Heli-Mustering Buffalo - Part Three

Things go pretty smoothly for the next hour or so. It is a narrow strip of dry land in the middle of the floodplain and the fence so they can't spread out too far. Some of the animals try and have a rest and wallow in the water but we have to keep them entertaining to get them in the yards before dark plus there are storms forecast for the late afternoon. When Buffalo are exposed to heavy rain and wind they get cold very speedily and will want to stay in the water even more as it is warmer in the water than out of it. When we get the mob to the crossing point we turn them towards the water most of the mob start the swim quite happily apart from the cows with small calves, the cows continually turn back towards dry land we ultimately get all of the mob into the water and swimming across the plain some of the calves have been separated from their mothers which makes things tricky, the young animals are lost without theirs mothers and will slow down a lot. If we can keep them entertaining their mothers will find them again in the yards.

One of the separated calves somehow gets through a fence and cant get back on the right side again, I hover the helicopter inches off the water and the calves head, I am basically blowing the calf in the right direction, I'm not comfortable hovering this close to the water as I have seen salt water crocodiles on the plains and heard stories of them snapping at helicopters. After a while of getting nowhere fast with the calf I call the air boat over to pick it up and take it to the other side.

Akdy Shower

My helicopter is low on fuel again so I go to fill it up for what will hopefully be the last time today.

As we get the buffalo to the other side we notice a storm arrival right at us and not far off we get the mob into the lane just before the storm hits. Rain is absolutely bad for Helicopter blades but we don't have much selection but to keep flying. The storm is only a small one but is intense and every person is soaked by the time in passes.

Finally we get the animals to the yards and lock them in the retention paddock overnight where the calves can mom up again before we process them tomorrow.

After flying for more than nine hours it is time for a beer, shower and dinner before an early night.

Heli-Mustering Buffalo - Part Three

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