The urban barnyard

Sadly, due to my suburban upbringing and subsequent downtown conditioning, I've not had much opportunity to observe barnyard animals too closely.  In Zambia however, the barnyard comes to the city.

The rainy season is in full swing here.  When it rains, it rains with gusto - I marvel at how the sky could possibly pick up that much moisture from the ocean and still have so much left to dump on Zambia.  This past week I commented to a friend that I might have to grow gills and fins to survive my morning commute. 

Anyways, with the arrival of the rains, the chickens that I see roaming around the grounds of the BOMA (British Overseas Military Administration) building where my office is located have proven that they are not as dumb as they look; they actually get out of the rain by hopping up on the covered breezeways for shelter.  I am told that the chickens return to their owners at night however, so the limits of their intelligence stop at finding ways to keep dry.  I figure a return to one's owner could spell a sudden and rather bloody end...

Chickens in the breezeway.  Perhaps there is such thing as a free lunch.

Another barnyard phenomenon was discovered on one of my recent community walking tours.  We actually found a small piggery in someone's yard.  Though there were only two pigs in the enclosure, the place reeked of manure.  Unsurprisingly, the neighbours were not too pleased about the situation.  The owners promised to remove the pigs by December 2nd, so I suppose a follow up visit is in order.

A community nuisance, to be certain.

In one of the communities on the outskirts of town, we also saw some boys herding cattle through the street.  Somehow, this seemed more appropriate than chickens or pigs, but it's still strange for me to see.  With all the local produce and livestock around, I certainly feel closer to the origins of my diet.

Bovine pedestrians in Kaleya.