WB observations July 7-9
July 7 was B530 first day back in the pasture. He was released and he moved quickly around enclosed pasture. He eventually darted into the open pasture just East of the juniper loop. He grazed around in what it seemed to be in no particular direction.
Later in the day he was with Y58 and Y63 by the access road to safari camp. He engaged in low intensity courtship with both females, but he mostly grazed. He then left towards the northeastern part of juniper loop.
Just before sunset, he was approaching 18 waterbuck. This was the first time they had seen him. Most of the females approached him to sniff him with their heads low. They circled him as he circled them to sniff each others’ rear. After a few moments he left to approach the other females who did not come up to him. They were crossing the large pasture before juniper loop. The calf male was following in the distance. M530 followed the females to the large water pail along the fence. The six females circled him as he did the same. He followed one female back across the pasture past the sable and axis deer. He stopped in the middle of the pasture and laid down. The other five waterbuck slowly came in close proximity to him and grazed.
In the morning, he was in the last place I had seen him with 18 waterbuck including the juvenile male and the male calf. He was lying down chewing cud while the others grazed towards the trees out of view. He followed soon after and was out of view.
Renee Jones