Impala Capture

Impala Capture

Game Capture Boma from the Helicopter

Impala – Fast Food, Bush Style

Animals regularly need to be captured and moved from one place to another; this is known as translocation. For many reasons, translocation of wild animals becomes necessary from time to time. In this story the animals concerned are impala being relocated to a more appropriate place for their survival.

Impala are referred to by nature fundis as bushveld fast food. Hmmm… well, fast food if you’re a lion, leopard, hyena or wild dog. They’re known as the McDonald’s of the bush because they form a large part of these predators’ diets and they are fast and food. Even the young are often taken by pythons.

Our bush is teeming with impala. Here, there are few predators and herds of these graceful buck can be seen all over. What’s really remarkable is that these reddish brown and white and fawn creatures can melt away unseen into full green cover or dry twigs and sticks in a moment.
 

Impala in the Funnel

Allergic to Impala?

To look at one of these buck, you’d never believe the grunts, growls, snorts and rumbling they’re capable of making, some people even think they sound like leopard. Then there’s the leaping and pronking that goes on if they panic. Should they spot danger, their snort in alarm is all it takes and the whole herd will scatter.

There’s a little-known fact about these beautiful animals. Even seasoned bush veterans don’t always know this but we’ve recently been sent an update from the latest round of game captures done by AWMC. Here’s Jacs (the Vet) account of one hapless volunteer’s experience…
 

Impala in the Crush

How to Find Out!

“K joined the capture and really got stuck in. Unfortunately while hand-catching the adult impala rams from the boma crush (for tranquillization, blood sampling and horn-piping) he discovered that he is very allergic to impala (surprisingly a large percentage of people are)!

K broke out in a spectacular rash and felt his throat begin to close. He was rushed off to get antihistamines while the animals were loaded. When he got back, more impala had just been caught and he began helping restrain them again.”
 

Impala Ram Minding his Domain

When the Vet Gives you the Needle

“I had just unsheathed a needle to get some blood from the impala ram and for some reason was gesticulating with the syringe and needle whilst explaining something to J…

Somehow, K’s hand and the needle connected…WELL! Talk about a bleeder! Poor dude… don’t know if he’ll volunteer for capture with us again.” 
 

Impala Ewe and Ox Pecker

You may find you’re allergic to impala but watch out for the vet!