Big cats and conflict – a personal story
www.wildlifedirect.org
Baraza
18 Mar 2010
I don’t want to sound like a broken record but things are looking really tough for WildlifeDirect and we will be announcing some new changes shortly. Tough times force s to think and rethink, to get creative and find new solutions, that’s where we are at right now …I have a strong belief that we will be alright – but getting there is another matter.
Nairobi park lions often stray to neighbouring areas
Something weird is happening - I’m being followed by some young people in a game called Urgent Evoke – A crash course in saving the world. I don’t know much about the game but feel rather special that someone or some people, out there think I’m changing the world and that my life is worth following! Wow! (hope I don’t disappoint). Sometime I’m not so sure about things and today is a case in point …
First I’ll admit that I chose conservation as a career when I was very young. I had no idea how difficult a career it would be – ESPECIALLY IN AFRICA and ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE AFRICAN. There just isn’t funding for it. In t his work we are constantly seeking to help others understand, and at the same time, we need to earn a living from conservation – I feel very sad that so many people with great potential have left the field of conservation because they just can’t afford to live! It seems like a huge brain waste, not to mention losing the hearts of so many people who really do care. I’ve just returned from Washington DC where I met with a number of conservation organizations and was amazed, there’s no doubt that there is money for conservation – but getting it for African issues is nigh impossible. We find ourselves qualified as ecologists but in our jobs we are jugglers, it involves research, education, awareness, publications, science, social, fund raising, economic and political activities….it can be confusing but never boring
During the last few weeks have been more than exciting than normal – My travels took me to Washington and Boston which was cold, windy and wet, lots of concrete and cheesy sandwiches, steamy subways and American Idols on TV (I don’t have a TV – I tell a lie, we have the box, but we never turn it on). I can’t believe that so many people want to emigrate to USA – in my opinion we are so privileged to live in Africa where the weather is delicious all the time.
curiosity was supposed to kill the cat, not Panda
But coming home was bitter sweet. While I was away my favourite dog sniffed out and found a leopard who was very close to the house at about at 10.30 am – Panda barked at it to defend us, the cat sprang and took down Panda right there and then.
I love big cats, especially leopards, but I can’t help feeling quite angry at this specific cat. I always knew that living next to the Nairobi park would come with it’s risks for our beloved pets who are really much more like family members. Ive been back for only 2 days and have heard lions every night, they walking about the garden at night and have been seen on the driveway. They took down a baby giraffe a few days ago. Then there’s a rhino and her calf who have decided that the park aint good enough – pedestrians and cyclists feel a little unsafe. Losing Panda, my beloved puppy, to a leopard made me suddenly realize the trauma and anger that every member of the local community must go through every time a cow, goat or sheep, or child for that matter, gets injured or killed by wildlife. I could afford to get my dog to the vet but many people out here would not. Sadly she did not make it.
And then on my way home today, I noticed a herd of zebra running in a frenzy, a quick view through binoculars and I could clearly see two men with two dogs trying to round up zebra and impalas – clearly they were hunting. That made me so mad I reported them immediately.
but then later I got a text message on my phone from a friend “lions in the neighbourhood, already eaten cows”
Now I’m struggling – whoever lost cows tonight is probably as upset as I was when that leopard took Panda. He or she is likely stalking those lions as I write, with spear, some poison and possibly even a gun. It’s wrong to kill lions but how can we live in such close proximity? These are the difficult questions we have to answer if we are to save some of the worlds most endangered, charismatic and valuable species. My personal experience has given me a new insight into the issue of conflict. I know appreciate just how difficult it is for poor people to tolerate predators like lions, hyenas, leopards and jackals near their livestock.
I wish I had answers, solutions, and a simple explanation. Tomorrow I face two different interviews on these issues of conservation and poverty, climate change, human wildlife conflict, and protected area management. I really don’t know what I’m going to say.
Article & photo at: www.wildlifedirect.org
