Evening in Sahara

Story 7/21: Semi-wildlife in Sahara

Evening in Sahara

Howling hyenas

February, 1986

It has been quite a long day. 13-year-old boy is making notes to his diary on a desk past its prime. Whole day in a bus, heading south. From the afternoon sand has been the main ingredient of the scenery. A stop at a low laid village for afternoon coffee for the adults and to visit a local zoo.

Edges of Sahara is a harsh environment for humans, yet someone had decided to collect a small variety of animals and put them on display to get the living. Crown jewel of the gathering was a male lion. The mane around its narrow face was shaggy and bones were visible on sides and shoulders. 

Meat was a luxury to the locals, so no wonder a king of the Animalia had probably been slightly malnourished throughout the African winter. Conflicting thoughts crossed in the mind of this light-haired teenager. Yes, many of the cages and spaces reserved for the animals were small and yes, the royal tomcat appeared bit starved.

So was it right to visit such a place. Well, on a packet journey it was not much of an option to deny, anyway. On the other hand, the entrance fees of a full bus allowed the owners to serve something more than rats to their main attraction.

A sudden burst of a strange laughter freezes the thoughts of the young traveller. What on Earth can make such a peculiar noise… now a reply from the other side of the village. Boy shivers in excitement as he opens the wooden window shutters.

Saharan night sky is dark and edges of infrequent low buildings are drawn sharp against the rising moon. The breaking howl cuts again through cold air – growing to a choir of striking laughter. Hyenas! There were some also at the zoo earlier today. But these were wild and living on their own terms. Right there in the darkness. Sharing the same chilly desert. 

Now they were likely on search of dinner. Even though it is really seldom that hyenas would attack on people, it felt good to be able to put on the exterior covers to windows before returning to the dairy. Young heart was racing due to howls and excitement of the day.

Eventually the length of the day took its tolls and this slightly tanned youngster dipped into restless sleep. 

Some background data:

Tunisia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia

Sahara: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahara

Hyena: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyena

Lion: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion

Solar energy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_energy

Energy conservation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_conservation

Questions – see links above, books, Internet or digital media for answers:

1. Conservation. Two animals mentioned in the story were hyenas and lions. Which of the two are more endangered? Can you think for reasons why?
2. Deserts. In Sahara the temperature changes between day and night can be quite big. Give two reasons to this.
3. Solar energy. There have been discussions on covering large areas of Sahara with solar panels to produce energy. Think of two advantages and disadvantages of that.
4. Discuss. Your view: What thoughts did rise in your mind having read the story? Discuss with your pair.

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