilot could do no more - it was down to us what happened next.


Those who, despite the tension and crazy action around us, attempted to take pictures from their hideout saw it first – no pregnant mare but a small foal doggedly following its mum. The foal was born between the last sighting of the group and the capture exercise and at the time of capture it was some 2-3 weeks old and this gave the entire event even more urgency.


Stressed animals can develop a condition that is called ‘capture myopathy’ also known as overstraining or ‘white muscle disease’. It is an important cause of


ABOVE: As part of the preparation, a boma was set up - the temporary corral that the animals were herded into


LEFT: The game capture team ensured that the animals herded into the truck would feel as little stress as possible


death in game that is captured for translocation, the reason generally being stress created though the pursuit of animals by helicopter or vehicles, the exposure to strange noises and smells and the presence of unknown people and the unnatural environment of a game capture boma. Other factors that can contribute to this dreaded occurrence of the ‘capture myopathy’ are close proximity of other animals, as well as capture trucks and crates or the effects of tranquilizers.


The last thing we wanted to see was any animals get hurt, especially the mother and her precious foal, so we worked as fast as we could, keeping voices down and creating as little noise as possible, to ensure that the animals that had been herded into the capture truck, would feel as little stress as possible. I am delighted to say that all animals survived the experience unscathed, as did our team of Zim Vet students.


experience that will live long in the memory. And the next day, we did it all again, with a


different type of boma material this time, and a group of impala. The impala were not caught with tarps and a funnel, but with netting which they cannot see if


But what a day we had, an


they are flying past you whilst trying to escape whatever is following them. The chopper herded them into the boma again and this time we were all flat on our stomachs on the ground, hands covering heads in case the hoof of an impala made contact with our skull. Seeing up close how the hooves of an impala are shaped, I could easily imagine that these could cause serious damage if they were to hit you. We had to sit on the impala to restrain them, boy how they thrashed and wriggled, these lithe slender animals pack a punch! Even sitting on them, others of the team had to grab the legs and hold them down or the impala would have got the better of us. And then the sedated impala had to be carried to the truck that would transport them. Not a job for one person! Eventually we had them all loaded, blindfolded to protect their eyes, and off they went, into the release site, where a pride of lions is being closely monitored by the researcher to determine whether some of the big cats are suitable for release into a national park. It was one of the once-in-a-lifetime experiences that many only dream of, and it is available in Zimbabwe, where Worldwide vets run the course twice a year.


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The impala were caught with netting (which they can’t see) instead of with tarps and funnel


An impala hoof could easily cause serious damage if they were to hit you


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