When Mzilikazi fled from the wrath of Shaka in Natal in 1820, he
crossed the
Limpopo River and then traveled another two hundred kilometers to
the
Matopo
Hills. He went through the hills and made his new home at a place
he
called
Gubulawayo – the "place of slaughter" or "killing". He felt safe on
the
other side of the hills and knew that if he ever needed sanctuary,
it
could
be found in those same hills and valleys.
From this base, the Impi's of the Ndebele traversed the central
African
region – going as far north as modern day Malawi, west to the
Bamangwato
flood plains in Zambia, south into the area controlled by the
Tswana
people
and east into Mozambique. Theirs was an economy based on pillage
and
murder.
Today the City of Bulawayo is built close to the original site of the
original Capital of the migrant Ndebele people. It lies about 40
kilometers
from the Matopo Hills and the remnants of the descendents of
Mzilikazi can
still be found there in numbers. When I was a boy growing up in the
eastern
section of the hills I can remember visiting the villages in the
hills and
seeing old men with the hair ring on their heads signifying their
status as
fighting men and officers in the Ndebele army. They recounted to me
stories
of their raids into the domain of other tribes seeking cattle and
women and
perhaps grain, each winter. Running in disciplined groups covering
long
distances on foot demanding that the villages through which they
passed
provide food and water.
The Matopo Hills run for over 100 kilometers east to west and some 30
kilometers deep. They are amongst the oldest granite formations in
the
world. In my experience, they are unique in many ways – the piles
of
rocks,
granite mastiff's and the green, densely forested valleys with
running
streams fed by the run off from the granite hills that effectively
doubles
the rainfall of the area.
In the center of the hills is the Matopo National Park, originally
set aside
by Cecil Rhodes and later to become his burial site. The Park is
half
an
hour's drive from Bulawayo and contains a wide variety of plains
game
and
significant numbers of both white and black Rhino. It is also home
to
many
predators especially Leopard and the Black Eagle.
The latter are found here in numbers supported by the large
population of
Dassies (Rock Rabbit or Hyraxes) in the hills that form their basic
diet.
They are magnificent birds – perhaps one of the finest Eagles in
the
world,
superb flying machines nesting in spectacular rock formations
throughout the
area. Local enthusiasts working through Birdlife Zimbabwe have
monitored the
Black Eagles in the Matopo Hills for over 40 years. This is, to the
best of
our knowledge, the longest continuous survey of a raptor in the
world
of
ornithology.
For those of you who have never seen a Black Eagle nest – let me
tell
you
something, you have missed one of the great natural sights of the
world. The
Eagles choose the most inaccessible sites for their nests – high up
on
a
sheer granite rock face is a shallow ledge – on the ledge they build
an
untidy nest of sticks and leaves. The nest site has to inaccessible
to
baboons, monkeys and snakes – all would make short work of an eagle
egg or
young chick.
The Eagles mate for life and usually lay two eggs shortly after the
rains
stop. These are incubated for six weeks and after hatching, the
stronger of
the chicks usually kills the weaker. The remaining chick is fed
once
a day
by its parents who will kill a Dassie every day if possible. They
grow
rapidly and soon rival their parents in size – going from a fluffy
white
ball to a brown fledgling. Eventually they start flying short
distances –
encouraged by their parents and once they have become self
sufficient
the
parents drive them out of their territory. The young birds will
then
fly as
far as several hundred kilometers to find their own territories –
returning
when mature, to their native environment to seek a mate and start
their own
nesting regime.
On Sunday we walked a few kilometers through open veld to a site in
the
Matopo National Park, then we climbed a short way up a hill and were
rewarded with a clear view of a 10-week-old chick on a superb nest
site just
across a deep ravine. It was no more than 40 metres away. Above us
were the
parents who watched us anxiously and at one stage flew down to
hover
on the
breeze in front of us – between the nest and our lookout site.
It was a beautiful day – clear blue skies, about 25 c and zero
humidity. We
passed a small herd of Wildebeest on our way in and going out we
passed 7
white Rhino. It was spectacular bird watching by any standard – and
it was
45 minutes from my home! We stayed in the nearby lodges and had a
braai with
18 others who had come for the weekend – including some from South
Africa
and one person from the UK. Below us in the valley next to the
lodge
was a
Fish Eagle nest with two chicks in it. Their wild cries woke us in
the
morning.
The cost – about US$4 per person for the two days. At the end of
the
second
day we traveled home – feeling well satisfied that our Eagles were
well
protected and fed and had successfully bred again. Suntanned and
refreshed
and ready again to do battle with the regime in Harare and to
continue to
try and make a living. Does it get any better?
There is magic in those Matopo Hills and perhaps one day soon the
magic will
spread out into the whole country and we can start living again.
in schools and colleges.
Clem Coetsee - trusted colleague and true friend. We have lost one
of
our finest.
Deepest sympathy to Em, Beth and Vic and your two brothers, Paul
and
Vic. You are in our thoughts and prayers, we share your grief.
Mike Bomwich on behalf of all National Parks Dagaboys
++++++++++
BARRY JOHN ROBERTS : Jan 11 1939 - Aug 11 2006
Barry (ex Byo) passed away in Huntsville, AL. USA, after a battle
against leukaemia. Precious husband of Elaine, beloved father of
Sharon and Colleen, sister of Carol. A memorial service to
celebrate
his life was held in Huntsville.
++++++++++
Feel sure many folk will know of Clem Coetsee's amazing work in
wildlife in Zim over many years.
Was much saddened to learn that Clem passed away on Monday - he
gave SO much to conservation and wild life and will be sorely
missed
by hundreds who had the privilege of knowing or working with
him.
++++++++
STUART IRWIN
Sad to think that the world lost two great conservationists in
one week - Steve Irwin (whose over-the-top antics irritated the
heck
out of
me, but still managed to worm his way under my skin!) AND our own
Clem
Coetzee (who, among other things, saved thousands of animals from
drowning
as Kariba filled). The world is a lesser place with the losses, and
our
sincere condolences to both their families! The Bristows
+++++++++
CLEM COETZEE
It is with regret that we inform members of the death of Clem
Coetzee,
renowned wild life conservationist, who died at his farm in the
Lowveld on
Sunday, 3rd September from a suspected heart attack. Born on 13th May
1939,
Clem grew to prominence in local and international wildlife circles
particularly through his work in pioneering the translocation of
elephant
family groups as a preferred means of elephant population control.
He was
also responsible for spearheading the campaign to de-horn rhino in
the
Lowveld as a means of combating poaching. He collapsed and died at
the
side
gate of his house on his way back for breakfast after checking on his
wildlife pens.
His death is a great loss to wildlife conservation not only in
Zimbabwe
but
elsewhere in Africa.
He is survived by his wife, Em, daughter, Beth, son, Vicus, and 3
grandchildren. A memorial service will be held in the garden of
Turkey
Heart Farm, Triangle on Saturday, 9th September 2006 at 2 pm. This
will
be
followed by a braai. Guests are kindly asked to bring a
contribution
of
meat and drink.
+++++++++
This is to advise that Dennis Hubert Batten passed away peacefully
at
7am on 7th September, 2006 in Pietermaritzburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal
Formerly ACII & Fellow Institute Loss Adjusters; Late of Batten &
Gibson & Formerly of Batten & Russell in Rhodesia. Well known in
the
musical world for his Dennis Batten Quartet, his tennis and other
activities with the Insurance Institute of Rhodesia.
2nd July, 1914 to 7th September, 2006
Sadly missed by the Gibson family, Sheila, Quentin, Tasha (Jardim),
Darryl, Robin, Bev, Kelsey & Judah
His funeral service will be at All Saints United Church, Montgomery
Drive, Pietermaritzburg 3201
at 11am on Wednesday, 13th September, 2006.
There will also be a Memorial Service at St Katherine's Anglican
Church, Port Shepstone on 30th September, 2006 at 15:00 hrs
MHDSRIP
Quentin
++++++++++
This man is a legend. This was such a shock. I thought he would
live
forever.
Clem & his son Vickers did a few sable captures for me on the farm
in
Nyamandhlovu & his knowledge of wildlife was remarkable. His
professionalism in the field left me in awe of him always. If ever
there was a man who truly understood animals and one who devoted
his
life to their conservation - it was Clem. This is a big loss for
our
country. So sad.
Mel
+++++++
Harare - One of southern Africa's most noted conservationists,
Clem
Coetzee, died after suffering a heart attack at his farm in southern
Zimbabwe, family members and friends said Thursday. He was 67.
Coetzee, an internationally renowned veteran game ranger who
pioneered
techniques to relocate elephants and a wide range of wild animals
from
habitats affected by drought and environmental degradation,
collapsed
Sunday
after an early morning tour of his farm and its wildlife research and
breeding pens in the Triangle district, about 400km south-east of
Harare.
"His death is a great loss to wildlife conservation not only
in
Zimbabwe but elsewhere in Africa," said Justice for Agriculture, a
farmers'
support group, in a tribute Thursday.
Coetzee developed methods to move elephants in family groups
by
darting them with sedatives from a helicopter and lifting them via
heavy
duty rubber conveyor belts into truck containers or freight train
cars,
where they were revived and fed and given water for journeys of
hundreds of
kilometres.
In the Gonarezhou nature preserve in southern Zimbabwe during
a
drought in 1992 he moved at least 40 elephants to new habitats in
neighbouring South Africa in the first operation of its kind in which
electronic tracking microchips were implanted beneath the animals'
skin.
Subsequent groundbreaking research showed the elephants
suffered no
ill-effects of being moved as long as the family unit of bulls,
cows
and the
young was left mostly intact.
The technique was later used to relocate game animals in
Kenya
and
several other African countries.
He was also responsible for spearheading a campaign to
sedate
and saw
off the horn of the endangered African rhinoceros as a means of
combating
rhino poaching.
Rhino horn is prized in the Middle East and Asia for
traditional
dagger handles and as a medicine in its ground form.
Coetzee is survived by his wife, Em, his daughter Beth, his
son Vicus
and three grandchildren. A funeral service is planned in the garden
of his
farm in southern Zimbabwe on Saturday. - Sapa-AP
Be a good listener. Your ears will never get you into trouble.
- Frank Tyger -
+++++++++
"It is not possible to get anxious about the past, so there is
little
point in becoming depressed about the future."
Please practice random acts of kindness and senseless beauty ; they
can be as addictive as hate , drugs and violence !!
Live simply,Love generously,Care deeply,Speak kindly!! J
+++++++++
Some things are loved because they are valuable. Others are
valuable
because they are loved.
- Unknown -
++++++++++++++
Give like the rose gives its perfume -- effortlessly,
unconditionally
because it is its own nature. --Swami Vivekananda
++++++
Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up
and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and
watch
and work: you don't give up. --Anne Lamott
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