Pippa:

I too wanted to cry in reading this article.

On one side I agree with you on the over-development of the parks/reserves. However, remember also that were it not for the wildlife lovers who come to those parks/reserves there would probably be no wildlife at all. The citizens would have taken all the land for their homes/shambas/cattle. People like us are the eyes and ears of what is going on in the out of the way places, and hopefully all of us are also encouraging people we meet in Africa to think conservation. When we share our love of wildlife with people in Africa who may never have seen wildlife, it is making them stop and think of how valuable wildlife is to them.

My Amboseli driver told me that some time last winter he drove a reporter from a Nairobi newspaper on game drives. The reporter commented "isn't it a shame to have all this land with only animals, while people are living in slums in Nairobi - wouldn't it be better to put the people here"? And this was from a supposedly EDUCATED person. He just didn't get it that the wildlife was what was helping monetarily to keep his country running. Without the wildlife, no-one would come and the country would be in a far more sorry state than it is now.

I have to stop and remind myself when I get frustrated with lack of policies in Africa, that most African countries have very young governments and one can't expect them to know and do everything all at once. You and I come from countries that have learned the hard way over many years that once our wildlife is gone, it is gone, and we don't want to see it happen elsewhere. I also understand Africa not wanting to copy other countries policies, but they could take what works in one country and mold it to fit their own country. Anything is far better than doing nothing at all as at present.l