Shifting weather and our deer camps
Camp checks change with the season at Karoo Edge and in the Midlands. When an El Niño summer is forecast, we walk each camp more often, checking water troughs and fencing, watching the veld for early signs of stress. Our fallow, red, chital and sika herds need adaptable management, from extra shade in the heat to adjusting grazing blocks when the veld thins. We use the quieter hours around sunrise for low-stress checks, always moving calmly. Crews note any animal standing apart, off its feed or limping, and report it the same day. As always, our permit and movement records are kept up to date, especially with the new FMD controls from July. Most of these checks are done on foot.
