A prickly Affair

It was around 18h00 on an afternoon drive when we came across a porcupine walking on the road. Being shy creatures the porcupine moved off the road as we approached and scurried towards a hoile. I knew this hole as we periodically saw a large male warthog frequent this burrow. It still showed signs of occupation. The porcupine dissappeared inside the burrow which was a dissapointment as some of my guests had not had a clear view of the porcupine before it scurried inot the hole. Not wanting to disapoint my guests we settled in hoping the shy creature would show himself. After about 15 minutes of explaining to my guests how aardvark make koles which can then be occupied by warthog or porcupines. I was explaining the use of the burrows and how a warthog enters its burrows backwards always on the lookout and aware of its surroundings. How by entering its burrow backwards a warthog is able to easily dash and escape from the burrow if necessary. As if just of que a large warthog approached the burrow stopping every now and then to survey his surroundings. On approaching the enterance to the hole the warthog turn just as I had discribed to my guests and started reversing backwards inot his burrow. He didn't get to far as only a few seconds later the warthog shot from his burrow running at full tilt with a porcupine quill sticking from his hindquarters. In a flurry of rising dust we watched in fits of laughter as the poor warthog disappearred inot the bushes some ways from his burrow. Its been a few days now and I drove past the burrow only to find it filling with leaf debris and spider webs over the enterance. It seems the unfortunate occupant has not returned. Meier Morija - Guide - Chobe Under Canvas

Posted: Chobe Under Canvas by Chobe Under Canvas Botswana, Date: 3 August 2009