Days
ago I started watching a documentary called “Diarios de Africa” created by the news
team “Telenoche”, who traveled to Hammanskraal (South Africa), to meet Kevin
Richardson, a zoologist who lives in a private reserve of 27,000 hectares with
27 lions.
For
many, the coexistence between lions and humans is something unthinkable, except
for Richardson, who assumes this as normal. The job this man does is amazing. Kevin Richardson has a Wildlife
Sanctuary whose main mission is the preservation of different species through
education, awareness and funding, especially pertaining to the rapid decline of
large carnivores in Africa due to habitat loss, human-predator conflict,
unscrupulous hunting, disease and their illegal trade. (Mission, n.d.)
This
documentary, as others he has done, takes you into the intimacy of this
“extra-ordinary” relationship. This man has slept next to, fed, and lived with
lions. Besides, he has worked with cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas. What I like most is that Kevin
demonstrates that lions and animals in general, have personalities, feelings,
and are social creatures. His interaction with them shows that, with mutual
respect, many species can coexist.
It
is important to point out through this post the important role that Kevin has
played since he has saved these beautiful creatures.
Moreover, he is trying to bring awareness that wild animals will become extinct, which is very sad. Sometimes the ones
with power, control and money choose to kill these animals for pleasure, for
that one second it takes to shoot them. Millions are spent every year by the rich
that go hunting in Africa and other parts of the world. There are “reserves”
particularly made for the rich, who are all cowards, since they don’t really
hunt in the wild, where there is a chance they can be killed, they shoot
animals that are released. What Kevin does, is the opposite, he didn’t
choose to make money, by “selling” his animals, he chose to not only save
them, but raise them and offer them a chance to live.
(If
you want to know more about this project or you want to donate, you can go to
this web page: http://www.lionwhisperer.co.za/index.php/contact-us)
Reference List
Mission, (n.d). Kevin Richardson . The Lion Whisperer. Retrieved from: http://www.lionwhisperer.co.za/index.php/wildlife-sanctuary/mission
I’ve watched the documentary as well, and I couldn’t believe it! It’s amazing how loving are the lions with Kevin. Even though I know another case in which a man built up a relationship with a lion, this news amazed me a lot. It seems that “wild” animals are becoming tame as time passes. Sometimes, I think that one day we’ll have a very close relationship with these wild animals. Wouldn’t it be great?
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with Kevin in the sense that animals have feelings and emotions, and that they deserve being treated with respect.
I particularly liked your posts on animals. I believe that we should learn many things from them, such as the fact that they are honest, genuine, and affectionate. They act in the way they are, they are loyal with each other, and they just defend themselves when they feel attacked. They’re less aggressive and wild as many people think. Actually, sometimes human beings show a more aggressive and wild behaviour than animals.
Thank you for your comment Dani. And yes, I totally agree with you when you say that sometims human beings show a more aggressive and wild behaviour than animals when actally we should give the example since we have the gift of reasoning.
ReplyDeleteHi girls! Really nice post Flor! I've also watched the documentary, which is amazing. I also agree with you, we usually are more agressive with each other. It's sad when people say we are becoming more like animals! I mean...what? We have the ability to think, to reason, and to act according to our discernment of what's wrong and right. Animals don't have this capacity, but we are the ones who often take bad desicions Do you know what I mean?
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I'm not crazy about animals. I just like some of them, but I respect all of them. And I do believe that we have to take care of them. Dani it has nothing to do with stopping from eating meat...sorry!!!
Thank you Cin! I also think that we do take bad decisions since we have the ability to think however, sometimes we behave worst than animals. It is so sad! :(
ReplyDelete