If you have something to say...
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If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
I spent 12 magical days in Botswana exploring four camps -- Chitabe, Vumbura Plains, Abu and Mombo -- in various regions of the Okavango Delta. Each had its own personality and exciting wildlife adventure. I started my trip at Chitabe Camp, and now... Vumbura Plains
The poor young woman recently killed by a lion in northern California got me thinking about big cat deaths in general.
Needless killing of endangered species for trophies is inherently unsustainable, economically short-sighted, ecologically unsound, and morally wrong. The sooner it ends for lions and other imperiled animals, the better.
Savannahs are especially prevalent in Africa, covering much of the non-Saharan and what we think of as Africa's tropical forests (the non-wet ones) -- in all about 5.2 million square miles or almost 50 percent of the total continent. Good for the lions, right? Not exactly.
It was my sophomore year of college when I discovered Tom Eisner's class: For Love of Nature.
We began another beautiful morning at Mala Mala searching for lions that had been calling at dawn across the river from the Main Camp. Soon we got a radio call that Keith (the Main Camp Manager) had just sighted a leopard and cub from the camp's deck. We turned and headed to the edge of the river.
Time is running out for Africa's iconic animal -- along with other big cats of the world like snow leopards, tigers, cheetahs and jaguars.
The lion cubs were so cute, I didn't even notice that they were also crusted with bits of gore.
If you have been tempted to go on a safari, but you don't want to leave America, here's the solution! Leave your passport at home and take a wildlife adventure tour at a bed and breakfast in this country.
The lion encounter industry does nothing to conserve wild lions. For my money, I'd stick with the real thing: no matter what the glossy brochures and gushy advertising claim, it won't ever involve tame lions.
As another day shattered the darkness that the night brings we were on full alert, ready to capture all that the Selous Game Reserve threw at us.
People and lions have been living together for millennia and, until quite recently, managed to co-exist without devastating consequences for the cats. The relationship was never easy, but both species did a better job of avoiding conflict.
I grab my flashlight and shoot the beam towards the coals of the fire. Two dog-like mottled shapes. Four electrified eyes.
Today is the day we got to add "frightened" to that long and otherwise completely happy and excited list of emotions which describe this journey. Today we were frightened in a way I've not been frightened before.
There is so much to say about lions. These are striking animals. Habituated as they obviously are to our vehicles, one is almost drawn to reach out a hand to touch the lions. Almost... I suspect that would be a very good way to lose a hand.
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