I-Brolga, I-Cassowary, I-Emu, Kanye Ne-Jabiru—Ezinye Zezinyoni Ezimangalisayo Zase-Australia

Ngumlobeli we-Phaphama! e-Australia

NJENGOBA ihlome ngamazipho asabekayo, i-cassowary engakwazi ukundiza, echazwa njengenyoni eyingozi kunazo zonke emhlabeni, ingagxuma, ikhahlele, futhi intwengule ngamandla amakhulu. Enezici ezifanayo, futhi ehlome ngokufanayo, i-emu, ayiwadingi amaphiko—igijima njengombani. Lapho idansa, i-brolga imemezela ukuhlakanipha koMdali noMhleli Wokudansa kwayo. Futhi lapho ihamba, njengoba iyinde futhi izacile, i-jabiru iyisibonelo sezinyoni ezihloniphekile nezinesithunzi. Ukhozi olunesisila esivulekile, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi luyandiza noma lugade isilwane olusibulele, lunezici zomzingeli wasemoyeni onekhono elihle. Yebo, ngayinye yalezi zinyoni ezinhle iyisimangaliso sendalo ngempela. Khona-ke, sijabulela ukukwazisa . . .

I-cassowary Enombala Ogqamile —Umngane Wehlathi Lemvula

Njengoba inesisindo esiphakathi kwamakhilogremu angu-30 nangu-60, i-cassowary yaseningizimu, noma enamabilo amabili ehlala emahlathini emvula avundile asenyakatho-mpumalanga ye-Australia naseNew Guinea iyinyoni enhle kodwa engunkom’idla yodwa. Njengoba ingamamitha angaba mabili ukuphakama, eyensikazi inkulu kuneyenduna—futhi okungavamile ezinyonini—inombala ogqamile kuneyenduna, ezehlukanisa ngokuhlakanipha neyensikazi uma kungesona isikhathi sokukhwelana. Ngemva kokukhwelana, eyensikazi ibekela iqoqo lamaqanda aluhlaza ngokucwebezelayo, kodwa ngemva kwalokho iyawashiya, ishiye eyenduna ukuba iwafukamele futhi inakekele amatshwele. Ibe seyikhwelwa ezinye futhi izishiye namaqoqo amaqanda ukuba ziwanakekele!

Nokho, ukugawulwa kwamahlathi kuyawalimaza ama-cassowary. Izama ukwandisa amanani awo, iBillabong Sanctuary ngaseTownsville, eQueensland, iye yasungula isimiso sokuwazalanisa evalelwe, esihloselwe ukuphindisela lezi zinyoni endle lapho sezikhule ngokwanele. Nakuba edla inyama nohlaza, ngokuyinhloko ama-cassowary adla izithelo, azigwinya ziphelele. Ngakho, izimbewu zezinhlobo zezitshalo ezingaphezu kwekhulu zihamba emathunjini alenyoni zingagayekile futhi zisakazeke kulo lonke ihlathi ziyizigaxa eziqinile ezingumanyolo ovundisayo. Ochwepheshe balesi sikhungo bathi lokhu kungase kwenze ukuthi kuthenjelwe kuyi-cassowary, ngoba uma ingase iqothulwe izitshalo eziningi zinganyamalala. Kodwa ingabe lenyoni iyingozi kubantu?

Kubantu abayiziwula kuphela abasondela kakhulu kuyo. Eqinisweni, abantu bawusongo olukhulu kuyi-cassowary kunokuba yona ibe usongo kubo. Lapho isemthunzini ehlathini lemvula, lenyoni itshiyoza kakhulu ikuxwayisa ukuthi iseduze. Silalele lesi sixwayiso; ungasondeli. Ngokunokwenzeka, iyobaleka ingene ehlozini, isebenzisa isiqhova sayo esiqinile njengesivikelo sekhanda layo. Kodwa lapho ivinjezelwe noma ilimele noma lapho ivikela amatshwele ayo, ingase ikuhlasele uma usondela kakhulu.

I-emu—Uzulane Nophawu Lwesizwe

Njengoba ihlobene ngokuseduze futhi ithé ukuba yinde kune-cassowary, i-emu itholakala ezingxenyeni eziningi zasemaphandleni ase-Australia. Ezinyonini, intshe kuphela enkulu kunayo. I-emu ethuswa ubala inemilenze emide, enamandla eyenza ikwazi ukuntininiza ngejubane elingamakhilomitha angaba ngu-50 ngehora, futhi njenge-cassowary, ngamunye wemilenze yayo unamazipho amathathu ayingozi. Nokho, ngokungafani nalenyoni ehlala endaweni eyodwa, i-emu iwuzulane futhi ayinalo ulaka. Idla noma yini nje—izibungu, iklabishi, ngisho namabhuzi amadala! Ngemva kokuba i-emu yensikazi isibekele amaqanda ayo aluhlaza ngokushubile—ngokuvamile aphakathi kwayisikhombisa nayishumi, kodwa ngezinye izikhathi afinyelela kwangamashumi amabili—njenge-cassowary, nayo ishiyela ukufukamela nokunakekela amatshwele kweyenduna.

Ukuhlangana nabeLungu kwayibangela ubunzima i-emu. Abafuduki bayiqeda ngokushesha eTasmania. Futhi ngenxa yokuthanda kwayo ukolweni, abantu bakulelizwekazi bayibiza ngokuthi isilwane esiwuhlupho futhi yaba isisulu sabazingeli abakhokhelwayo. Nokho, naphezu kokubulawa ngokungenamkhawulo, amanani ama-emu amelana kakhulu nakho, kangangokuba eNtshonalanga Australia kwaphakwa impi yokubulawa kwalezi zinyoni ngo-1932. Uhulumeni wabiza amabutho ayehlome ngezibhamu ezingontuluntulu ezimbili zohlobo lwe-Lewis! Nakuba ingadumile ngokuhlakanipha kwayo, i-emu yayinqoba lempi. “Lempi” yaba ihlaya emphakathini nehlazo kwezombangazwe; izinhlamvu ezingu-10 000 zabulala izinyoni ezingamakhulu ambalwa kuphela. Kodwa empini yakamuva yokuwaqeda—ama-emu ebhekene nezibhamu ezinemibhobho emibili zababulali bezinyoni abakhokhelwayo nabalimi ababetholé izinhlamvu zezibhamu zamahhala kuhulumeni—ama-emu anqotshwa.

Nokho, namuhla i-emu iwuphawu lwesizwe. Ibhekene ne-kangaroo ophawini lwesizwe lwase-Australia futhi ayiphazanyiswa muntu emahlathini. Isomiso siyisitha sayo esikhulu. Ama-emu ayazalaniswa futhi afuywe ukuze kukhiqizwe imikhiqizo eminingi: inyama engenamafutha; isikhumba esiqinile, esiyinguganaboya; izimpaphe; nowoyela otholakala endaweni yokugcina amafutha esifubeni salenyoni. Ukutholakala kwalamafutha endaweni eyodwa yikhona okwenza lenyama ingabi namafutha.

Ingabe Uyakuthanda Ukudansa?

Mhlawumbe awukuthandi, kodwa ngokuqinisekile ama-brolga ayakuthanda. Lapho bengasemanzini bashaya “unyawo lwempungushe,” “noma bebangaki [labo nohhemu abampunga], kusuka ezinyonini ezimbili kuya kwezingaba yishumi nambili,” kusho incwadi ethi The Waterbirds of Australia, “bashaya ujenga babhekane bese beqala ukudansa. Baxoxoma ngemilenze yabo emide baye phambili bavule amaphiko kancane futhi bawanyakazise. Bekhothamisa futhi benqekuzisa amakhanda abo, baya phambili nasemuva, betshiyozela phansi. Ngezinye izikhathi lezi zinyoni ziyama bese ziphakamisa amakhanda azo, zitshiyoze kakhulu. Lezi zinyoni zingase zigxumele phezulu ngamafidi [amamitha] ambalwa zibuye zehle zivule amaphiko amakhulu anombala omnyama nompunga. Lama-Brolga asakaza izingcezu zamagatsha noma zotshani lapha nalaphaya abese ezama ukuzibamba noma ukuzihlaba ngoqhwaku lwazo lapho ziwa.” Umdlalo oshukumisayo, ikakhulukazi uma sicabangela ubukhulu balezi zinyoni, ezinokuphakama okungaphezu kwemitha namaphiko anobubanzi obungaba amamitha amabili!

Nakuba izinhlobo eziningi zezinyoni zidansa ngendlela ekhangayo phakathi nesikhathi sokukhwelana, i-brolga, omunye wonohhemu abakhulu kunabo bonke, idansa unyaka wonke. Eqinisweni, igama layo livela enganekwaneni yaboMdabu base-Australia ephathelene nomdansi wesifazane odumile okuthiwa uBuralga. Akavumanga lapho eshelwa umenzi wemilingo omubi. Lomenzi wemilingo wamenza unohhemu oyiciko lokudansa.

I-jabiru—Ukuphela Kukanogolantethe Wase-Australia

Inyoni ethanda ukuhlala emaxhaphozini, i-jabiru, noma unogolantethe onentamo emnyama, ijwayele ukuya ezingwini ezisenyakatho nezisempumalanga ye-Australia. (I-jabiru yaseNingizimu Melika iwuhlobo oluhlukile lukanogolantethe.) Njengoba izacile, inobude obungamasentimitha angu-130, futhi inombala okhangayo, ngokusobala i-jabiru ihlukile emashumini ezinkulungwane zezinye izinyoni ezihlala ezindaweni ezinamaxhaphozi. Lapho ihamba exhaphozini, ifaka uqhwaku lwayo olunamandla emanzini ngomfutho kangangokuba kudingeka ibhakuzise amaphiko ayo kancane ukuze ikwazi ukunqanda lomfutho.

Futhi yeka ukuthi anamandla kangakanani lawo maphiko! Njengoba ivula amaphiko ayo anobubanzi obungaba amamitha amabili, izinsiba ezingaphansi zivuleka njengeminwe, i-jabiru indiza kancane izungeza ize igcine isiyisiphambano esincane esibhakabhakeni. Ngempela, i-jabiru esekelwa umoya, namaphiko ayo amade, intamo, nemilenze, iwuphawu oluhle lwasezindaweni ezinamaxhaphozi enyakatho ye-Australia, lapho ikhanyiswa ilanga lasenkabazwe eseliyoshona.

Ukhozi Olunesisila Esivulekile—Umpetha Wasesibhakabhakeni

Ebangeni elifushane ukusuka esiqongweni sentaba esiyidwala eVictoria, futhi emoyeni onamandla owaxosha zonke ezinye izinyoni esibhakabhakeni, kwakudlala ukhozi olunesisila esivulekile. Umlobi uDavid Hollands wabona ubuciko bokundiza angakaze abubone: “Lolu khozi lwama emoyeni,” ebhala, “cishe lunganyakazi futhi lukhululeke ngokuphelele kulomoya onamandla. . . . Njengoba ngangibhekile, lwehla, lwavala amaphiko alo ukuze lutshuze lushone phansi. Lwehla ibanga elingamamitha ayikhulu lwase luvula amaphiko kancane kancane, lwenyuka lwaphindela phezulu ekuphakameni elalikukho ngaphambi kokwehla. . . . Lwafinyelela lapho ngokushesha ngokuphenduka kanye, lwase lundizela phezulu [futhi] lwehla lutshuza ngokuphindaphindiwe, lwehlela phansi esigodini ngendlela ephawulekayo futhi lubuye luphindele phezulu ngendlela ehlaba umxhwele.”

Njengoba inamaphiko anobubanzi obungamamitha amabili nengxenye nesisila esivuleke ngokusobala, lenkosi ekhangayo nenamandla akunakwenzeka uyiphambanise nenye inyoni esibhakabhakeni sase-Australia. Amazipho ayo angaxhakathisa ngamandla angamathani amathathu! Nokho, isikhathi eside okuwukuphela kwendlela “efanele” yokubona ukhozi olunesisila esivulekile kwakuyilapho ludutshulwa. Njengokhozi olufana nalo lwaseMelika, olwadutshulwa ngesihluku lapho kuvikelwa izimboni zama-salmon nezikavolo, lolu khozi lwase-Australia lwashushiswa ngenxa yokubulala amawundlu ngezinye izikhathi. “Zimbalwa ezinye izinyoni ezidla inyama emhlabeni,” kusho incwadi ethi Birds of Prey, “eziye zashushiswa kanzima njengoKhozi Olunesisila Esivulekile . . . Cishe isikhathi esiyiminyaka eyikhulu lwalubhekwa njengesilwane esiwuhlupho . . . , futhi umuntu wayekhokhelwa imali ewumklomelo uma kunobufakazi bokuthi ulubulele.”

Nokho, kuleminyaka edlule, lokhu kumangalelwa kwachithwa. Kwatholakala ukuthi ukudla kwalo okuyinhloko ngonogwaja basendle futhi ngezinye izikhathi izilwane zomdabu, kuhlanganise nama-wallaby anesisindo esingaphezu kwalo ngokuphindwe kabili. Ekugcineni, lesi sambulo sabangela ukuba lolu khozi lube umngane wabantu futhi luthole isivikelo esingokomthetho.

Yebo, yeka ukuthi izinyoni ziyingxenye eyinkimbinkimbi ngokumangalisayo, enhle, futhi ebaluleke kanjani yesimiso sezinto eziphilayo emhlabeni! Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi siyokufunda lokhu, kodwa ngokuvamile ukuhlakanipha kuyephuza ukufika—ngemva kokuba ukuhaha nokungazi sekwenze umonakalo. Kodwa yeka indlela okududuza ngayo ukwazi ukuthi uma siqaphela, ngisho namanje izindlebe zethu zingajabulela ukutshiyoza kwezinyoni esibhakabhakeni, emahlathini, nasemaxhaphozini aleplanethi enhle!

[Izithombe ekhasini 16]

I-“cassowary”

I-“brolga”

[Umthombo]

Left and bottom: Australian Tourist Commission (ATC); top middle and right: Billabong Sanctuary, Townsville, Australia

[Izithombe ekhasini 17]

Ukhozi

I-“emu”

I-“jabiru”

[Umthombo]

Eagle chicks and emu head: Graham Robertson/NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Australia; flying eagle: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Australia; emu with young and jabiru: Australian Tourist Commission (ATC)

[Imithombo Yesithombe ekhasini 15]

Left: Graham Robertson/NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Australia; right: Australian Tourist Commission (ATC); top: Billabong Sanctuary, Townsville, Australia