Every second year we run a game capture to reduce the number of animals on the game farm. Put simply all you do is decide how many of each species you need remove also what gender and size you want to take off. Sounds simple.
A helicopter is used to herd the animals towards a boma. The boma is set up in a woodland thicket. Large karky tarpaulin walls are set up in a big v shape. At the point of the V is a truck. The animals are herded by the helicopter into the mouth of the boma the mouth is very wide and the curtains are concealed by the trees so the animals don’t even know they are entering our cunning trap! Once the animals have passed the mouth of the boma the helicopter sounds a siren then several people run flat out pulling a curtain wall across the mouth. The helicopter gives the animals a hard time so they move further towards the point of the V and the waiting truck. 
The Zambian riot squad persuading the Wildebeast to go up the ramp and into the truck. Note my brave position - up a tree!
The wildebeast finally relented and entered the truck. 
The curtain wall of the Boma behind two young Eland. Eland are capable of jumping the curtain. it's not too advisable to stand close to the outside of the Boma in case it starts raining Eland. A total of four curtains are pulled across the boams to force the animals into a smaller and smaller area. I was on the last curtain before the truck. It was only about fifteen meters across. When pulling the curtain you have to run flat out. If you saunter across the animals will see the closing gap and run for it. The four Eland in the pic below decided to charge towards me. I must confess to giving up on the man option and singed up as a mouse. Having these guys running towards me certainly was exciting!!!! They turned away about two meters from my ashen and shaking form.
The first animals in were the Zebras and they are a nightmare as they seriously kick. They also bark like dogs. We had to use the dark gun on a very young zebra when we brought it in. he then got his own executive crate. The Zebra looked spectacular when you opened the hatch on the top of the truck to a black and white striped extravaganza.
The most fun was the last group of animals we caught the Tsesebe. They were herded to the mouth of the Boama then the side of the boma was opened. Seeing the open bush they make a break for it. They then run into a large net getting tangled. As soon as they hit the net everyone jumps out from the hiding positions and grabs the horns of the tsesebe. Once they have been blindfolded they calm right down and stop struggling. So with adrenaline pumping and an instruction lesson of - animal hits net, grab by horns, blindfold, vet sedates animal and puts rubber on the horns so as to make them less pointy. So as soon as they hit I sprinted up to the nearest one. I had managed to find one of the larger animals grappling with it I cast a glance over my shoulder to find the other guys had opted for a speed slightly below that of mine! It was quite amazing to see how the animals gave up the struggle as soon as the blindfold went on. Sorry I was a bit to busy to get a photo!
This young water buck looks a bit confused about the concept of helicopters and truck. I have now developed an awesome respect for the man who pulled off the most epic of game captures, Noah. Two by two the greatest miracle of all!!
The first animals in were the Zebras and they are a nightmare as they seriously kick. They also bark like dogs. We had to use the dark gun on a very young zebra when we brought it in. he then got his own executive crate. The Zebra looked spectacular when you opened the hatch on the top of the truck to a black and white striped extravaganza.
The most fun was the last group of animals we caught the Tsesebe. They were herded to the mouth of the Boama then the side of the boma was opened. Seeing the open bush they make a break for it. They then run into a large net getting tangled. As soon as they hit the net everyone jumps out from the hiding positions and grabs the horns of the tsesebe. Once they have been blindfolded they calm right down and stop struggling. So with adrenaline pumping and an instruction lesson of - animal hits net, grab by horns, blindfold, vet sedates animal and puts rubber on the horns so as to make them less pointy. So as soon as they hit I sprinted up to the nearest one. I had managed to find one of the larger animals grappling with it I cast a glance over my shoulder to find the other guys had opted for a speed slightly below that of mine! It was quite amazing to see how the animals gave up the struggle as soon as the blindfold went on. Sorry I was a bit to busy to get a photo!
This young water buck looks a bit confused about the concept of helicopters and truck. I have now developed an awesome respect for the man who pulled off the most epic of game captures, Noah. Two by two the greatest miracle of all!!
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