The Watusi

I don’t know how long the sign was up before I noticed it, but I became aware a few months ago of a place advertising itself as a “Watusi Experimental Ranch.”

Really? Watusi? This is one of those esoteric subjects tucked back – way back – in my mind. I worked very briefly at a private zoo in California that had Watusi cattle, native to Africa and considered a sign of wealth, often sacred. Unlike typical cattle found in the U.S., Watusi can forage under more sparse conditions. Wikipedia indicates that humans drink their milk. One of those factoids floating up from my brain is that their blood is also drunk. It’s just surprising enough that I don’t think I made that up.

So I finally tiptoed up to the fence and tried to get a shot of our Washington Watusis. One cooperated and showed its massive horns which can be up to eight feet across from tip to tip. The second Watusi was much more interested in grazing until my feet started getting numb from the cold. But you can still see the horns sticking out.

Here’s the sign.