Okavango - Page 8

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Cape pangolin

(see Note 1)


Defensive
posture

Guest, Matt,
Steve & pangolin
and Nancy






Free again

Baboons
sunning
near camp

Lothar
Swoboda's
aircraft

Approaching
the landing
strip

Airstrip
Island

W Troop
foraging in
floodplain

Adolescent
male on
termite mound

Lloyd's hut

(see Note 2)

Typical
fight wound

(see Note 3)

Random
hyena

Lagoon north
of Chief's
Island

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Note 1. The Cape pangolin (Manis temminckii), or scaly anteater, is one of the Okavango's most secretive mammals. I saw solitary individuals three times, in each case after noticing movement in the tall grass along the side of the road while driving past.

Note 2. When we arrived in the Okavango in June, 1977, we set up "Baboon Camp" adjacent to the remains of a tourist camp that had been operated by legendary bush guide Lloyd Wilmot. Lloyd's sister Joyce and her husband Peter "P.J." Bestelink relocated the tourist camp (hence named Xaxaba) 3 km down the Boro River when the Moremi Wildlife Reserve was expanded to the edge of the river in 1975.

This hut was the only remnant of Lloyd's old camp. The beautiful thatched roof was eventually demolished by the Camp Troop baboons.

Note 3. On the left are two young infants, which this male probably sired. Adult male chacma baboons vigorously defend their probable offspring in the presence of recently-immigrated males, who are threats to the infants' lives.