Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit

Category: Maasai People | Date: Mar 14 2007 | By: admin

In the midst of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) outbreak, most of the people in Nairobi are refraining from nyama choma (roasted meat). Kenyans are meat lovers and I find it funny when my friends are only ordering githeri (beans) for lunch. In Trans Mara, love of meat definately wins over the fear of RVF and people are still very much carnivorous.

One concerning thing observed here in the Trans Mara is the fact that people do not mind eating the meat from sudden death case. Cattle dropping dead from unknown reason does not necessary deter people from consumption of that meat. Although RFV has not yet reached Trans Mara, this is scary trend.

This afternoon I visited boma for dog vaccination and found people feasting on meat. ‘Is there any cerebration today?’, I ask. The guys tell me that they are ‘just eating’. I was later told by the wives that the guys were eating the meat because one cattle died during the night from unknown cause…

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Category: Maasai People | Date: Mar 14 2007 | By: admin

‘The dog and cat you vaccinated died after vaccination’

One Maasai mzee came to complain. What? Can it be post vaccine reaction of some sort? That is funny because I have never lost any animal to rabies vaccine. The guy is telling me to come to this boma to check his other dogs and cats.

‘How did they died? Did they vomit, had diarrhea, convulsed, discharged any blood?’

According to the history this guy is giving me, both animal died immediately after the vaccination. No vomiting, no diarrhea but was bleeding over the body. Nothing rings a bell in my mind on what maybe the possible cause of death. His other dogs which I vaccinated were at the boma and they are very healthy. The guy exclaims, ‘They were healthy!’ Healthy dog and cat suddenly dropping dead?

‘Tell me again how exactly they died. Did it convulse, stagger?’

‘How am I supposed to know that?! I found them on the road covered with blood’

‘On the road?’

‘Yeah, safari vehicle ran over the cat and the dog was killed by another lodge vehicle’

‘And how is that my fault then?!’

‘I never said it was your fault. I told you my dog and cat died after vaccination…after getting run over by car’

The same guy accused me couple of months later that the dewormer I gave to his sheep increased the number of worms. When my friend asked him when was the next time he gave dewormer to his sheep, the guy told us that he dewormed 5 months after my visit (instead of usual 3month interval). I am now debating with myself whether or not to respond to this guy’s house call in the future…

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Category: Maasai People | Date: Mar 14 2007 | By: admin

Today, I had more spectators for my cat spay. The trap proved to be a successful method in capturing cats since three are caught already. People wanted to know how the cat trap worked and I showed them where to put the bait and how the door shuts itself when the bait is touched. My Maasai friend exclaims.

‘I know how this works! It is just like leopard traps‘

‘You have seen a leopard trap? ‘

‘Yup, I seen it at my home area and it works. It caught a mama‘

‘Mama leopard was caught? ‘

‘No. Maasai mama was caught’

Apparently mama saw big square metal box in the middle of savannha and went inside to investigate. Then she saw a meat hanged inside and decided to pull on it. Metal door shut behind her and she screamed for help. My friend was one of the guys who came to rescue the mama out of the leopard trap.

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Category: Maasai People | Date: Mar 14 2007 | By: admin

Today’s newspaper heading read ‘Tribal Clash in Trans Mara’. Last Wednesday, one of the Maasai herder was shot dead by Kuria tribe and some 800 cattle were stolen. My friend was shocked to hear this new as he was a friend to the boy who was killed. The drought forced all the wazee (old men) and cattle to search for green pasture, and now vijana (young men) from the boma headed out to bush near Tanzanian border for an attempted revenge. On my way to Kiligoris couple of days ago, I drove passed group of 10-15 morans (warriors) carrying their spears, machete and bows and arrow heading towards Lolgorian. As they walked pass me with their beautiful red shuka (red sheets), I thought to myself ‘They must be searching for stolen cattle’ since they were all reading tracks on the road. I had no idea that they were all heading to a fight.

The boy who was killed was a kind hearted and hard working boy. He was loved by the community and his loss came as a shock to everybody. People’s grieve turned to anger. Now most of the young men in this area headed out for the revenge. In the past three days, Maasai killed three Kuria guys and there is no sign of cease fire. I hear that now GSU (General Service Unit) is dispatched to the area to stop the fighting. Now that both wazee and vijana are gone from the boma, I only see women and children looking over the household.

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Category: Maasai People | Date: Feb 25 2007 | By: admin

I was invited to a circumcision ceremony (Darengo) in one of the boma for two boys because they were home over their school holiday. ‘Come and watch closely’ my friend said as he pulled my hand as we both entered the boma. I was not sure if a woman was allowed to watch the ceremony, but my friend told me it was okay and that other ladies were also there to watch. The two boys came out of the bush accompanied by several singing warriors (Moran) with red orcher covered head and beaded jewerely around their neck. The boys looked like they were about thirteen and on each face they showed tension. After cow hide was layed on the ground, one boy sat down on it. Several guys grabbed onto him from behind while others held onto his legs. There were too many people around that I could not see the actual operation, but managed to see the boy before he was taken away. His legs were shaking a little bit and I didn’t brame him for that. Although Maasai culture does not allow boys to cry or scream during the circumcision as it is sign of cowardice, it must be scary for a little boy to go through such an operation without any anesthetic.

Meat feast by the visiting people

Roasted meat served on a plate (leaves)

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