July 10, 2009: Ecotourism Threatened
 

Africa has been wracked with poverty and little hope of better days, for centuries.

Colonialism, tribal conflicts, civil wars, uncivil wars, etc, have kept the majority of
the people poor and un/under educated.

Of course poor and un/under educated, leads to more colonialism, tribal conflicts,
civil wars, uncivil wars, etc.

With the help of outside funding to establish reserves and pay locals to guard the animals,
the plan seemed to be working moderately well in some areas.

It's been a vicious circle for a long, long, time.




There has been a shocking decline of their big natural resource, wildlife.

Poaching Ivory, and body parts for the Asian medical markets, supplies income to buy food,
and the need for quick protein in the form of bush meat.

You can't farm successfully in the middle of war, or when the wildlife is eating your crops.

Ecotourism has been touted as the great white hope.

Ecotourists would pay big bucks to see the wild animals, if you don't kill & eat them first.

It seemed to be working well in some areas and the animals were doing their part.


But now, it appears the Cheetahs are screwing up the plan by attacking the tourists. :(


http://cellar.org/2009/Cheetah.jpg

Bad kitty... let my tourists go. ;)

And that's not the worst they can do!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzvC93itdyY&v3

Could be worse...
 

I just figured, what would happen if an elephant takes a dump on my Landy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NeWyUG2_ys

Cheetahs have been one of my favorite African animals for years but it is sad that they are on the brink of extinction. They have slowly gotten down to only one DNA line and most Cheetahs that mate are actually interbreeding. The offspring often have deformities in their hips which keeps them from running and for an animal that must chase down it's prey this just means they will die in the wild.

[quote=xoxoxoBruce;580647]

Poaching Ivory, and body parts for the Asian medical markets, supplies income to buy food,
and the need for quick protein in the form of bush meat.

QUOTE]

I've had bush meat several times. Although you wanna get it pretty fresh, it starts to smell fishy after a while.

So if we hold to tradition and cook and eat this critter will it give us the running Shits ????

Any body got any Quick Res. for Cheta ?????


Har Har !!!

I would rub Cheetah's cute little belly. He just looks like Gaines biting at my leg.

Rub his cute belly, and then he'll eat your eyes.

I'm the Cheetah Whisperer.

It's true, then. Cheetahs never prosper.

haggis!

Rojomoke
No wonder the cheetah's ticked.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ6AfmfgqnM

I hate it when that happens.

It's like when dogs chase cars. "Now that I've caught it, what do I do with it?"

Silly kitty.
You have to get someone to open the tin before you get your dinner.