This diary entry took place at Balule Nature Reserve
The spoils of victory.
The excitement of spotting your first leopard and the thrill of being part of a pride of lions bringing down their prey, usually overshadow the smaller more secretive members of our bushveld society that are only seen for a fleeting moment before scuttling off to hide in the thickets nearby. Secretive animals by nature, the honey badger and the porcupine are mammals rarely seen acting out their survival rituals and so much is still to be learned about their habits.
Early one cold winter’s morning, as we bumbled along a dusty two track road a rather large shadow moved in the distance and stretched across the road. We could not quiet make out details, so we slowly crept forward trying to get closer without spooking the animal. As we got closer the outline of a honey badger became apparent, and it quickly retreated to the safety of the thicket. Excitedly we approached noticing that the other half of the shadow was still lying in the road. We realised it was a dead Porcupine and that the honey badger was feeding on it.
The badger had not moved off very far and realised his cover was blown. He trotted off quickly and vanished.
Curious about what had happened, we carefully approached the scene. Mindful of the clues lying on the ground and potential dangers around, looking for tracks and signs that could help determine a theory as to what had happened. Was the porcupine a victim of the honey badger’s hunger?
【PS】:以上图文源于lvjian1984的贴
------不必知道这是怎样的一束花,又装饰过谁的秋千架,只不过有人,从早春的邻家,折到自己的闲窗下。以为可以,挽住一段春的牵挂,反瘦减了青青韶华。春还在,人已天涯……