Imagine a world where a lion’s roar can never be heard rumbling across the plains of Africa. Imagine that those plains once filled with colourful birds, galloping antelope and chattering monkeys will one day lie quiet and desolate. Imagine that the only way our children or grandchildren may see those animals is from pictures in a book. This is the reality we may one day face, and this is why conversation is important.
As humans it is our responsibility and indeed duty to maintain and protect our planet’s wildlife and its environment. It is our duty to sustain the areas of nature that we as a species have largely caused the decline and endangerment of. Although putting our efforts into conservation sadly cannot reverse the destruction that our planet has already undergone, we can however, preserve and repair that which we are left with.
Considering, specifically, the conservation of African wildlife there many species pushed to the brink of extinction. For example the black rhino, the cheetah and the powerful African Elephant are just some of the species considered to be endangered. Through voicing the issues of conservation and how we can work together to achieve the sustainability of these species; we can educate future and existing generations and give these animals a chance.
Shamwari Game Reserve plays a large part in helping to sustain the environment and its reserve includes five of South Africa’s Biomes. By carrying out tasks such as eliminating alien plant species, removing wire fencing and building natural dams to control erosion, they are able to create an area where wildlife and vegetation can be successfully restored.
The other element to Shamwari is of course the Born Free Sanctuary located there. The Born Free Foundation rescues injured and mistreated animals and relocates them to rehabilitation centres that are as close to their natural environment as they will ever get. Sadly, most of these animals will never be able to survive in the wild as most of their instincts have been lost, but they are able to live out their days in a safe, comfortable sanctuary in the beautiful African setting where they belong.
This kind of work is important because it is our planet and its future that is depending on us. Only we can make the choice of whether we continue to have these beautiful animals in our world, or whether we will stand back and watch them disappear. Who really wants to live in a world where animals are just something we see in museums?
