A different kind of DogCar: Following the wild ones
By Kim Campbell Thornton
March 9, 2010
We tore across the grassy scrubland, as much as one can tear across grassy scrubland. Our top speed was probably 40 kilometers per hour, a little slower when there were obstacles in our way.
Who knew that I would find a DogCar to write about in Botswana? Except this one is not for hauling dogs to shows or agility trials or the veterinary clinic. No, this one is for going cross-country, following after packs of African wild dogs as they move through their enormous territory. It mows down bushes and small trees (which usually spring right back up again) and goes over logs with ease.
The 4×4 URI (which means “jump” in the Khoisan language) was designed by a Namibian farmer and is used by Kwando Lagoon Camp, where we stayed, and its sister camp Lebala, specifically for seeking out the wild dogs who live in the area. The open vehicles seat up to seven passengers, plus the guide in the driver’s seat and the tracker, who sits on a seat firmly attached to the hood.
What makes it different from the vehicles at other camps? Carlos, our guide, thumped the hood. “This is steel. That’s why we don’t mind bumps. We can go over stumps and big logs on the ground.”
Sometimes there were big holes that we didn’t see until we were in them or big logs blocking our route. We’d start over them and then stop. I’d think, ‘Well, this is it. We’re not going to get out of this one. Someone will have to come tow us.” And then Carlos would put it in high 4 and off we’d go.
The only trick, he says, is you have to know how to drive through sand and mud. If you don’t, that’s when you get stuck.
I’m thinking field trialers and Malibu dog owners in mudslide areas might want to special-order a few of these babies.
I dunno, Kim. Bet the fuel economy sucks.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — March 9, 2010 @ 8:36 am
It does look like something you’d see at a pheasant preserve.
Lycaon pictus— every common name for this animal in the English language doesn’t do it justice. Lyacaon means wolf in Greek. Pictus means painted in Latin. I prefer to call them painted wolves, instead of wild dogs. Calling them wild dogs implies that they are feral.
Comment by retrieverman — March 9, 2010 @ 1:24 pm
I AM CURIOUS IF ANY CAT OWNERS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CAT’S HEALTH DUE TO FANCY FEAST CAT FOOD. I HAVE READ SEVERAL ARTICLES ON THE RECALL AND WONDER WHY SOME PET STORES ARE STILL SELLING THESE PRODUCTS. PLEASE RESPOND IF YOUR PET HAS BECOME ILL OR EVEN WORSE FROM EATING ANY PARTICULAR BRAND OF CAT FOOD. RIP LUCY - A BEAUTIFUL TUXEDO CAT
Comment by lucy lu — March 9, 2010 @ 4:18 pm
Oh, details, details, Gina. It’s not like we’re ever going to run out of oil or have to worry about that silly global warming thing. (Snark, for those of you who don’t know me.) I thought I asked about fuel economy, but I don’t have anything about it in my notes. I agree, retrieverman, but the trends seems to be with the AWD nomenclature. I have better pix of them, but I wanted to give an idea of what it was like trying to follow them in such high grass.
Comment by Kim Thornton — March 9, 2010 @ 4:24 pm