I asked him whether he felt that open land rover tourism was bad for the wildlife. "Some animals are affected by the vehicles,"he said, "and when animals become used to experiencing people they can become dangerous. They are wild animals, after all."
Mr. Devlin is also concerned about the number of people visiting and living near National Parks. "As the visiting and indigenous population increases, the animals will be further pushed to inhabit smaller and smaller areas, almost creating zooed territories." He was quick to point out, however, that "The only way wildlife is going to exist in Africa is if it has a value. There is a value if you can eat it, if you can photograph it, or you can sell it for a price. Wildlife can't exist for its own sake."
One of the good things is that most of the time, the percentage of the money tourists pay goes back into conservation efforts for the wildlife or back to the native people. Visitors can always ask how much of their money goes to park assistance.
Endangered Wildlife Trust funds research projects for endangered and threatened species. They evaluate whether a species is going to have a "long-time future" before the organization commits money to helping its survival. To date, they have helped blue swallows, wild dogs, desert elephants, and the north west of Namibia, where they set up an anti poaching unit. Endangered Wildlife Trust also helps educate the rural people in Africa to learn to respect and take care of their wildlife treasures.
Irene Mugambi was born in Kenya, and grew up on her father's farm in the foothills of the Abardare Mountains. Once a television personality, interviewing Safari Rally drivers from all over the world, Ms. Mugambi currently organizes safaris for visitors who are interested in learning more about African culture and its magnificent wildlife while on safari. She, like Mr. Devlin, is concerned about protecting the African environment, and she is involved in conservation work in Kenya. She attends CITES (Center for International Trade for Endangered Species, based in Switzerland) meetings to help save the beauty of her country. Most recently, she attended a CITES meeting in Nairobi where people discussed saving the African and Indian elephant from being destroyed for their ivory. People at the meeting decided to stop the sale of ivory in the world.
Efforts from Mr. Devlin and Ms. Mugambi are very important. Taking care of Africa's treasures is something we should all respect. So, if you are planning a visit to this beautiful country, make your stay according to the rules.
