Schubert

Introducing Schubert, the nicotine-addicted Kudu. Ok. Ok. What question do I answer first? Let's start with the basics. According to the African Wildlife Foundation, The greater kudu is considered by many to be the most handsome of the tragelaphine antelopes, which includes the bongo, eland, nyala, bushbuck and sitatunga. In other words, a Kudu is a big beautiful antelope. Oh, they taste good too. Had Kudu chops one night in Kruger Park and they were exceptional, actually. Did feel a slight twinge of guilt thinking about the photos of female kudu I had taken earlier that day as I comtemplated going back for seconds. Turns out there were none left anyway so I enjoyed another sip of tasting South African red wine instead. This was all before I met Schubert. Several days after the kudu feast I was touring an ostrich farm outside of Capetown. While taking some pretty hilarious photos of the big birds I met Schubert. While Kudu live only 7 or 8 years in the wild, in captivity they can make it to 23 and, somehow, Schubert had discovered the good life and was living out his days with his big feathered friends. I think he stayed for the cigarettes. Turns out, that not long after he was tamed, a gardener decided to share a cigarette with Schubert, thus beginning Schubert's love affair with nicotine. Fast forward to my meeting with Schubert and this photo in which he is begging for a cig. Another gardener was across the road. He too begged me for a cigarette. I lectured them both on the ills of nicotine and, luckily, only Schubert clung to hope after that following me around as I took pictures of his pen-mates. The gardener went lazily back to work while keeping one eye on the road for his next target. " Just a second, I know I've got a cigarette around here somewhere. Need a pen?"