close call...

I’ve recently been asked to show a trail cam photo of a bushpig (Potamochoerus larvatus). No trail cam though, but I managed to get this very elusive creature on camera while serving in Madagascar.

I was laying near an old, dead tree observing a tree hole in which another nocturnal animal, a sportive lemur was taking its late afternoon nap. This tree stood steep downhill, a kloof (ravine formed by a recurring stream) cut through the primary deciduous rainforest 40-50ft below my position. Temperature high, sun shining & no movement whatsoever from the lemur’s side, I had a good time watching at all these beautiful, forest-dwelling birds flying around me. All of a sudden I could hear noise coming from the ravine, constant clicking & rocks being shifted. This wasn’t the first time we’ve encountered bushpigs in these forests, so I knew what to expect (not all to much as these pigs flee the moment they smell the smallest trace of human beings). It must have been quite a large sounder considering the noise; they spread from the bottom of the ravine to the sides like a platoon digging, turning rocks & dead roots with their snouts. I was waiting in anticipation of maybe getting a glimpse or two but couldn’t leave my position due to my mission targets. Nevertheless my pocket camera was ready, waiting for a chance! And my luck didn't wait too long to kick in. A sow pushed her massive body only a few yards away through the shrubs, unaware of me laying there. I could hear at least three to four adults flanking her, while her piglets followed in short distance but out of my sight. I almost forgot to push button while I watched the creature searching for rhizomes & bulbs in the forest’s top soil, concentrated & in an amazing speed yet very alert. A few seconds & the “ghosts of darkness” as they are sometimes referred to disappeared in the bush again. I was nervous, did my pocket camera well? Was it bright enough, as the huge trees effectively blocking the light from reaching the ground? Thank God for digital, show last picture & there it was, the ghost, the pig I was waiting for! What a beauty, a bit unfocused & only from the back but I was very happy to get that shot. It was hard enough to see them (I never found them, they found me) & even harder to take a picture (as elusive as they are, they regularly raided our forest camp by night & kept the watchdog awake, poor boy!).

So here it is, Potamochoerus larvatus from its chocolate side, hairy & unfocused but I’m proud and it was hell of a work