Help For The Little Lamb Caught By a Snake In The Kruger Park

“Ouboet, we must help,” Annatjie persisted. They heard a weak little bleat. Dawie just could not resist it. At the same time, he realised that the snake was still very young. It would not be able to swallow the lamb. He made a snap decision and grabbed a stick, the thickness of his finger. He pushed the stick into the jaws of the snake and forced it down its throat. Next moment, a strange thing happened. The snake released its prey, and rolled away towards its hole behind a stone.

The duiker ewe watched as if hypnotised, while Dawie picked up her baby and carried it to the lapa. He remembered his mother’s recipe when someone had a big fright. “Bring some sugar water, please,” he asked. Annatjie mixed the potion and brought it to her husband. Meanwhile, a quick examination revealed no broken bones.

The little duiker hardly filled two hands, but it seemed still to have a chance. Dawie forced its mouth open and slowly poured a few drops. He repeated the process a few times. Then he poured some water over the little body. He felt the baby antelope moving in his hands.

When he placed her on the ground, she was too weak to stand. Her legs folded under her. Mother ewe had moved a bit closer. She stood at the edge of the lapa and pleadingly looked pleadingly at the benefactors of her child. Once again Dawie picked up the lamb and carefully placed it on its feet. Miraculously, it remained standing. Then it wriggled towards its mother. At last it got hold of a nipple and started suckling. Mother stood still until her child had had its fill. Then she moved away, calmly, the little one – that almost became a juvenile python’s breakfast – slowly following. This experience taught the Strydoms much about the fighting spirit of an animal. It was a moment of great joy for them when the survivor walked away with its ma.

The next morning, Annatjie was busy at the lapa (she’s always busy at the lapa!). Mother Duiker and her daughter approached her, seemingly to say: “Thank you, wonderful people.” The twosome stood for a while and then calmly walked on. The Strydoms, emotionally, shed tears of gratitude. It was the last time she saw a duiker lamb, said Annatjie. Duiker ewes do a splendid job of concealing their young. Read more...