Wojtek the soldier bear

 In the spring of 1942 following the release of Polish prisoners in the labour camps in Siberia, a new Polish Army was being formed in the Middle East under the command of the British. A group of Polish soldiers came across a little bear cub, orphaned following the death of his mother at the hands of hunters. He was traded to the soldiers by a shepherd boy who kept the bear in a sack.

Eventually, they all arrived in Palestine and the bear was taken to the 22nd Transport Company, Artillery Division, Polish 2nd Corp where the men would become his companions for the next few years. He was given the name Wojtek.

He would often be found in the kitchen area and he ate everything he was fed and even developed a taste for beer and wine together with cigarettes which he would only accept when lit. He had a habit of drinking from a beer or wine bottle and when empty, he would peer into the bottle waiting patiently for more. He would usually take one puff of a lit cigarette and then swallow it.

Wojtek grew to become a very strong bear and was happy bathing and wrestling with his comrades. Only a few soldiers dared to take him on in a wrestling match as some times the men would get roughed up a bit by getting scratched or have their uniforms torn. The rest of the men were happy to watch. Wojtek became a hero one night by capturing a thief who had broken into an ammunition compound where the bear was sleeping. The Arab was shocked to find himself confronted by the animal and the commotion that ensued resulted in his arrest. Wojtek was quite satisfied with the reward of a bottle of beer.

When he was small, it was easy for Wojtek to ride in the cab of the transport vehicles but as he grew he would sit in the back with the supplies though he would often ride on one of the recovery trucks where there was more room to lie down during the long journeys and he could play by climbing up the crane. He made friends with a few of the other mascots including Kasha the monkey and Kirkuk the dog. Kasha died of a broken heart after her chronically sick baby lived for less than a year and Kirkuk did not survive a sting by a scorpion. A scorpion bit Wojtek too, but he was nursed back to health.

As the Polish Army prepared to enter the war zone in Italy during 1943, Animals were not permitted to accompany the army during the fighting. By giving the bear his own paybook, rank and serial number there would be no question that he was on the list of soldiers. In the Italian theatre,  the Polish 2nd Corp soon prepared to break through the German defenses at Monte Cassino where it successfully captured the stronghold after much bitter fighting.

During the conflict, Wojtek found himself at the artillery firing line where he was seen to move crates of ammunition close to a truck where he was chained. His friend Henryk Zacharewicz had been assigned to take care of the bear that day but when he was ordered forward as an artillery spotter, he had to leave Wojtek alone. Always inquisitive and willing to copy what the soldiers were doing, he began picking up the crates and moving towards the cannons.  The sounds of gunfire did not concern him and he displayed courage in his willingness to participate in the action. After the battle, the official badge of the 22nd Transport Company became a likeness of Wojtek holding a shell.

The war ended in May 1945 and the Polish soldiers were eventually sent across Europe to Berwick Upon Tweed in England  where they stayed at Winfield Camp. As the soldiers went through a process of demobilization, they would say goodbye to Wojtek, many knowing that they would never see him again since their journeys would take them to distant parts of the globe. Wojtek found a home at Edinburgh Zoo where he became a popular attraction with many visitors including ex-Polish servicemen who would talk to him in their language. His death in 1963 was met with sadness from those who knew him and it was reported in newspapers and radio stations.

In a time when Polish soldiers had lost their country to the Nazis and later to the Communists, Wojtek became a symbol which the soldiers were proud of, themselves knowing that they would not soon return to a free homeland.

A crow goes tobogganing using a mayonnaise lid

Lolong - Formally the Largest Croc in Captivity

Hunting Pythons

Great White Feeding Frenzy

Woman Raised by Bushmen, Mastering Big Cats

The Man Who Swims with Crocodiles

Fish Art

Dogs Playing Catch With Themselves

The Infamous Mapogo Lions

Source

“This coalition originated from Mala Mala from what I believe was called the “Eyrefield Pride” and moved into the Western Section in 2004. In their quest to dominate this area, they killed approximately 40 other lions which included lots of cubs, females and adult males. Once they had established themselves, the coalition split and two took over the Londoloziarea coming into the Singita area, whilst the other four took over the Singita and Western block area. In 2007 a new coalition moved down from the North into the Londolozi area and in the ensuing battles, one of the five in the new coalition was killed, as well as one of the two Mapogo. The one remaining Mapogo then returned to the Western block to join up with the other four of the coalition. He had not been part of the breeding of the cubs in the Western area, so when he arrived back he proceeded to kill all the cubs in the Western block. This earned him the nickname of Satan. Over the next three years, two of the coalition just disappeared and we have no idea what happened to them. The remaining three continued to dominate the Singita/Western Block area until last month when the Southern Pride, a pride of originally five males, made their move to establish territory in Singita/Western Block area. One of the Southern pride was killed eighteen months ago by the Shingalana pride that had taken over the dominancy at Londolozi.

About four weeks ago, the Southern pride had a clash with the Mapogo and it was evident that they had the upper hand, as the Mapogo ran from them. However, the Mapogo returned to the Savanna property, pursuing the herds of buffalo that they had learnt to live off and it was after one of these kills that the Southern pride located the Mapogo again. From what we can ascertain, they split up the Mapogo and went in pursuit of Satan whom they caught and killed on Mackenzie cutline near our western boundary. It was clear that this magnificent animal was no match for the four young intruders and they paralysed him by biting through the spine and, over the next hour and a half, proceeded to tear him apart. The last two remaining Mapogo went east, as far as we know, and it was rumoured that they have gone down to Dudley where they will meet up with the controlling coalition in that area. I doubt whether we will see these two again, but whatever happens, their days are numbered. However, they have had a good run. They lived longer than most male lions do, especially with the adversity of having TB, and it was an encouraging sign to see that they have lived to full term, despite this debilitating disease.

The new males are now busy hunting down the Ximungwe pride and the Ottawa females where the inevitable will happen and the four cubs in each of these prides will be killed.”

Comment #1 by "Willem Botha":

"During the time that I was Head of Anti Poaching in the Sabi Sands and did problem animal control in the entire reserve, I counted more than 100 other lions killed by the Mapogo’s. I myself had to shoot 13 lions who’s backs were broken by the Mapogos and left to die a horrible death. One such lion had to be shot in Exeter River Lodge camp as he was lying on the footpath leading to a guest room.

Myself and Dr Jonathan Swart was probably the first in the Western Sector to encounter the Mapogo’s as we walked into them one evening when we were tracking pangolin armed with nothing but tourches and a telemitry.

I witnessed the Mapogo’s kill a female on Singita near Exeter Portion 5 after she was thought not to be sumissive enough to the Mapogo’s. Once she was killed, one of the Mapogo’s mated with her and then they started feeding on her. This was also witnessed by Ds Jurgens De Jager from the NG Church i White River as him and his daughter accompanied me that evening.

I also witnessed the Mapogo’s kill an entire pride of lions on Picanini Utha. I can not remember howmany lions were in the pride. They went out to kill the cubs but the females tried to protect the cubs and they were killed as well.

On more than one occassion the Sand River Pride were driven out of the Sabi Sands by the Mapogo’s. 5 Were shot in April 2006 and the rest of the Sand River Pride were shot in January 2009 after they were driven out by the Mapogos and started feeding on cattle in Dumphries Village.

The Mapogos brought me many hours of joy as they were great males.

I was lucky to be able to dart all of them and to inoculate them against Rabies when there was an outbreak of the disease in and arround the Sabi Sands from November 2007 to May 2009.

Andrew Schoeman made a great video of the Mapogo’s intimidating a Hippo untill it got out of the water at Othawa Causeway where they caught it.

They also caught a Rhino near Robsons dam.

They may be gone but their memories live on!"

Reply by "Verney":

"Great right up, but some of the facts are not really spot on…I just want to shed some light on how the account really occured, and I purely want to help with the accuracy of the account here given and add something to the memory of the Mapogo. The South pride males were originally five…one of their no. was killed by the Majingilane males after they took over Eastern sector(Londolozi and Mala Mala mainly) from the two Mapogos, killing the one male known as Kinky tail, and driving his brother Satan/Mr.T into western sector as you stated. The South pride male was not killed by the Shingalana pride, and although young, apparently he put up a brave fight before he was mauled to death by the Majingilanes. When Mr.T returned to Western sector, he roused his brothers and led them east to challenge the four Majingilanes.

He himself had participated in the killing of the fifth Majingilane, with his brother Kinky-Tail, and when he and his four brothers met the Majingilane somewhere in Ottawa
afterwards(I think…) another Mapogo fell in battle…the one who they called Rasta. Another Mapogo called Pretty Boy had a spine injury inflicted by the Majingilane, and the Mapogos returned to Western sector defeated. They never challenged the Majingilane again. By now, alot of cub killing by Satan had already happened, I’m sure…and for a while things were stable for the males. But some time after, the Snip Tail Mapogo went wandering into Eastern sector and never returned.

The males stayed in western sector for a long time, with no other males eyeing their territory or challenging their dominance, but all the while, in southern Londolozi the South pride young males, now down to four after the Majingilane attack, were growing and getting stronger and more confident. Surrounded by the strong Majingilane to the east, and the KNP coalition to the south, and to the North, the killer Mapogos, we all thought the young males in a tight position and would have to leave the reserve and establish dominance elsewhere. this all changed when a female from the Ximunghwe pride, long dominated by the Mapogos, met the four young males in Singita.

some mating occured, and the series of events that would set about the end of Mapogo rule in Western sector were set in motion. Cozing up to the females of the Ximunghwe pride, the young males made a buffalo kill in Western sector. The three remain Mapogo found them…and from merely roaring forced the young males of their kill and scampering for safety. But then the South pride males met a Ximunghwe lioness again, and mating occured…and this was the eve of the end for the Mapogo males as a dominant presence in the Sabi Sand. bursting with new confidence and pumped with testosterone the South males probed deep into Mapogo territory, exploring the landscape and discovering the prides (Ximunghwe and Ottawa). All the while the Mapogo were deep in the south of their territory in Savanna on a buffalo kill and had stopped behaving territorially( i.e roaring, scent marking) the first sign of their growing lack of confidence. The once mighty unchallenged Mapogo were now old, battle scarred warlords, and the end of their dominance had come. When the 4 South pride males, now strong, full of confidence and in their prime…met the 3 remaining old Mapogo on Savanna, the Satan male was killed. His two brothers fled south, and almost left the reserve, and I believe they are still there (Pretty Boy and Makhulu). This fight occured in early 2012..and the KInky tail male died in June 2010, not 2007. further more the picture “Mapogo fighting” os not of Mapogo, but actually features two of the Majingilane coalition."

Pics of the Mapogo:

Man reunites with Gorilla he raised as his son

Whales almost eat Divers

Meanmugged by Gorilla

Jumpy the dog

Surfer survives being hit by whale

Black Bear approaches

Diver Mauled in Squid Attack

Riding a Whale Shark

Giant 'Sea Serpent' Caught on Camera

When a baby elephant sees the sea for the first time!

Dog Etiquette

The Penitant Bullfighter

Monster Goldfish Breeding in Lake Tahoe

Didn't Know They Grew This Big

Close Shark

Close Encounter With Shark

Near Shark Attack

Mantis Shrimp

The Best Animal Fights

Sea Otters Kill a Monkey at the Bronx Zoo

Saskatchewan Black Bear Climbing After

100 Retired Lab Chimps See Sky for First Time

Koko the Gorilla and her Kittens

Cute Baby Animals

Woman swims with great white shark

Humpback Whale Shows AMAZING Appreciation After Being Freed

Close Encounter With A Polar Bear

Leapord Kills Baboon but adopts its baby