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The story of Nyasi, the little antelope

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When people think of antelopes, they usually picture something like wildebeests or Thomson's gazelles. There are over 100 species of antelopes in total. Among them, there are more than 40 species of duikers, to which the heroine of this story belongs. Imagine working for a tour company at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. What would happen if one day, a very young and lost antelope fawn was brought to your office?

 Nyasi, a female common duiker
Nyasi, a female common duiker

This story began in February 2022, when a frightened little antelope was brought to our office. It was found right in the village of Machame, where our Aishi Machame Hotel is located. The gardeners were checking the water pump in the canal and came across a lost antelope fawn wandering alone. It was clear that the little Duikers are a subfamily of horned ungulates, grouped into the informal category of antelopes, native to Africa. The word "duiker" comes from the Afrikaans word "duik", which in turn is derived from the Dutch "duiken", meaning "to dive". Duikers predominantly live in forests and, when threatened, seem to dive into the underbrush. Pay attention to the tuft on Nyasi's head in the photographs - it's a characteristic feature of duikers. had been left orphaned, and in the coming days or even hours, it would have died from hunger or at the hands of villagers. In rural Tanzania, there are unfortunate practices when it comes to dealing with wild animals: children might throw stones at monitor lizards, superstitious adults kill "death-calling" owls, and poachers set traps for antelopes to use their meat for food. Most likely, something similar happened to the baby antelope's mother.

The orphaned antelope during its first weeks of life
The orphaned antelope during its first weeks of life
Nyasi on one of her first walks
Nyasi on one of her first walks

What can one do in such situation? From time to time, we raise birds and small animals like squirrels and monkeys that we find injured on our hotel's premises due to accidents like electric shocks or wounds. Occasionally, newborn squirrels fall out of tree hollows, and if we can't find their home and family, we raise and keep them safe until they grow stronger, then release them into the wild. However, our antelope, although considered he common or bush duiker reaches a shoulder height of 50 centimeters (about 19.7 inches) and typically weighs around 20 kilograms (about 44 pounds). species, is still a fairly large animal. We didn't have suitable conditions for her, and there were no nearby animal rehabilitation centers.

We decided to keep the orphan with us until we figured out what to do. Fortunately, we had experience interacting with injured animals in the past. Some members of our team had worked with rehabilitation centers, and we were also supported by professional rangers. The first few days are critical for antelopes in stressful situations—if they survive the first 72 hours, there's a chance for them to recover.

Our task was to provide the duiker with a safe and comfortable place, and teach her to eat and use the restroom. Initially, the only suitable food was goat's milk, so every morning, we ordered fresh batches from the village. The timid little one wouldn't go outside on her own, so we had to carry her out, let her be in the fresh air, and monitor her health and behaviour. And she got a name—Nyasi. In Swahili, it means "grass."

Nyasi often lay on the grass—duikers in the wild spend most of their daytime in established resting spots
Nyasi often lay on the grass—duikers in the wild spend most of their daytime in established resting spots
She was choosing hidden spots, like behind the steps
She was choosing hidden spots, like behind the steps

Luckily, unlike many other antelopes in similar situations, our little one survived. She felt great, had a good appetite, and a curious nature. Gradually, Nyasi began to explore the house and learn to navigate stairs—this is one of the most challenging stages for wild animals. But she didn't dare to wander around the house just yet. In the evenings, when her natural activity increased (duikers are mostly nocturnal), we would encourage her to take walks and explore her surroundings.

On the hotel grounds, there's a standalone building surrounded by a fence and lush greenery. We secured this area, checked the fence's integrity, and prohibited employees from letting dogs and other animals enter. This green zone became the refuge for the young duiker. We needed to care for her for at least the next six months, until she grew stronger and fully transitioned to independent foraging.

Feeding the little one required patience. In the photo, Altezza Travel manager Anna tries to feed Nyasi during a job break
Feeding the little one required patience. In the photo, Altezza Travel manager Anna tries to feed Nyasi during a job break
We used goat's milk for feeding the antelope
We used goat's milk for feeding the antelope

We created a duty schedule and set up a separate chat on our messenger app to ensure we didn't miss Nyasi's feeding time. Almost all of us, finding time between work, briefings, and sending groups to Kilimanjaro, would visit the antelope to feed her milk from a bottle with a nipple. In the evenings, when the antelope's natural activity increased, we would take walks with Nyasi around the premises. At first, she was scared and would hide in corners overgrown with bushes. Then we would organize search operations and find our little one hidden in the shrubbery, exploring different types of grass. At those moments, she completely justified one of her names—the bush duiker.

Miko — the
Miko — the "star" of Aishi Machame Hotel

A companion animal for the growing duiker was the cat Miko. Once, this cat with a partially clipped left ear came to us from the village and stayed with us ever since. Miko accompanies the groups heading out on expeditions in the morning, charms the hotel guests with his appearance, and vigilantly monitors the perimeter of his assigned area, not allowing other cats or even dogs onto the Aishi Machame Hotel premises.

Our cat and the young antelope became friends, spending a lot of time together. This is a common practice in animal rehabilitation—pairing a recovering animal with a companion, not necessarily of the same species. The cat became the perfect partner for the duiker. It was Miko who was responsible for Nyasi's first jumps through the bushes. Watching the interactions between these two was a real pleasure.

Young Nyasi and Miko in the house
Young Nyasi and Miko in the house
 An antelope and a cat play outside
An antelope and a cat play outside

The antelope grew quickly, showing signs of a strong personality. Sometimes, she persistently demanded food, unable to wait a moment longer— the young duiker would dash and headbutt the feeding manager with all her might. Not everyone found it easy, and some even experienced a bit of pain. Well, we could only be glad that female bush duikers, unlike in some other antelope species, don't grow horns.

Was everything always incident-free? How can I put it? Once, when Nyasi was still a tiny thing, she stumbled and fell into a small pool meant for freshwater turtles. We heard a splash and quickly pulled the clumsy creature out of the water. A couple of times, our little mischief-maker would sneak out beyond the fenced area in the evening, using the gate that wasn’t fully closed. We would quickly find and return her to safety. One night, we were frightened by an incident—neighborhood dogs dug a tunnel under the fence and made their way onto Nyasi's territory. Fortunately, the most alert among us woke up, saw the danger through the window, and scared off the predators.

Alexander Andreychuk, the founder and CEO of Altezza Travel, not only fed our pet but also protected her from unwelcome guests and created all the conditions for her care
Alexander Andreychuk, the founder and CEO of Altezza Travel, not only fed our pet but also protected her from unwelcome guests and created all the conditions for her care
Nyasi's guests included Miko, turtles, and even groups of monkeys
Nyasi's guests included Miko, turtles, and even groups of monkeys

Whose presence on our enclosed green territory we couldn't avoid were bushbabies and blue monkeys. These active inhabitants of rural Tanzania are hardly afraid of people; they don't ask permission to visit and feel completely at ease leaping from tree to tree all around Machame, including the hotel grounds. While guests enjoyed watching these creatures and recording videos of them, the Altezza Travel staff who lived here were sometimes tired of the monkey mischief. They would make loud noises on the roofs, sneak into our homes through windows and doors, occasionally steal food, and sometimes, out of mischievous motives, throw off drying clothes from ropes, pelt us with fruits, and commit other small misdeeds.

Surprisingly, Nyasi became friends with the monkeys, frequent visitors to her territory. However, we weren't always thrilled about their joint games. The monkeys taught Nyasi to damage shrubs, flowers, and break anything within her reach. Not that it was a major problem; still, we were more pleased that the antelope could interact with other animals and even seemed to enjoy it.

Nyasi’s warm dwelling. In the forefront, you can see a mineral lick
Nyasi’s warm dwelling. In the forefront, you can see a mineral lick

Nyasi had a cozy refuge when she wanted to be alone; we built a platform house for her, complete with a roof to shield her from rain. Both the roof and the interior were covered with dry grass for warmth and soundproofing. Inside, a large lamp provided warmth and emitted non-irritating red light. Honestly, we don't know who spent more time in this little house, Nyasi or Miko. It was very cozy inside—warm and soft. Honestly, none of us could resist personally inspecting the antelope's house and spending some time curled up inside.

Alex and Miko the cat test the conditions in Nyasi's house firsthand. Other Altezza Travel managers also did the same :)
Alex and Miko the cat test the conditions in Nyasi's house firsthand. Other Altezza Travel managers also did the same :)

As time passed, our girl, now almost a teenager, consumed less and less milk. Her diet included more grass, leaves, and flowers. In her natural habitat, these are typical foods for bush duikers. They don't even drink water, obtaining it from succulent plants. We hung salt licks for the animals on the premises to ensure she got enough minerals and stayed healthy. After all, the space around was limited, and not all the required plant species were available to Nyasi. Although we also planted the grasses she liked the most.

Over time, we decreased the amount of milk in Nyasi's diet, allowing her to find and consume more plants on her own
Over time, we decreased the amount of milk in Nyasi's diet, allowing her to find and consume more plants on her own
Flowers were Nyasi's favorite treat
Flowers were Nyasi's favorite treat

Nyasi's absolute favorite treats were roses. She adored these flowers, eating them entirely. At first, the lower parts of the rose bushes were nibbled on, and then we began to intentionally bring her treats, feeding her 2-3 flowers at a time. She would pluck petal after petal, then devour the heart of the bud, chewing actively and clearly enjoying the delicacy. Hotel celebrations that left behind numerous flower bouquets were also celebrations for our antelope. But she never overate—after eating a couple of roses, she'd turn away and merrily dash off to her business, playfully leaping over bushes. Yes, young Nyasi became very active and independent.

The little tuft on Nyasi’s head
The little tuft on Nyasi’s head

We always kept in mind that this female common duiker wasn't a pet to get used to or let her get used to us. As much as we loved our Nyasi, we knew for sure that the time would come to say goodbye and return the strengthened animal back to the wild. Yes, sometimes she liked to get close and ask for pets, but the rules of responsible and ethical treatment of wild animals required us to limit such behavior.

Katya was the youngest feeder for Nyasi. Katya strictly fed the antelope according to a schedule, and there were always adults around, reminding that the antelope wasn't a pet
Katya was the youngest feeder for Nyasi. Katya strictly fed the antelope according to a schedule, and there were always adults around, reminding that the antelope wasn't a pet
It was hard to pass by Nyasi without taking a photo of her, but strangers weren't allowed near her. Altezza Travel manager Julia with Nyasi
It was hard to pass by Nyasi without taking a photo of her, but strangers weren't allowed near her. Altezza Travel manager Julia with Nyasi

So, six months passed, and it was time to find a suitable place to release the grown antelope, considering her background. It needed to be a familiar environment for animals of this kind, safe enough for someone who lost her parents at an early age, who could teach her how to navigate the wild, avoid enemies, and gather resources. A human can never replace an animal's parent. Another important aspect— the place needed to be far enough from human settlements, considering the locals' attitude towards antelopes and Nyasi's high tolerance for humans developed during hand-feeding.

Such a place took a while to find. The nearby part of the Kilimanjaro forest was too close to villages, and there was a high likelihood that the trusting antelope would approach humans. The distant part of the forest was full of predators and unsuitable for this species; it's home to forest antelope species. There were no small forests with shrubbery nearby, and taking the duiker in a cage somewhere far would cause too much stress for this animal. We asked everyone with information, but the right place remained elusive.

 Well, Nyasi, ready to venture into the open?
Well, Nyasi, ready to venture into the open?

We didn't even realize that a year had passed since we had the antelope. Finally, a promising location was found — a large area of a private reserve near Arusha. Many hoofed animals lived there, primarily different types of antelopes, including small and even dwarf ones. Other representatives of the common duiker were there too. But there were no predators. A decision was made — Nyasi would move to live in the Kilimanjaro Golf and Wildlife reserve.

The release of the year-old bush duiker, whom the Altezza Travel team rescued from certain death and sheltered during her growing period, was set for March 16, 2023. The antelope's transportation went smoothly, Nyasi was hardly nervous. At the new place, she was welcomed by the territory owners who cared for the reserve's animals. They confirmed that Nyasi's natural safety was ensured and her favorite flowers and grasses grew abundantly on the premises.

The transport cage with the antelope arrived at the reserve
The transport cage with the antelope arrived at the reserve
You're free, Nyasi. Alex opens the door of the transport cage
You're free, Nyasi. Alex opens the door of the transport cage
Nyasi didn't immediately decide to come out
Nyasi didn't immediately decide to come out
After a little while, curiosity got the better of her, and the antelope set off to explore the new territory
After a little while, curiosity got the better of her, and the antelope set off to explore the new territory

Our antelope began to explore the expanses of the reserve and make friends with her kind. While we were talking to the reserve owners, Nyasi returned several times and then dashed off to other animals again. It seemed she liked her new home.

Time to say goodbye. The last photo together with Nyasi
Time to say goodbye. The last photo together with Nyasi
Nyasi felt calm, she liked everything
Nyasi felt calm, she liked everything

We're glad we could help another animal. And we must admit, the tiny antelope taught many of us compassion, the ability to care for and be interested in nature and animal life. This is just one of many stories about Altezza Travel and animals, but it's special for us. And as sad as we are now, we're happy that the orphaned duiker is doing well.

Run, Nyasi! It's time to explore new places.

A final glance after the departing antelope
A final glance after the departing antelope
Nyasi. Photo taken in November 2022
Nyasi. Photo taken in November 2022

Published on 27 September 2023 Revised on 24 September 2024
About this article
Yurii Bogorodskiy
Expert Articles: 59
Written byYurii Bogorodskiy
Travel Expert Tanzania
Expertise:
Birdwatching Birdwatching
History History
Islands Islands
Tanzania Tanzania
Wildlife Wildlife
Safari Safari

Yuri, a full-time researcher and writer at Altezza Travel, has been living in Tanzania since 2019. He has explored many of its lesser-known destinations, including Kitulo and Rubondo National Parks, Lake Victoria, Zanzibar, and many other historical, natural, and archeological sites. His experiences in the Amani Forest and Ibanda–Kyerwa National Park have inspired him to become a passionate birder. Yurii is also an avid reader, delving into various volumes about Tanzanian culture and history. He regularly shares detailed articles based on his research and travels on our blog.

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