SLICE: Why I am wild for wildlife
As a South African, I have a renowned sense of love and respect for all the wildlife we share our land with. However, when tourists arrive and make their own rules, it not only upsets the animals, but also disturbs me.
One morning a few Septembers ago in the Pilansberg Nature Reserve, a group of us went on an early morning bush walk. The crisp, fresh air whipped around our ears. The only audible sounds were leaves crunching beneath our feet and the game ranger’s quiet whispers. Then, suddenly, an elephant emerged, strolling leisurely through the dry savannah. Beside it, a baby, probably just a few weeks old, trudging along and almost stumbling beneath its mother’s big tummy — seemingly, without a care in the world. It was a sight to be savoured, in silence, with respect, for the wild is exhilaratingly awesome, but remains unpredictable.
In the international Wild for Wildlife month of July, I could not help but recall just how much I both love and admire wildlife, a proudly South African thing to do. These thoughts of pride are however interrupted by the stories of tourists performing traitorous acts in our nature reserves that have serious consequences for both humans and animals. It is a privilege to experience nature in its purest form and we must remember our place as a visitor in wildlife’s home.
But why are humans so drawn to nature in the first place?
Well, the term “biophilia” describes our humane tendency to seek connections with earth’s living forms. In the 21st century, we are more disconnected from nature than ever before due to the fast-walking and quick-typing world in which we now live. Being in the bush allows us to rekindle a lost relationship and slow life down to appreciate its intricate details.
However, these wild animals which we love are not cute, fuzzy, domestic creatures; they are incredible but wildly wild animals and should be treated as such. I have entered their home countless times and have left this natural habitat without a scratch. This is paradoxical to other tourists’ experiences who venture off and find themselves in harm’s way.
Whilst there have been cases of tourists getting out of their vehicles for a closer snapshot of primitive scenes, I have always heeded the instructions of game rangers and signposts dotted about nature parks. No matter how much I wish I could pick up a lion cub for a cuddle, I know it is not a smart thing to do if its mother is watching. If we put ourselves in the animal’s shoes, we would find their emotions and actions are not so different to ours. Unbeknown to many, wild animals do not view humans as prey and will only attack if provoked.
However, humans are the ones who have the ability to think about their actions instead of just acting on instinct. This comes with the responsibility of understanding that wildlife will never halt in their tracks, and we should not expect them to.
This is the moral behind Wild for Wildlife and for the many days left, I will be thanking my lucky stars that I get to live in the heart of nature.
FEATURED IMAGE: Victoria Hill, Photo: Leon Sadiki
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