FADUCO Week 4 Rankings

    I was out of the country from September 22 to October 2. While most countries didn't allow Americans to come visit them, I found one that did. And had cheap flights almost a third of the normal peak season fare. So back in late June, I rolled the dice and planned a 10-day trip to Kenya. While I did have to get tested within 96 hours before my departure and undergo a thermal body scan like the one in the Predator movies, it wasn't too great a burden. The hardest thing was having to wear a mask for almost 24 consecutive hours since I had 3 flight legs, two of which were longer than 8 hours. Kenya also required masks indoors and most places actually scanned my temperature before allowing me to enter. By the way, there was ZERO COVID screening or questions upon returning to the US. The adventure was worth bringing to FADUCO the new spirit animals for this year. Some of you may have seen my Facebook photos I've posted. I'm planning to have quite a few posted to Google photos later this week as well. 

In order of worst to first in terms of playoff odds, here are the 2020 Spirit Animals for each team. As always, you can click on the photo to magnify it.

10. PJ - 3% - Baboon

Most locals I met reviled baboons, since they can be greedy thieves. However, they do have a strong sense of family and are very organized. It was cool watching a troop of baboons move along. There was a big male at the point and at the very rear, with the babies in the middle. At my camp in the Maasai Mara, the owner and staff make an exception and feed a male who's had an injured hand for over a year, since they felt sorry for him. PJ's playoff odds is almost as sad.

9. Kevin - 8% - Hyena

Most of the evenings, the Hyenas would call out in the night at both places I stayed outside the city. Also got to see them beg a lion for scraps. The lion would always chase them away when they approached the carcass. I actually felt sorry a bit for the hyenas.  Also saw one unsuccessfully chase some antelope in the late afternoon, its chance of catching one was like Kevin's chances of making the playoffs.

8. Tuna- 9% - White Rhino

The mighty rhino - while they once roamed the plains and forests throughout Kenya, they are now reduced to a few in fenced-in parks, under guard from poachers. I was very lucky to see these 3 near the end of the day at Lake Nakuru National Park. Sad to admit, the reason they are poached is because of Chinese and Vietnamese who believe the horn can cure strokes and other afflictions. Much shame, like Tuna's fall from being a repeat champion a few years ago.

7. Justin - 28% -  Warthog

Most people's favorite Lion King character. Unfortunately in the real world, Pumbaa is a favorite meal of choice for most predators. So they can be a bit shy at times.  Often, they had young ones so that was expected. But we also saw one flash by us on the road while biking, which was pretty cool.    

6. Donny - 40% - African Buffalo

The African buffalo has the reputation as one of the most dangerous land animals in Africa, as it can charge without provocation. One afternoon, I decided to walk back from the lake to my AirBnB farmhouse, but forgot that a herd was laying about right next to the dirt road (third photo). So I had to take a roundabout way, giving them a wide berth.  While Donny's record is a pedestrian 2-2, his team can be dangerous to play against. 

5.  Hai - 42% - Hippo

Hippos may look slow and clumsy, but they're more dangerous than crocodiles near the water. When going to land to feed at night, the alpha male sprays his poop to make a trail for the others to follow him. The guide told me how alpha males can identify baby hippos who aren't his by the scent of their poop, and then kill them. They're the main reason why we were encouraged to remain in our cottage/tent at night in both places we stayed in, as the places were near water. They may start slow, but you don't mess with them. Like Hai's team, who has won 3 straight. 

4. Vu - 49% - Lion

The female lions are the real heroes who do the heavy lifting in the pride. They do the hunting and take care of the cubs.  Lion King should have been Lion Queen. The big-maned adult males do eat after the females, however. Then it's the young males' turn, who then have to deal with hyenas and vultures. They also get rejected by females who are nursing their wee cub.  We were very lucky to go during the pandemic, as the park had a lot fewer vehicles. Our guide said that there would have been around 20 vehicles in normal times instead of the half dozen or so around the lion kill site. Football-wise, Vu doesn't dominate the landscape, but his pride has had a wee cub of his own since early June.

3. Byron - 54% - Leopard

The other big cat in the Big 5. The leopard is the hardest one to spot among the Big 5. Leopards are solitary and stealthy creatures. It's usually very hard to see them in the day, and usually are hidden in the thick bush or high up a tree.  I was very fortunate to see a mother leopard and her cub during this trip, video here. Leopards are ambush predators who sneak up on unsuspecting prey. Like Byron, who has defied expectations with a 3-1 start and active roster management that makes sense. 

2. Matt - 71% - Cheetah

Known as the fastest land animal, the Cheetah is also the best looking cat in my view. While it is weaker than the lion or the leopard, it nonetheless attracts a lot of camera clicks. The Maasai Mara has a pretty sizable population of this cat, and I was very lucky that on the first day driving to our camp, we came across a mother cheetah and 2 cubs.  Like a cheetah, Matt is off to the fastest start in the league with a 4-0 record.  Yet, his staying power is still in question, similar to the lack of stamina for cheetahs in pursuit.

 

1. Victor - 94% - African Elephant

The dominant animal of the savannah, answerable to no other. Their only threat are again certain evil Asians, out for their tusks. There aren't as many elephants in the Maasai Mara as in some of the other parks in Kenya, so there wasn't as much fatigue in viewing these majestic giants.  Our vehicles had no problem getting close to big cats, but kept a respectable distance from the elephants. Victor seems to be a juggernaut with a complete team this season so far, but the season is still long.