Whatever you do, don't run... (Carl's version)

There are two very different experiences here so I'll give my version and Rachel can give hers.  Both are true but different (you'll see why).

I'll start by saying that one of the often quoted phrases in the bush is "whatever you do don't run".  This is because the only things that run in the bush are food (prey species) so if you don't want to become lion food the rule is stand your ground.  As you'll read, this is not always wise!!

It starts from where I left off with the cheetahs.  We had got the call that the lions were going to be darted next (they were after two adult females and the sub-adult female).  The vet had already headed to where the lions were so we followed.  We then waited just out of the actual darting area so as not to spook the lions.  After about 20 mins we had the call to come into the field.

Unfortunately the field was very long grass, and whilst the vet had successfully darted two females (one adult, one sub-adult) they had scatered into the grass and only the young female had been located.  She had been loaded onto a flat back truck (you know those flat loaders, but they are called backies over here) and sent to the old workshop where the vet was going to carry out his tests.  The older female had not been found though so our cruiser, the vet cruiser and a game management vehicle was now scouring the field after the (hopefully unconscious cat).  After about 10 mins myself and another guy jumped on to the back of the game mngmt vehicle to try and spot the cat from there (extra eyes).  THen when this was no good either, the helicopter was called into the search.  THis was much better and within minutes the cat was located.  She had been out now for about 30 mins we guess.

We put he into a stretcher and 6 of us lifted her onto the back of the game mangmnt vehicle.  Now I'm a strong chap, but this cat was still very very heavy to lift.  She weighed about 250 Kg, she was one beast of a cat.  Once on the vehicle game management needed to get her quickly to the old workshop to be tested so myself and 2 others jumped on the back of the vehicle too.

So what we now had was a huge, in her prime lion riding in the back of the vehicle (flat bed truck) with us.  My god was this an out of this world experience.  She was completely under the drugs but this was still a very nervy experience - I mean, if she woke up (as if that would happen!) what the hell would we do.  The journey was about 30 mins over very bumpy dirt roads and the cat was sliding about the truck quite a bit so we were having to hold her in position. 

hen we arrived at the old workshop, where the vet would do his tests, we saw the other young female was also there.  This cat was only 18 months old, and considerably smaller than the older female that we had just travelled with, but she was still a very impressive cat.  Even at this age she was hunting for herself and along with her brother of the same age can easily take down an animal the size of a wildebeast.

We had time to take lots of pictures of both cats; very close up!  We had the chance to hold their paws, open their mouths and look at their teeth, and generally mess with a live lion the way you can't when they are awake :)  After about 30 mins I noticed that the big lioness's tongue was moving slightly when she was breathing and the female vet on hand said this was a sign that the drugs were slowly wearing off but not to worry as she'd be out for ages longer.

Our cruiser then turned up with Rachel and the rest of the students, along with the vet's car.  Rachel and the others now had the chance to get their close up photos of the cats and the vet started his tests (anal probes, blood tests, etc).

When all was finished it was decided to drive the two cats outside the gates of the old workhouse compound and put them under the shade of some trees about 100 yards away and let them wake up by themselves.  I jumped onto the back of the same van as I had travelled with previously to help carry the big female off (Rachel stayed in the truck with the smaller lighter female).  In all there were 7 in our truck and 6 on Rachel's, all holding on to whatever space we could find given teh trucks are not large and there was a lion on the back with us.  Anyway, the drive would be quite short so this was not a big issue.

We drove out of the compound first and headed towards the trees, Rachel's truck was behind us as we left the compound then stopped after about 10 metres.  We banged on the top of the drivers roof saying that the other truck had stopped and shouldn't we be letting the cats go at the same place?  This is then what I saw...

People started jumping off Rachel's truck and I saw some running to the gates of the old workhouse.  Our first thought was they were going to shut the compound gates.  Then we noticed that some of the people were actually on the inside of the gates which seemed a bit strange as they would be needed to help carry the cat off the truck.  I then saw one of the students (Albert) run to the side of the truck and hide behind it.  A second later, moving off to our left as we looked back at teh truck we saw the lioness walking away from the truck.  We then saw Albert stumble to the ground as his legs seemed to give way.

We were completely comfused by this as we had agreed to let the lions go away from the compound and not right by the gates.  Assuming there had been a change of plan we reversed our truck back to the other truck.  It was only now that things started to make sense.

Aparently their lion had woken up on the back of the truck whilst everyone was sitting with it.  Rachel's version will give all teh details, but for us on our truck this was hilarious (no one had been hurt, only shocked, and we were literally pissing ourselves with laughter that their cat had woken up and decided to get off the truck by herself).

Just to be sure though the game ranger on our truck tested our cat; tapping her eye for a reflex to check she was still under the drugs, and she was. We therefore deceide to get off our truck and unload where we were so the two cats could at least be in teh same location.  The driver backed the truck into the same tree line that the first cat had moved to (she was still only about 40 yards away, but she was clearly very groggy still).  We then got the carry equipment and manhandled the cat off the truck.  Unfortunately as she came off the truck her head 'bumped' onto the ground slightly!  This proved not to be ideal.

A number of the carriers were now on teh opposite side of the cat to me and picked up the carry balcket to tip her off this onto the floor properly - there was no space for me that side so I stayed where I was.  As they tipped the cat her head again bounced, but this time on my foot as she rolled towards me.  She then opened her eyes, looked at me (don't forget her head is vertually on my foot so she is very close to me), and raises her head.  No one on the other side of the cat can see this as they can't see her face.

I stepped back and uttered something like... "fookin hell, she's awake" and quickly backed off.  A couple of people leg it past me and jump onto the back of the other truck.  I see the get up and then I'm out of there although I didn;t make it to the other truck as I turned around and saw the cat move in the opposite direction.  The guys on the opposite side to me reacted about a second after me and dived behind the truck, some running for their lives.  The people from Rachel's truck were already on their truck and watched all this action unfold.

After about 10 seconds (time runs so slow in this situation but it was in reality a short time) there was outbursts of laughter as we all suddenly realise what had happened.  Quickly everyone jumped back onto the trucks and we drove quickly into the compound and shut the gates.  Addrenalin pumping everyone was just buzzing and telling their story.  Albert, who we'd seen at the side of Rachel's truck explained how once their cat had moved off his legs just gave way under him (he also had a very nive claw mark on his she where the cat had turned over and slammed her paw onto his foot).  Rach explained that she had been sitting at the head end and seconds before the cat woke up she had been stroking her head and tickling her ear.  I recalled how brave I was and when the cat woke up and looked at me I causally mentioned to the others that she was awake and I strolled off (or run like a girl, I actually wasn't 100% sure to be honest).

What we had just experienced though was a massive rush.  Maybe we weren't reacting as we should have done from such a dangerous and life threatening situation, or maybe this is normal behaviour from people who have had this experience - not sure.  Even the vet and the game management team seemed high on addrenalin so maybe this was exciting even for these pros.

When we got back to camp we found out that Thyrza had filmed the second release.  It's not the most clear story off what happened but it does tie pretty well with my version.  You can see me on the far side of teh cat, you can see my reaction to what I saw of the cat waking up.  Then a split second later you can see the poeple on the opposite side to me (including Thyrza who was filming) start to run for cover as the cat gets up and moves behind the vehicle.  A coupleof seconds later you can hear lots of laughter from behind Thyrza, which would have been me and the guys on Rachel's truck. I'm hoping to get a copy of this video so I can put it on facebook at some stage.
  
After all this excitement we were fine so no real harm done :)