Since I wrote stories on wildlife harassment and game drive guidelines, readers have been requesting copies. Therefore, I have created a tab “game drive guidelines” on this site where you can click and download your PDF copy of those guidelines to take with you on safari or to pass on to someone who is!
Almost off on game drive Salt Lick Lodge
Happy New Year to all and many blessings for 2012!
I pray that 2012 will bring solutions to the many issues that plague the world’s wildlife: poaching, human/wildlife conflict, wildlife harassment, vanishing habitat, trophy hunting and the bushmeat trade.
As this last day of 2011 comes to a close, it is very sad to hear that three lions have been killed in Nairobi National Park – a result of human/wildlife conflict. So I pray that news such as this will be few and far between in 2012.
I’ve decided that I will make a conscious effort to write more articles about wildlife that are upbeat and positive. Perhaps about that conservation group making a difference or that the Maasai actually decided not to kill a lion in retribution.
If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them!
Happy New Years!
Each year 600 lion hunting permits are sold in Africa with 556 of those going to Americans.
Photo taken by Mary Purvis
Filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, who live in Botswana and document the lives of lions mentioned this on Nightline last night. Their documentary “The Last Lions” will air during National Geographic’s Big Cat Week.
With Africa’s big cat population declining rapidly for a variety of reasons, lions are having a hard enough time without hunters butting in.
How do we stop these hunters before they butcher lions into extinction? They have all sorts of excuses why it is ok to hunt these majestic creatures. Do they think there is a bottomless pit of wildlife to kill for their enjoyment, and that they are here just for them to hunt?
Somehow the selling of these hunting licenses must be stopped, and awareness is the first step.
If this is not stopped along with other atrocities against big cats, then there is a good chance that our great-grandchildren will never see a big cat in the wild, and that infuriates me no-end.
National Geographic channel’s Big Cat Week commences Sunday, December 11th with the airing of “The Last Lions” on Friday, December 16th.
The link for the Nightline segment is below:
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/jouberts-film-worlds-lions-expose-peril-big-cats/story?id=15117528
National Geographic’s web-site has further information: www.causeanuproar.org
Please pass the links along – it’s so important!
I’ve just finished posting the first three parts of my series on wildlife harassment in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve.
I was unable to attach the video to part three due to a software glitch, so here it is:
Thank you Margaret for filming this! It brings to the world a vital issue that needs to be resolved and soon! Please click below to view:
Leopard harassment in Maasai Mara documented by Margaret Lamont
Anyone who has ever been on safari has seen the scenario of a multitude of vehicles loaded with tourists up way too close and personal with wildlife, usually carnivores.
tourist crowding in front of a leopard
Years ago during my first trip to Kenya, I was one of those participants. The driver tore after a cheetah that was going for a kill. When the dust settled we all had amazing photos.
It wasn’t until later I realized what the driver had done, and what the ramifications were. I had no idea it was wrong, since safari code and conduct had never been discussed.
Because of my experiences I have written a nine part series about wildlife harassment. In the process I realized I dug up more questions than answers and only touched the surface – but it’s a start.
So here’s the link to part one:
wildlife harassment taints Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve
