By Deleana Baker, BFC Volunteer
A gentle bull buffalo peacefully grazes in the Gardiner Basin, hours before he was killed by hunters.
His beautiful body rumbled across the land. His presence was one of beauty and wisdom. Every single magnificent muscle radiated with purpose.
As I came over the hill his gentle eyes rose to greet me as if to say, “I know you, we are the same.” Whether I imagined these words as a means to comfort my own sorrow for the events to come, or whether it was this beautiful buffalo’s true feelings, I guess I will never know. But in that moment, however brief it may have been, our eyes met with a look of mutual understanding before he tilted his powerful head back to the ground and continued to graze. I left my four legged brother with the only advice a mere human could give to such a wise animal, “stay safe.” We both went on our separate paths. I continued with my fellow volunteers on our patrol while he continued to follow his instincts, not knowing they could be leading him to danger.
Just mere hours latter, although it felt like days, I saw my friend again…
After checking on his brothers and sisters and finding them all safe and sound, we made our way back to this lone bull. In my heart I was sure I would find him in the same condition. Coming around the corner expecting to see his gentle figure making its way across his natural landscape, instead I was greeted with an image of a group of hunters gathered around the now still body of this beautiful creature. One pointed down in excitement as if to show that he had somehow proven his own strength by destroying such a strong animal. Hit by the realization that not only would this wise buffalo never again get to fallow his instincts wherever they may have taken him, but I also would never again get to look into his deep brown eyes. Never truly get to understand the wisdom he imparted on me with his gaze. With this realization all I can do is to hope with all my heart and fight with all my soul for his future brothers and sisters to be allowed to follow their own wisdom and instincts to wherever that may take them… TO ROAM FREE !
To you my departed four-legged brother, with every piece of my being, I am sorry you had to die. I will always remember the moment when your gaze met mine, and I will hope for a day when our eyes will meet again.
Deleana Baker
