Thomas Prin, Buffalo Man

The Buffalo Tracking Team came for a few days to put more tracking collars on the local Cape Buffalo herds trying to plant one in every herd in the reserve and surrounding blocks. This being their second season it took just 2 days of flying, darting and attaching the collars to meet their quota for this year. Much is being learned about the number and movement of the Niassa herds some totaling upwards of 3 hundred, a fantastic site, especially if your in a position to set and watch them pass unnoticed. I met my friend Thomas Prin last year briefly during the capture period and this year we were able to spend a little more time together as we went and camped with friends on the Top of Mecula Mountain in the heart of the Reserve. Thomas records the movements of the herds using electronic tracking throughout the year, spending around 8 months a year living in the Bush. He has been christened the “Buffalo Man” by the local population. Although young, Thomas is very experienced in the Bush, as his family has been involved in the business of Hunting and Safaris in West Africa for years. It was a pleasure getting to know him better and I look forward to spending more time with him. Here are a few shots from Thomas and myself. Thomas will become a contributor for the “Dancing With The Wild Beast” BlogSpot, which is dedicated to the preservation of the Niassa Reserve and features posts by folks that live and work there. A lot of news is forthcoming from the Reserve as we have all been a bit behind on posting; please continue to check in occasionally. AP