282. News: Guest Speakers & Lecturers.

News: Guest Speakers.
















News: Guest Speakers - Lion Conservation Project, by Craig Packer.
Lion Conservation Project by Craig Packer.

Arusha Hotel - 11 August, 2009 - 4.30 pm to 6.00 pm.
We had a very rare opportunity to attend a presentation on Lion Conservation by Craig Packer who, for many years, has been doing Lion Research in Serengeti, Ngorongoro and other parts of Tanzania and Africa in General.
The presentation was very touching, for instance, it was my first time to see how Canine Distemper virus can kill a lion in a most cruel way of all diseases. From the answer to my question about immunity, I also learnt that this virus was introduced into African by the early explolers, e.g. the Dutch and that the animals could not have developed any immunity to it in such a short time. It is a very big threat having killed about 1,000 lions out of the 3,000 lions in the ecosystem. However it not about blaming the Dutch, we are currently doing a lot of other activities that may prove more of a threat to our lions than the virus itself. This kind of research and the willingness to let people know the research finding must be encouraged.

Other high-lites of the presentation were:

• The Carnivore Disease Project.
• CDV in Wildlife.
• Drought Related Outbreaks.
• Intentisity of Babesia Inection.
• The Situation in the Ngorongoro Crater.
• Trophy Hunting.
• Why are Lion Populations so sensitive to trophy hunting?
• A Hunter's Guide to Aging Lionsin Eastern and Southern Africa.
• Human Population Conflicts.
• Bush Meat Consumption.
• The Whole Village Project.

The Presentation was closed by some questions from the audience and winded up by this very important quote:

"Virtually, everything that needs doing from a population point of view needs doing anyway." by Robert Cassen.

We have requested the Hunter's guide for our school library. We will inform the general public once it arrives.
Once again I say thank you, Craig (and your team) for a great job and a wonderful and professional presentation.
Vedasto Izoba.
Principal.