Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/153582
DRIVER REPORT So two or three buffaloes always travel in one compartment," explains Kees Lawrence, who heads the game-capture team, as he measures out the correct dose of vitamin B for the fouryear-old buffalo cow that the ground team has just brought to the truck. Each buffalo that is captured is tested for various diseases, marked with a microchip and given a shot of vitamin B to strengthen its immune system. While Kees gives the sleeping buffalo an injection, a queue of buffaloes with white blindfolds and cotton wool in their ears forms between the Volvo tractor-trailer and the crane truck. The blindfolds and cotton wool help them to stay calm. The work of drawing blood and transferring and waking the buffaloes involved in animal transport goes quickly. Using a long iron bar, Petrus opens the doors between the compartments. Fourteen animals quickly crowd onto the trailer. Buffaloes are not that happy about suddenly finding themselves shuttered into a small metal box. "They'll calm down when I start driving," says Petrus, as he climbs into the driver's cab. The tractor and trailer drive back through the reserve towards the enclosure in which the buffaloes are going to remain in quarantine before they are sold at auction to other nature reserves. Today's cargo is worth more than 2.2 million rand, approximately EUR 170,000 ($226,287). After they are sold, Petrus Motsoane will transport the animals to their new homes. "The best part of the job is driving my truck on the road. When I tell other drivers what I'm carrying, they say, 'Man, one day, those animals are going to kill you'. But I've been doing this for more than 20 years and I'm still alive." ■ 16 "When I tell other drivers what I'm carrying, they say, 'Man, one day, those animals are going to kill you.' But I've been doing this for more than 20 years and I'm still alive." PETRUS MOTSOANE, TRUCK DR IVER AND FOR EMAN DRIVER 'S DIGEST #2/2013 VTM_2_13_US_en.indb 14 DDQ213PG010-19_30-31_Common Pages.indd 16 2013-08-13 11:04 8/13/13 8:54 AM VTM_2_13