| JabaliHunter |
| (.400 member) |
| 01/05/09 08:20 PM |
Re: Brittany Boddington Leopard Incident
|
Ok Duggaboy - you suggest that people need to read the report more closely. I'll stick my head up above the parapet. I'm sure it will be shot off, but here goes...
The statements don’t seem so clear cut to me.
First thing that struck me was that there is a discrepancy in the reports about sending Classen to get the car. I don't know why or if it is important, but both BB and JK state that he was sent to get the car before the incident occurred and yet he was still around afterwards to be told to go and get the car once they realised Punki had been shot. So why didn’t Classen go and get the car when he was told? Its only a question, but questions have answers, even if not significant or even relevant
Quote:
The leopard held its ground and the dogs were tired and bleeding so we sent Classen to get the car so that we could give the dogs some water. At this point we called the dogs away from the leopard and they laid down in the shade waiting for the car to bring water.
I think BB omitted to say that the car then came back with the water for the dogs.
Quote:
After they had all had water and were looking rested the dog handlers started encouraging the dogs to go back into the brush and find the tracks of where the leopard had gone. The dog handlers were sure that the leopard had run away because none of the dogs were barking so we started walking slowly in the direction that the leopard had been.
Then later
Quote:
At this moment I heard Zukile yell, we realized that Punki had been shot and we called Nic back and he sent Classen to get the car.
This must have been a second time collecting the car, but I'm only reading between the lines...
Secondly, I don't really understand why BB shot. For two reasons.
1 - the PH had already fired - first blood already belonged to the PH. If we are being uncharitable, we could say that this was over-eagerness, but in reality, any of us would have taken a shot at a still-alive wounded leopard. BUT there is a reason the PH didn’t fire again. And if you think the PH was reloading, how long does it take to step out from behind someone, spot the target, aim and fire? If the PH can’t reload and fire in that time, then there is a problem. There is a reason the PH didn’t shoot again immediately... he wasn’t sure of a safe shot and was waiting.
2 - she could not clearly see the leopard – which means from her statement that she either shot through the grass or attempted to spine the leopard.
Quote:
When I heard Nic’s shot go off I stepped out from behind him and saw the leopard come out from behind a bush. The leopard paused for a moment and in the tall grass I could see only slightly more than the outline of the leopard’s back. I saw that the leopard had been hit and it stopped with its head down in the grass. I got my rifle up and took a shot at the part of the leopard that I could see. The leopard then jumped up and Nic hit it again with another shot as the leopard ran into the bush and Nic ran after it to make sure it would not come back to attack again.
My conclusion is that in effect, she got carried away due to the adrenaline-fuelled situation. She shouldn’t have shot and an accident occurred. If she was in the army and accidentally shot a cohort then what would be the result?
It was still an accident, and it could have happened to anyone. Anyone who pulled the trigger in that situation. I’m not saying that I would or wouldn’t have, or anyone else for that matter. But if you can’t see the target, or what is behind it, don’t shoot. I’m sure she knew that, which is why its tragic. She will certainly have learned the lesson. Regrettably she learned it the hard way. It will always be with her.
Did she fuck up? Yes. Is there any harm discussing it? No. No-one on this thread has been uncharitable towards BB. In fact I am sure most regard her with affection, not least because she is a young woman out there enjoying our sport and as such a role model. Do we think less of her for this? No. But, if I did it, I fully expect that my mates would never let me forget and would rip the piss for the rest of my hunting days.... It has happened and she can’t be protected from it. She needs to learn to live with it, dust herself off and get on with her life and pursuing the sport she loves.
As others have said, hindsight is a wonderful thing. I won't hold this against her. Others have done far worse.