The Bravest Animal

Many years ago, I performed military service in the SAAF. An enduring memory was the range of equipment and weaponry with names implying power and bravery. We had Ratels, Buffels, Olifants, Bateleurs, Mambas (later as I remember), Jakkals, and Hippos (for some reason mainly Afrikaans names). The sole exception that I remember was the “Kwêvoël” (Grey go-away-bird that can scarcely be described as either powerful or brave).

Even the non-animal named items conveyed a threat e.g. “Cactus”.

You never heard of the “Rabbit” artillery system, or the “Field mouse” mortar. Certainly, small birds did not make the cut. And yet, a few years ago I read of a small shrike in Kruger National Park killing an adult cobra that ventured too close to the nest.

But my most astonishing “brave” bird is the Plover (now Lapwing). Whilst doing a military “Camp”, I heard an anecdotal story of a Blacksmith Plover attacking the Boeing 707 for coming too close to its nest at Waterkloof Air Force Base. My own experience is of the perpetual dive-bombing at Zwartkops Golf Club for any golfer who strays off course on certain holes. Forget the Hennops River, forget the trees, this is a different kind of hazard to negotiate!

In this last week, wife Elaine went to Kruger National Park, and experienced a Wattled Plover defend turf, resulting in actually succeeding in chasing a vervet monkey away from the water hole. The reason was simple – young wattled plovers running about. It truly is amazing how the natural instinct for defence causes such small (and physically weak) animals to take such aggressive action; perhaps they are programmed to know that the best form of defence is attack.

So for the military authorities to consider – how about the Plover Armoured Fighting Vehicle? For the “traditionalists”, let us make it the “Kiewiet”.