The little leopard was hesitant this morning. He was wary. It was overcast and cold. Snow was falling on the Annapurnas and the smaller ranges closer to Pokhara. We went out into our forest session at the usual time of 7am but there was a different feeling as Asa stuck close to me, there was not quite his pluck of the last few days.
He likes to venture into a deep patch of undergrowth. Ananta, Shiva and myself keep track of him by the tinkle of his little bell. This morning he did not linger, instead coming to my boots, looking up as I hurriedly took notes. We were intrigued by his wariness.
In the corner of my eye I spotted movement. The others, including Asa, did not see the eagle land in a tree close to the Ranger Post. Shiva ran with Asa back to the small group of sheds that make up the Post as I watched with baited breath. An eagle can take out a leopard cub.
Asa got home safely but perhaps his senses were working overtime today... maybe just as well... as I watched the eagle fly even closer to the Post...
I spend the afternoon sessions with Asa in his small shed, we simulate stalking and hunting. He captures and kills his prey, a piece of yellow sacking on the end of a rope. We do this for hours. Today he took his prey up one of logs I have mounted in his room. I really felt today the little cub learned his lessons well...
It's been an intense last ten days. Once again thank you very much for the moral support. I should be able to give more updates from this point and catch up with the many messages as well as thank supporters. Asa is opening doors for wildlife protection and conservation already. More soon... cheers Jack.
No comments:
Post a Comment