Comments on: “Each and every animal is important” or is it? http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/ life with cats Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:49:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Lisa, California http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/#comment-161 Lisa, California Sun, 01 Jun 2008 14:37:12 +0000 http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/#comment-161 Wow, you guys all make such great points and I agree with them all. Especially, William's comment: "why bother feeding a clown-fish when you’ve broken the aquarium and you’ve long been abusing its ocean as your larder and toilet?" The fact is, so many more "cute fuzzys" will be saved and be able to live "wild" if entire ecosystems are conserved. That said, I too found Wildlife Direct because of what happened to the Rugendo family, although in that case, I do believe great efforts are being made to conserve that ecosystem, especially by NGO's. (I don't know if the government is doing much to help). Anyway, my point is, if I were face to face with that one individual animal that needed saving, I don't think I could say "No." I mean in the case of the Bonobos. Little Lomela stole my heart instantly and I had to help her. So, little Bonobos like Lomela will be saved, but will those that are saved live free and wild, like they were meant to. Perhaps not, but they will live to help educate and bring awareness to the plight of their species and in return, hopefully their ecosystems can be saved. It's frustrating, because, it's one thing to raise money for and save that one "cute fuzzy", people see them and want to help. It's another thing to try and raise money for and save an ecosystem because there or no "cute fuzzy" faces, just trees, bushes, bugs, soil, etc. The connection is lost to some people. I don't think the full impact registers with most people. Lisa Wow, you guys all make such great points and I agree with them all. Especially, William’s comment: “why bother feeding a clown-fish when you’ve broken the aquarium and you’ve long been abusing its ocean as your larder and toilet?” The fact is, so many more “cute fuzzys” will be saved and be able to live “wild” if entire ecosystems are conserved. That said, I too found Wildlife Direct because of what happened to the Rugendo family, although in that case, I do believe great efforts are being made to conserve that ecosystem, especially by NGO’s. (I don’t know if the government is doing much to help). Anyway, my point is, if I were face to face with that one individual animal that needed saving, I don’t think I could say “No.” I mean in the case of the Bonobos. Little Lomela stole my heart instantly and I had to help her. So, little Bonobos like Lomela will be saved, but will those that are saved live free and wild, like they were meant to. Perhaps not, but they will live to help educate and bring awareness to the plight of their species and in return, hopefully their ecosystems can be saved. It’s frustrating, because, it’s one thing to raise money for and save that one “cute fuzzy”, people see them and want to help. It’s another thing to try and raise money for and save an ecosystem because there or no “cute fuzzy” faces, just trees, bushes, bugs, soil, etc. The connection is lost to some people. I don’t think the full impact registers with most people. Lisa

]]> By: Lisa, Seattle http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/#comment-160 Lisa, Seattle Sat, 31 May 2008 17:43:14 +0000 http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/#comment-160 Seamus, I totally agree with you about living with Lions/Lion Guardians. My reason being... I believe helping a community to take care of it's own has the most chance of long term success. Keep posting pics of those"cute fuzzys" and I'll keep helping out when I can. =) Seamus, I totally agree with you about living with Lions/Lion Guardians. My reason being… I believe helping a community to take care of it’s own has the most chance of long term success.

Keep posting pics of those”cute fuzzys” and I’ll keep helping out when I can. =)

]]> By: Seamus http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/#comment-159 Seamus Sat, 31 May 2008 05:39:39 +0000 http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/#comment-159 Wim - I think that non-profits provide very important checks / balances to government. This delves into the realm of the political, but suffice it to say that Kenya needs much, much stronger governmental capacity to manage its wildlife. Wim - I think that non-profits provide very important checks / balances to government. This delves into the realm of the political, but suffice it to say that Kenya needs much, much stronger governmental capacity to manage its wildlife.

]]> By: Seamus http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/#comment-158 Seamus Sat, 31 May 2008 05:31:46 +0000 http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/#comment-158 a short postscript to that last comment: hunters would argue that one gets the most 'buck for one's bang" in africa too. Its cheap to hunt here, and we stil have wildlife. a short postscript to that last comment: hunters would argue that one gets the most ‘buck for one’s bang” in africa too. Its cheap to hunt here, and we stil have wildlife.

]]> By: Seamus http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/#comment-157 Seamus Sat, 31 May 2008 05:29:32 +0000 http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/#comment-157 If one looks at donations towards conservation using the "investment" model ("bang for buck") then I would say that africa is the continent where you will get the most returns. Its notoriously cheap to "do" conservation in africa. Further to this, I would say that the best conservation work to invest in is that which is science-based, relevant to a much broader topic or geographical area, able to have some influence over, or provide consultancy to, governmental wildlife authorities. And lastly, cost- effective conservation is generally holistic, in that it attempts to address all the various facets of a conservation problem to arrive at the desired outcome. Rather than only focussing on one easily quantifiable variable. (I am going to ruthlessly self-advertise here.... Living with Lions meets all the above criteria and more!) If one looks at donations towards conservation using the “investment” model (”bang for buck”) then I would say that africa is the continent where you will get the most returns. Its notoriously cheap to “do” conservation in africa. Further to this, I would say that the best conservation work to invest in is that which is science-based, relevant to a much broader topic or geographical area, able to have some influence over, or provide consultancy to, governmental wildlife authorities. And lastly, cost- effective conservation is generally holistic, in that it attempts to address all the various facets of a conservation problem to arrive at the desired outcome. Rather than only focussing on one easily quantifiable variable. (I am going to ruthlessly self-advertise here…. Living with Lions meets all the above criteria and more!)

]]> By: Lisa, Seattle http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/#comment-155 Lisa, Seattle Sat, 31 May 2008 01:14:35 +0000 http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/#comment-155 Maybe the question should be: where do we get the most bang for our buck? I'd be interested in hearing everyone's opinion? Maybe the question should be: where do we get the most bang for our buck? I’d be interested in hearing everyone’s opinion?

]]> By: Christine C. http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/#comment-154 Christine C. Fri, 30 May 2008 13:42:09 +0000 http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/#comment-154 Seamus -- I think this a very worthy discussion because it helps people think more broadly about these types of issues. The fact of the matter is that most causes need to use the "carrot/stick" approach to appeal to a variety of individuals and organizations. I often tell people to look within their causes to see what else might be there that is of interest to those individuals/goverments, ect... that have the power to affect change. Seamus — I think this a very worthy discussion because it helps people think more broadly about these types of issues. The fact of the matter is that most causes need to use the “carrot/stick” approach to appeal to a variety of individuals and organizations. I often tell people to look within their causes to see what else might be there that is of interest to those individuals/goverments, ect… that have the power to affect change.

]]> By: sheryl, washington dc http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/#comment-153 sheryl, washington dc Fri, 30 May 2008 09:10:23 +0000 http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/#comment-153 Wim, I wasn't offended. I got your point. But keep wasting your money on those pandas because they're in a world of trouble right now! Seamus, I don't think you're hurting your cause with this discussion. I hope more people drop in here and read it, actually. As for the NGOs reaching far more people than any government, you are dead to rights. My government (the Bush Administration) faces a lot of legal challenges from powerful conservation NGOs on recent US Fish & Wildlife rulings, etc. If not for the NGOs, we'd probably not be aware of what's happening to our wildlife and wild places in this country. s. Wim, I wasn’t offended. I got your point. But keep wasting your money on those pandas because they’re in a world of trouble right now!

Seamus, I don’t think you’re hurting your cause with this discussion. I hope more people drop in here and read it, actually. As for the NGOs reaching far more people than any government, you are dead to rights. My government (the Bush Administration) faces a lot of legal challenges from powerful conservation NGOs on recent US Fish & Wildlife rulings, etc. If not for the NGOs, we’d probably not be aware of what’s happening to our wildlife and wild places in this country.

s.

]]> By: Seamus http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/#comment-152 Seamus Fri, 30 May 2008 04:11:49 +0000 http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/#comment-152 Sheryl touches on an interesting point: the idea that its pretty easy to be overwhelmed by the myriad conservation "issues" (yes Canary I am using that word... wamerikani wou graag mooi verstaan). And perhaps I could add to that, the idea that much like the numerous human tragedies around the world, the popular media guides public opinion, and instructs us where to put our donations. I think this is part of the reason why we land up with skewed conservation priorities. And why NGOs thrive where governmental authorities should be carrying out their mandate (NGOs are far, far better at communicating with the public than any government I know of). Heck, I'm probably not doing myself any favours here. I guess I shouldn't ignore the fact that I am in fact trying to raise funds for a cute, fluffy and desperate mono-species conservation program and an entire group of people whose livelihoods depend on it. Sheryl touches on an interesting point: the idea that its pretty easy to be overwhelmed by the myriad conservation “issues” (yes Canary I am using that word… wamerikani wou graag mooi verstaan). And perhaps I could add to that, the idea that much like the numerous human tragedies around the world, the popular media guides public opinion, and instructs us where to put our donations. I think this is part of the reason why we land up with skewed conservation priorities. And why NGOs thrive where governmental authorities should be carrying out their mandate (NGOs are far, far better at communicating with the public than any government I know of).

Heck, I’m probably not doing myself any favours here. I guess I shouldn’t ignore the fact that I am in fact trying to raise funds for a cute, fluffy and desperate mono-species conservation program and an entire group of people whose livelihoods depend on it.

]]> By: Wim http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/#comment-150 Wim Thu, 29 May 2008 23:32:39 +0000 http://kilimanjarolion.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/29/each-and-every-animal-is-important-or-is-it/#comment-150 Sheryl, I was writing as you were posting so I didn't see your Panda comment. It was not my intention to offend you. Unfortunate coincidence (or happy accident depending on your sense of humour). Sheryl, I was writing as you were posting so I didn’t see your Panda comment. It was not my intention to offend you. Unfortunate coincidence (or happy accident depending on your sense of humour).

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