Lo-Down Ankole Watusi Holler Life-

Jan25

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The Holler is really a Holler and not only for the birds.

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It is for low-down, on the ground, critter life as well. Meet the new, free range calf.

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And, meet the guys who are overly fond of new free range calves.
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We were quite done with watching the coyotes prey on the defenseless calves, and the cowboy intermittently shoot the coyotes.

This approach solved nothing.

The cowboy who grazes the free range cattle on the 1200 acre state-owned nature preserve that abuts The Holler, finally came up with a creative solution.

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You know I value creativity. It is why I love bloggers so much!

Anyhoo, meet the new juvenile Ankole-Watusi bull. Imagine how big he is gonna be when he is all “growed” up!

These are African free range cattle that grow horns up to eight feet from tip to tip. At night, in Africa, when predators are active, the Ankole adults place the calves in the center, while the adults, and their eight foot horns defend the perimeter through intimidation. They are highly protective of calves and able to repel African predators. These cattle can subsist in drought conditions with low water and feed.

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They are currently interbred in Europe and North America and, and news to me, The Holler. I had no idea of the Ankole solution until my telephoto saw them, and I sent it straight from my camera, to your eyes!

I am grateful to my camera because Ankole can be quite aggressive towards humans. If my camera hadn’t alerted me to their presence, I would still be hiking in the preserve, not expecting an ambush by potentially aggressive African bulls!
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The coyotes are now in a state of détente. When the Ankoles lower their horns in the coyotes direction, off the coyotes trot. Coyotes regulate their estrus and birth cycles in accordance with environmental conditions. They are intelligent and adaptable. As they are able to kill less calves, they will limit their birth rates, and subsist on rodents.
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Of course the poor squirrels have no say in this matter, but at least they can run fast into their extensive burrows.

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Cheers to you from the still wild, and almost natural, Holler~
For more than you probably ever want to know about the Ankole-Watusi check out: http://edventures.phoenixzoo.org/pdf/animalFactSheets/watusiCattle.pdf

260 thoughts on “Lo-Down Ankole Watusi Holler Life-”

  9. Cindy, your beautiful photos are such a delight to look at, and your commentary always so informative. The Ankole-Watusi bull must have been a sight to see with those horns.

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  14. Beautiful photos, Cindy, as always. I like the creative solution of the Ankole bull. Co-existing with wildlife and using alternative strategies is something that I hope becomes more accepted as our world shrinks.

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  16. I love how there are solutions without killing if we only take a moment to research and ask. Here the llamas protect the sheep and goats quite effectively. Beautiful photos. Those bulls are amazing with their giant horns 🙂

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    • Yes, llamas and donkeys are both good solutions. It is wonderful to see animals with protective instincts, which unfortunately are too often lacking in certain human beings! I read a study where labratory rats saved other rats from confinement. They had empathy and were protective. What a concept!! ❤

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      • I don’t think it’s comfortable to humans to think that animals care…or love, heavens forbid. Perhaps the day is coming when we learn that animals are just like us except they don’t speak our language.

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  17. I really like the story and details you tell us along with these amazing pictures! Wow I felt scared for you when I saw that coyote! What a photo of a beautiful creature! They sure had a great solution there, 8 feet long? That is a huge force to worry about! Very interesting as always Cindy!

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  19. That is a fascinating look at your Holler and the surrounding environment. Do you have any fences to keep those very aggressive looking Ankole-Watusi bulls out of your part of the Holler? That is a very pro-active way of protecting those cute calves. Mother nature is so clever, limiting the birth rates to the conditions. Kangaroos do that too, the foetus can stay dormant for a long time waiting for the suitable conditions to start the birth cycle.

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  20. That last picture portrayed a slice of heaven, Cuz….., and that bull, well, that’s a lotta bull ! Those coyotes just look way too well fed. The only ones I’ve seen have seen have looked scrawny and thin. They are intelligent animals though, maybe smarter than some humans I know ! Hugs !

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    • You would like The Holler cuz, but many people woudn’t, too rurual, too isolated, not enough people to chat with. Me, I like chatting with the birds just fine, and who knows, maybe I’ll find a way to chat up the Ankole too!

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      • I’m sure I’d like it too, Cindy. I like quiet places that haven’t been overrun and ruined by the crowds. I’ve always loved the mountains, and the seashore away from the buildings and beaches crowded with people. Unspoiled nature has a way of bringing peace to the soul. Hugs !

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  23. Thanks for new coyotes posting. Great pics 🙂
    Just a thought!
    Do cowboys gaze the cattle, or the ankolewatusiboys are who gaze.

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  24. Es una información muy interesante. Y es que la naturaleza nos da soluciones para los problemas, sólo hace falta poner la imaginación a trabajar. Me encantan las fotos. Un abrazo, amiga. ❤

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  25. Liebe Cindy das sind ja wieder traumhafte Fotos einfach nur schön danke dir für diese Fotos hab einen schönen Mittwoch mit vielen lieben Grüßen Klaus in Freundschaft

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  27. How fascinating and formidable are those Ankole! Had not heard of them before. And such a creative solution. Your Holler is an amazing place and, as always, your photography is wonderful!

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  28. Liebe Cindy hab noch mal deine wunderschönen Fotos betrachtet sie sind einfach unbeschreiblich schön ,auf dem Foto hatten die Wölfe bei ihrer Jagd Erfolg gehabt ? Hab eine gute Nacht mit ganz vielen lieben Grüßen Klaus in Freundschaft

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  29. Liebe Cindy hab noch mal deine wunderschönen Fotos betrachtet sie sind einfach unbeschreiblich schön ,auf dem Foto hatten die Kojoten bei ihrer Jagd Erfolg gehabt ? Hab eine gute Nacht mit ganz vielen lieben Grüßen Klaus in Freundschaft

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  40. Sounds like an interesting answer to a predatory problem. In Spain they suggest the big mastin dogs against the wolves. The dogs are usually very friendly with humans and I think it is very much their size which puts wolves off preying on lambs. Great info and will follow the link too.

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  42. That caff was cute. Reminded me of the White goat my grandparents had, it was like a pet for my mother and uncle when they where kids. One day the goat was gone….while my mother ate a great meal wich didn´t come very often she asked my grandma about the goat to which she responded ” Do you like the food?” My mother said all happy since it was good and abundant “yes!!” To this day she has trouble thinking she was eating her beloved goat…..what a story that came out of nowhere, but a true one.
    Anyways, nice pics as always.

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    • That seems like quite a insensitive thing for a mother to do to her child. I can see why just the telling of the story stuck with you and I also can well imagine how upsetting this memory is for your mom.

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      • I know, Cindy! This was after the Spanish Civil war when they got by with bread and some butter at the most, see where I´m going. It was survival. Now we talk about it jokingly though, now a days we don´t do that but that was another time, real harsh times. So if old grandma didn´t kill that thing, as lovely as it was, her children would be starving. I don´t think that in those situations people are going to be very sensitive about eating animals really. Now we do have that luxury but not then.

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  46. They’re *all* gorgeous, including of course those handsome coyotes! I *finally* saw a coyote around here recently, but it looked far less robust and glossy—a much weedier character! Still, I was happy to see one, since I’m sure that the rampant-if-not-rapacious suburban growth in the DFW area is antithetical to coyote happiness, never mind the ranchers’ anti-critter mindset in TX generally.

    As for the cattle, Watusis really caught my attention first in a surprisingly suburban setting as well, since there was a big, magnificent Watusi bull who lived and lounged in his own showcase pasture not far from where we lived some years ago, surrounded by houses and such. He seemed not to mind that his kingdom was so circumscribed, as long as he was still king. And I was very happy to stop by the fence and just admire him once in a while!

    Happy 2016, dear Cindy!
    xoxo,
    Kath

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    • Oh my, what a small world it truly is! How marvelous you had an Ankole for a neighbior! I can’t wait until these guys grow up. I want to get some photos of thoses 8 ft horns! I imagine your coyote has to be especially wiley to survive in Texas because I know they are not much liked there, or anywhere for that matter. I had to live with them to learn to respect them. Still I would not try and pet one! 😉 😉

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