TSOO: HUNTER PAR-EXCELLENCE

Source : Kutlwano

Author : Thamani Shabani

Location : GHANZI

Event : Travel

Tsoo is more famous than Barak Obama. That is, within his native Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR). He is more ochre than brown, and a thousand creases line his face. Like most of his clan, he has kinky hair. His physique – forceps that many a weightlifter would envy, sure shoulders, and general excellent body tone tell a story about his amazing agility, which belies his 84 years of existence. 

In the CKGR you can talk all you want about all the world superstars and super-politicians but fellows in this pristine wildlife area will not be interested. 

However, talk about Tsoo and the bloke who has been busy throwing obscenities at his donkeys, or the little boys playing with a rag-ball will pause, to hear what it is you are saying about him. As far as the community here is concerned, Tsoo is their superstar. He is super-hunter, super-tracker and super all that describes the macho man.  

Such a good hunter is the old man that people always take him along on hunting expeditions. When in the land of the stealthy and illusive leopard and the aggressive lion, it is Tsoo`s unfailing hearing and sight you can trust.  And the hunter that he is, Tsoo is ever aware that he also is the hunted. Only his agility, keen instinct and senses and experience built over many years have kept him alive. And not on a few occasions.

“Once a leopard almost killed me,” he says to me through an interpreter.  When his fame reached me as I was visiting the CKGR I figured visiting this apparent mystery of a man would not be a bad idea after all.

“I was following a herd of Gemsbok that I had earlier spotted passing by the pond,” he says, a star in his eye.

Suddenly, as if from nowhere, he found himself face to face with the forest recluse, the leopard.  The next 10 minutes or so could have been eternity, as he battled to live. He could have kicked himself for not being vigilant enough. For earlier on, he thought he heard the roar of the leopard. It must have been the wind, which blew rather too much that day, that disturbed his usually alert self.

Man and beast went toe to toe (or claw to toe!) as the animal tried to tear at his thighs, and he desperately fought for survival.   “I had little time to react. It tried to sink its sharp teeth into my thighs and pushed me to the ground. I was carrying an axe but it slipped from my hands.” The wistful look in his face somewhat defines Tsoo`s most desperate hour. However, desperate times require desperate measures.  With nothing to use to ward off the often fatal bites and blows of the leopard, Tsoo used his arms, all the while looking for an opportunity to get to his axe.

With a speed faster than lightning, the animal lunged for his face and upper torso. Tsoo was as lithe as the animal and matched its every strike.

“It stood right on top of me as I lay on the ground and tried to cut a chunk off my face and chest. I blocked it with my hands.” 

At the slightest opportunity he rolled over to his axe. Too late, the animal saw the flicker of light against metal before the axe head disappeared into its face. Tsoo pushed it off his body. Every muscle felt like someone had just roasted him.

“But those wounds have long healed, for it was a long time ago,” he says, relishing his victory over the leopard, wrought many decades back. He believes he has to share that victory with his pack of honest dogs.

“When the animal flew at me from the bushes, four of my dogs charged at it and forced it to retreat, albeit temporarily.”

Since that incident, Tsoo has made it a point that he will survive in the wildlife desert habitat that is the CKGR. To survive you must know the animals that you want to go after and also be alive to the fact you would not be the only hunter. A lion, or a leopard could be lurking on the other side, and you could be a litter`s dinner before you get your pork or wildebeest meat home.  The process is really a lifelong one, and improves with every hunting trip. 

Throughout his life, Tsoo has harvested plenty of this experience. It is the experience hunters come looking for him.  They know that with Tsoo, their coming back with meat is guaranteed.

Understanding the animal you want to kill is important. This is because other than knowing that the male will be bigger, you also do not want to kill the females as you want them to multiply so you can continue to have the animal in abundance, says Tsoo.

And when you go hunting, do not just assume that knowing one or two characteristics of the animal is enough. In addition, study the area where you intend to hunt, and ask others, who may have more experience, for advice.

“Things you want to focus on include studying the identifying markings and traits of your intended game, understanding the animal`s unique behaviours, and how these activities can change based on the environment, the weather and even the time of day,” says Tsoo.

You must also learn and master the sounds the animal makes because every animal produces a range of unique sounds, each sound an encryption of a message – a warning, or even a flirting sound.

And you can trust Tsoo when he says that. From where we are standing, he casually explains each sound as it comes wafting through the air– a warthog`s snort, a cheetah`s chirp, a lion`s growl, an owl`s hoot, deciphering the meaning of each of the sounds. ENDS

Teaser:

To survive you must know the animals that you want to go after and also be alive to the fact you would not be the only hunter...