Lockdown and My Day with Bulgarian Goats

The sun casts cascading light on the Bulgarian goats of Peshawar. Ancient nomadic traditions kept alive by a band of brothers seem almost at odds with modern life and hanker back to a simpler time. Flocks of 30 goats sometimes swell into the hundreds. A band of mostly female goats, with a few of the strongest bucks retained for breeding purposes, slowly flow by. Armed with sticks and dogs for protection this brother's band takes advantage of endless grazing in the rural areas. Farmers never mind them traversing their properties, as they reduce weed maintenance and fertilize the fallow fields.

The sun casts cascading light on the Bulgarian goats. Ancient nomadic traditions kept alive by a band of brothers seem almost at odds with modern life and hanker back to a simpler time. Flocks of 30 goats sometimes swell into the hundreds. A band of mostly female goats, with a few of the strongest bucks retained for breeding purposes, slowly flow by. Armed with sticks and dogs for protection this brother's band takes advantage of endless grazing in the rural areas. Farmers never mind them traversing their properties, as they reduce weed maintenance and fertilize the fallow fields.

I sit in wonder at these simple people and glorious animals. Sometimes sold for their meat. Sometimes sold to become shoes or belts, most of these animals live a long and peaceful existence producing milk for the masses and the lucky few. Nursing children and elderly alike enjoy the richness and freshness of this commodity.

Always accompanied by donkeys to carry tents, their portable homes, these nomads stay where their day ends and the sun retreats. They live off of the land and are bound to it. It is a glorious affair. A gentle wind and a tender light envelops the herd. With fur that appears perfectly groomed the Bulgarian masterpieces are just as they have been designed. Low maintenance, hardy, playful and hungry they slowly pass me by nibbling on one weed and then the next. Under the watchful eye of dogs they are well maintained and protected from anyone or anything that might wish to cause them harm.

Such scenes become more poignant day by passing day, as the world is engulfed with phrases like "social distancing", "death toll", "infection rate". Here there is no need to struggle with social distance. The corners of each field provides endless spacing. For a brief moment the world is very far away, and so are its troubles. Only the beauty of these goats do I see. Eager to create a memory I snap a few pics. I know as times may grow more difficult, I will likely reflect upon this moment in time and these pictures to remind me there is some piece of the world outside that is not falling apart, some piece of the world that remains as it always has.