Watch: Mpumalanga nature lover captures birth of buffalo calf
Lex Hollmann watched in awe as a buffalo calf took its first breath, first steps and first drink of milk – all from his home in Malelane.
Capturing the birth of a buffalo calf on the banks of the Crocodile River near the Kruger National Park (KNP) was not only a rare sight but a ‘privilege’ for nature lover Lex Hollmann.
Just a few weeks ago, the riverbanks were submerged after flooding caused by heavy rains.
Hollmann, a retailer from Malalane in Mpumalanga, witnessed the buffalo giving birth from his home.
He recorded and shared the 15-minute video on his YouTube channel, Lex Hollmann, where he describes himself as an ‘avid YouTube watcher with interests in photography, videomaking, and nature’.
In the video, the buffalo is seen sitting with her herd on the riverbank.
Hollmann provides commentary, and at first sight of the mother, he describes her as being in a bit of ‘distress’.
Moments later, the mother is seen standing up, in the process of giving birth.
Hollmann describes the experience as ‘fantastic’ and ‘spectacular’ to watch. “What a privilege to see. She is not taking strain,” he narrates.
The mother lies down for a bit and then gets up again, all while Hollmann can be heard encouraging her. Within minutes, the calf is born.
The mother begins licking her newborn and the calf attempts to take its first wobbly steps.
Hollmann watched in awe as he witnessed not only the miracle of birth, but the calf taking its first steps and drinking milk for the first time.
As sunset approached, the herd began to move, with Hollmann expressing the hope that the calf would make it through the night, given how vulnerable it would be to predators.
