It seems quite unnecessary for humans to have so many distractions in life, some which are pleasant and others that just waste our time.
I hope this year will be one with less of the latter and more of the useful ones, but more importantly just less distractions.
I think most people are back to the grindstone and gearing themselves for the long haul. I took the long road to find the dogs the other day while Kim was on holiday. We like to keep tabs on them to make sure they are still doing well. It took me two days to find them, but when I did they were up to their old sports and all eighteen dogs were doing well.
For the wild animals everyday involves one thing – survival. The hyena cubs are growing up now and are beginning to stretch their legs, widening their territory as they explore the lie of the land.
This last year, I’ve had the privilege of being with the cubs as they’ve grown up, as each one developed their own personality and this year I continue crossing the divide between man and wild animal.
Join us on the adventure, make your life an adventure and invite others to come along for the ride.
I’ll catch you on the flip side.
Hi Mark and Kim,
Thanks for the video. The Hyena cubs are looking good!. I can’t wait to see the dogs again too! Great to hear they are all well.
Thank you for the update! Love the pics and video. Glad to see that everyone is doing well.
Thanks !
I’ve been looking forward to another post and this is a good one. I’m happy to see the hyenas again. And your blog post is a particularly relevant and well stated. So thank you for both.
The fun, playful music matches the hyaenas behavior perfectly. Another great video, Mark! Thanks for the update on the dogs, I’m glad to hear they are all doing well!
Hello Mark and Kim,
I do have a question.
On the Animal Planet there is a series called Into the Lion’s Den.
In a game reserve in Namibia, a former cattle ranch, some investors have set up a game reserve. in this game reserve they have some “problem” lions. Lions which behave agressive to vehicles and humans. A guy tries to change this behaviour, so these lions adapt to human visitors, otherwise these lions will be removed out of the reserve. in name of ecotourism, the management is afraid that less visitors will enter the parc.
This makes me feel very sad; we humans enter the territory of the lions and the lions have to adapt, so more visitors will pay for a safari. Even my wife, who sometimes thinks i am mad, feels this way.
What is your opinion about this? (and this question is also for the wildcast community)
kind regards,
Douwe
To answer your question, I would have to say I agree with you. It’s not very fair on the lions, or for us.
Based on your posts, you seem to waste very little time. Here’s to you mate.
I have made a mistake, the series is called “into the pride”
Hi Douwe,
I agree with you here , but the reality is that Money is king .
I’d like to know where the lions are being “removed” to , since they cant be around humans or veichles .
I wouldn’t be a fan of zoo’s personaly , and worst case senario - I believe trophy hunters pay massive amounts to shoot the poor animals.
In saying that , I havent seen the show … so I dont know all the circumstances . ( lost the channels in the recession
)
Would an alternative be to enhance the protection of the veichles, to ensure saftey for visitors ?
I think visitors should see the lions in natural state, whether passive or agressive .
Ironically , I find the “danger” element to be a source of excitement . I never been to Africa , but had similar style emotions diving amongst sharks , and had a hairy experience with the crocs in Aboriginal land in Oz.
I dont know the set-up on these safari’s , but I wonder if the tour companys could be facing insurance problems etc, in this crazy world of lawsuits, court cases and all that rubbish.
I’ll try find that show on youtube ,
Thanks Douwe
Ron
Ah yes, “Into the Pride”, I’ve heard of the show but never seen it for myself. I’ve heard negative responses to the show, which is
exactly what this is, some stupid reason for another dude to make a show with some element of danger. Our lions aren’t aggressive
like those lions, maybe they are like that from being hunted, but for whatever reason, it is not necessary for someone to
habituate the animals to someone on foot. The lions will see vehicles, so habituate them to vehicles! Again, just another
reason for someone to put a show together with an element of danger.
Also, if we have to move in with game reserves for the sake of their survival - do it. It sounds unfair, but who has found fairness to be
a dominant human trait? It is as Ronan says,”Money is king”, plus if there isn’t a reserve with all the right people in place they will end up being
poached anyway.
I watched the show. I interpreted the removal of the lions to mean their extermination. They were moved to this place for the specific purpose of habituating them to vehicles. I don’t think it would matter how ’safe’ a vehicle was made, most people would probably be horrified and not want to return if a lion attacked the vehicle. There are stupid people out there who might do something stupid. I once viewed a video on you tube that showed a man getting out of his car, with wife and children inside, to photograph some lions feeding. He was attacked and killed. You see it. And, of course, the lion had to be killed because it attacked a human. I don’t know what the solution is. I believe that safaris do good because they expose those of us who never experience the magnificent wildlife of Africa to the importance of conservation. And yet, our intrusion into their environment undermines the very thing we want to preserve.
Hmmm. I haven’t seen the show either but have heard of it. Funny enough it came up the other night when I went out with a few of friends. I was of course immediately defensive as I am so sick of these humans interfering with natue just to be on tv as I think it’s a cheap shot as trying to be famous. However, then one of my friends explained that they wanted to get rid of the lions in the first place, and this dude was so desperate to safe them that he came up with the idea. Suppose some humans will only listen to reason if money is involved.
Who knows his real intentions though. People can be very convincing when they want to be. I am still not a fan of the show to be honest.
Fantastic site. I love the rich imagery.
As for the comments about the preserves and removing “problem” lions. Remember that the reserve can’t exist without revenue and people coming to the reserve is a primary source of revenue.
“Problem lions” sounds like marketing people getting carried away. Lets hope the vehicles don’t break down!
Afraid that is man all over… we live to adjust things to draw attention and more cash to the business. Great at thinking short term rather than long term.
Arthritis in canines can be a huge hassle that many people never even think of in older dogs.
I have watched the whole series called ‘Into the Pride’. Personally I found it very interesting and thought provoking. Clearly if the mature lions, who were cattle killers and very agressive towards humans, both on quad bikes and in vehicles, could not be desensitised to vehicles then they would be destroyed and their cubs would then also have to be destroyed. The cubs also needed to understand that charging vehicles was not acceptable. In the last programme the lions clearly had accepted that the vehicles did not pose a threat which allowed the visitors to view them.
The presenter apparently spent 6 months living pretty rough in the reserve. Although this wasn’t a formal ’scientific’ experiment I suspect he has learnt a huge amount about lion behaviour and his experiences may help other ‘rogue’ lions to be habituated safely rather then being shot or worse.
For these reserves to continue they have to earn a lot of money. Oveseas (and they mainly are)visitors pay a lot of money to stay and see these animals in their natural habitat. Had these animals not been habituated to vehicles then the guides would have to avoid them (difficult in an open reserve) or risk one of the lions not just charging a vehicle but actually attacking the occupants. Without these fee paying visitors the reserves die and so do the animals in them.
Maybe this programme will help people to understand that their actions can have a horrific affect on animals.
I know exactly what you’re talking about. I’m going through the same thing now… Thank you for sharing!
I would never saw nature as it is…thanks for your posts!
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