Sad Day at the Reserve:(

Today, we woke as usual and walked to meet our guide at 830am at the top of the hill.
Our morning activity was supposed to ring barking, where you stop bad trees from spreading their seeds by removing a ring around their trunk.
The smell of dead cow swirling in the wind.

Usually we will get right to work. And the coolest part abour ring barking is that we get to take the lion cubs with us.

When they see people they go into hunting mode and stare at you as you walk up to the fence. Today, they seemed preocupied and werent even sitting up in their tree fort.



We looked in to see what the big deal was, maybe they were still eating the huge cow carcass we gave them yesterday? All the cubs were on standing except for the one lying motionless in the sand. At first we made fun of it, for looking fancy, until we realized it wasnt just being lazy.

Byron, the guide, went to and immediately began checking the heart rate, looking for snake bites, and opening its mouth to check for an object. I could never have man handled a dead lion cub like that, but respected the fact that Byron was trying to save it. He called the Boss. And he said to bury the body.

The other lion cubs mourned in the den, crying and meowing non stop, until we let them free and they lay under the shade.

We found some land set back behind the den and starting digging the lion cubs grave. This group of vollies had never been so quiet.

The ground was solid rock, but the thought of breaking the ground, kept our minds focused. No one liked being a grave digger.




Although, I look pretty badass with the pick axe.




We switched off with the digging. The ground was solid, and it was HOT. After the hole was deep enough, Tim got the cub from the den.



We got Byron to cover the body with dirt. All the other cubs huddled around. Maybe to say Goodbye?



Once the hole was filled with dirt. We pattied down the soil and said our final goodbyes.




It was indeed, a very sad day at the Reserve.