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This human waterhole is not a natural system. There is no exit and no possibility for fresh water to flush out the effects of rotting flesh. Leaving the carcass would have contaminated that water hole for weeks. There is also not nearly the amount of organisms available to consume the flesh, as would be available in a natural system. This includes micro organisms and small animals and even the crocodiles you may find in some other systems. All in all it could have become a big mess.

Imberbe, interesting to have an answer on the question.

I'll tend to agree with Imberbe.

This waterhole is not natural. It does not have an outflow (other than when it is overflowing), thus there is no way for the spoilt water to be "worked out" and be replaced with clean water like one would get in a natural dam-type envorinment with flowing water.

It does resemble a pan or a catchment waterhole that has only water after rains. And those are death-traps, and sometimes animals, especially old/sick animals, will dronw in them. Because these tend to be further away from permanent water there's not crocodiles to remove dead animals, and thus this water can become quite putrid with a rotting carcass in it.

And we also have to remember that these waterhole where the cams are located are near/next to camps, and have the cameras on them. And the idea is not for our pleasure, but as a window of advertisement for SANParks. Not good PR to have a waterhole with a dead animal floating around in it for days on end.

Had this been out in the bush away from the human (tourist) eye, especially if there's lots of other water around, I have no doubt that the carcass would have been left. But here, after all, the idea is for the animals to come in to drink where the tourists can see them - you don't want the tourists to be driven away by the smell and the sight.

Hi

The thing of Reputation is quite intresting because knowledge transfer works quite well! But with the water exchange is it not possible to increase the amount of water exchange? But in overall I understand the Post thank you guys for the explanation

Best regards Malealea

No, it would not help to increase the water supply, since this trough is not part of a drainage system. You could increase the amount of water, but it would remain in the direct vicinity.

Increasing the water supply is anyway just as much an unnatural action as is the removal of the body, and it costs precious water. Large amounts of water would be needed over a length of time to have any effect.

Re: the Hyenas

I have some of the pics from that day as well. I hope there aren't too many repeats. It was pretty spectacular to see nature doing it's thing. Haha.






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Thanks, Kellyyyz! It gives us a pretty clear view of what occurred next! I wonder if the hyena(s) finished off the whole little zebbie that night?

I believe the one hyaena finished it off in about ten minutes IIRC from what I read here.

Fascinating story to learn from. It's incidents like this that shed so much light on nature's ways.

Can anyone please tell me whether the webcam dams are drained and cleaned from time to time. I cannot remember seeing this happening on the cams.

Hi Imberbe, I get the point, I thought something like that. And of course it is true. I assume that was the only reaction the Ranger could do.

Best Regards malealea

When I was at Addo 2 years ago, a kudu got stuck in the mud in the water at Domkrag dam. It was pulled out and set free because of the same reasons - polutibng the water. There are no crocs there and the hyenas would not be able to reach it..

Good decision - gladdens the heart!

of course you are right, the Arguments that you bring make sense, but I dislike the fackt that humans play God. But As I siad sometimes we have to do it to avoid a disaster.

Thanks for the links JJ & Dotty