anybody who spent time under the stars like us in Botswana really understands
like us in Botswana really understands
like us in Botswana really understands anybody who’s listened to this call and
anybody who’s listened to this call and
anybody who’s listened to this call and knows it we’ll know why we fell in love
knows it we’ll know why we fell in love
knows it we’ll know why we fell in love with Africa and if the night sounds go
with Africa and if the night sounds go
with Africa and if the night sounds go quiet it won’t only be the leopard and
quiet it won’t only be the leopard and
quiet it won’t only be the leopard and the Lions that we will be losing it will
the Lions that we will be losing it will
the Lions that we will be losing it will be pretty much everything all wildlife
be pretty much everything all wildlife
be pretty much everything all wildlife and a huge part of our own soul so this
and a huge part of our own soul so this
and a huge part of our own soul so this is a pivotal moment in time and sadly
is a pivotal moment in time and sadly
is a pivotal moment in time and sadly the battle is against ignorance and
the battle is against ignorance and
the battle is against ignorance and greed in Africa this battle is going to
greed in Africa this battle is going to
greed in Africa this battle is going to be fought around three major species
be fought around three major species
be fought around three major species elephants that we’re losing at a rate of
elephants that we’re losing at a rate of
elephants that we’re losing at a rate of five an hour lions that are losing at a
five an hour lions that are losing at a
five an hour lions that are losing at a rate of five every day and the Rhinos we
rate of five every day and the Rhinos we
rate of five every day and the Rhinos we lose the one every six point three hours
lose the one every six point three hours
lose the one every six point three hours every day when these animals I think
every day when these animals I think
every day when these animals I think people will stop coming and indeed the
people will stop coming and indeed the
people will stop coming and indeed the communities for suffer in fact all
communities for suffer in fact all
communities for suffer in fact all economies will go down so what we like
economies will go down so what we like
economies will go down so what we like to face on is the beauty John Keats
to face on is the beauty John Keats
to face on is the beauty John Keats wrote that beauty is truth and truth is
wrote that beauty is truth and truth is
wrote that beauty is truth and truth is beauty and that’s what we embody in all
beauty and that’s what we embody in all
beauty and that’s what we embody in all our work in our films and the empathy
our work in our films and the empathy
our work in our films and the empathy that we have when something unfolds in
that we have when something unfolds in
that we have when something unfolds in front of us and this little scene
front of us and this little scene
front of us and this little scene happened a couple of months ago two
happened a couple of months ago two
happened a couple of months ago two lionesses wanted to cross the river with
lionesses wanted to cross the river with
lionesses wanted to cross the river with their cubs but of course they saw the
their cubs but of course they saw the
their cubs but of course they saw the ripples of a crocodile going bar and you
ripples of a crocodile going bar and you
ripples of a crocodile going bar and you could feel the tension and then of
could feel the tension and then of
could feel the tension and then of course a little later
course a little later
course a little later hippos came by so this really freaked
hippos came by so this really freaked
hippos came by so this really freaked the little Cubs out and they didn’t want
the little Cubs out and they didn’t want
the little Cubs out and they didn’t want to go but the lionesses we’re determined
to go but the lionesses we’re determined
to go but the lionesses we’re determined they needed to get across and so they
they needed to get across and so they
they needed to get across and so they managed to get in the water and they got
managed to get in the water and they got
managed to get in the water and they got some of the Cubs to follow with them and
some of the Cubs to follow with them and
some of the Cubs to follow with them and straight away the little Cubs dodged to
straight away the little Cubs dodged to
straight away the little Cubs dodged to their side of the bank again this took
their side of the bank again this took
their side of the bank again this took 12 hours the whole day and eventually
12 hours the whole day and eventually
12 hours the whole day and eventually the lionesses got the Cubs to go in but
the lionesses got the Cubs to go in but
the lionesses got the Cubs to go in but only when they were midway did they
only when they were midway did they
only when they were midway did they realize that only four cubs were with
realize that only four cubs were with
realize that only four cubs were with them but they had to keep going forward
them but they had to keep going forward
them but they had to keep going forward and so they went forward got to the
and so they went forward got to the
and so they went forward got to the opposite side of the bank deposited
opposite side of the bank deposited
opposite side of the bank deposited those
those
those so only two here on the other side the
so only two here on the other side the
so only two here on the other side the other of calling and so they had
other of calling and so they had
other of calling and so they had to recon front that crocodile-infested
to recon front that crocodile-infested
to recon front that crocodile-infested River and go back again and of course
River and go back again and of course
River and go back again and of course the Cubs on the other side were thrilled
the Cubs on the other side were thrilled
the Cubs on the other side were thrilled to see their mothers and wanted to play
to see their mothers and wanted to play
to see their mothers and wanted to play but the Cubs the mothers now heard the
but the Cubs the mothers now heard the
but the Cubs the mothers now heard the other Cubs on the other side and so they
other Cubs on the other side and so they
other Cubs on the other side and so they were in a deliver and they had to try
were in a deliver and they had to try
were in a deliver and they had to try and sort this out they crossed it seven
and sort this out they crossed it seven
and sort this out they crossed it seven times that day and eventually at dusk
times that day and eventually at dusk
times that day and eventually at dusk they crossed that one last time and as
they crossed that one last time and as
they crossed that one last time and as they crossed the one last time the two
they crossed the one last time the two
they crossed the one last time the two little Cubs refused to go and they had
little Cubs refused to go and they had
little Cubs refused to go and they had to leave these two Cubs on the other
to leave these two Cubs on the other
to leave these two Cubs on the other side and they went and obviously the
side and they went and obviously the
side and they went and obviously the tension in the vehicle between Derek and
tension in the vehicle between Derek and
tension in the vehicle between Derek and I was extreme so it was now gonna go
I was extreme so it was now gonna go
I was extreme so it was now gonna go into a 24 hour journey for these Cubs
into a 24 hour journey for these Cubs
into a 24 hour journey for these Cubs and we waited and they waited and at
and we waited and they waited and at
and we waited and they waited and at early dawn the two lionesses came back
early dawn the two lionesses came back
early dawn the two lionesses came back but this time they were almost glued
but this time they were almost glued
but this time they were almost glued together for their own protection and
together for their own protection and
together for their own protection and they were so silent and this is what
they were so silent and this is what
they were so silent and this is what happened
so we use beautiful stories like this
so we use beautiful stories like this sometimes to get our message across and
sometimes to get our message across and
sometimes to get our message across and in this case we tweeted this we used
in this case we tweeted this we used
in this case we tweeted this we used Instagram we used it on Facebook it went
Instagram we used it on Facebook it went
Instagram we used it on Facebook it went out to two million people immediately
out to two million people immediately
out to two million people immediately because everybody was just engaged with
because everybody was just engaged with
because everybody was just engaged with this we realized just the other day that
this we realized just the other day that
this we realized just the other day that something quite magical has started to
something quite magical has started to
something quite magical has started to happen and in fact people are now taking
happen and in fact people are now taking
happen and in fact people are now taking to the streets this is a march for lions
to the streets this is a march for lions
to the streets this is a march for lions a global March that takes place in 32
a global March that takes place in 32
a global March that takes place in 32 cities across the globe right now who
cities across the globe right now who
cities across the globe right now who would ever have thought that something
would ever have thought that something
would ever have thought that something like this could ever even happen
like this could ever even happen
like this could ever even happen so Beverly was talking about the
so Beverly was talking about the
so Beverly was talking about the ignorance and greed something that
ignorance and greed something that
ignorance and greed something that happened in Kenya recently is really
happened in Kenya recently is really
happened in Kenya recently is really fighting ignorant as we stood at these
fighting ignorant as we stood at these
fighting ignorant as we stood at these powers of ivory been burned we stood in
powers of ivory been burned we stood in
powers of ivory been burned we stood in silent memory of the elephants that
silent memory of the elephants that
silent memory of the elephants that we’ve known and the ones that we will
we’ve known and the ones that we will
we’ve known and the ones that we will never know and I think it’s important to
never know and I think it’s important to
never know and I think it’s important to know that inside these piles of ivory 11
know that inside these piles of ivory 11
know that inside these piles of ivory 11 piles of ivory was a lot of confiscated
piles of ivory was a lot of confiscated
piles of ivory was a lot of confiscated big cat skins lions leopards and cheetah
big cat skins lions leopards and cheetah
big cat skins lions leopards and cheetah what’s happening to elephants is
what’s happening to elephants is
what’s happening to elephants is happening to the cats and then who would
happening to the cats and then who would
happening to the cats and then who would have thought that the military would be
have thought that the military would be
have thought that the military would be working with us to protect rhinos to
working with us to protect rhinos to
working with us to protect rhinos to relocate them to a safe haven in
relocate them to a safe haven in
relocate them to a safe haven in Botswana so the goal is to combat greed
Botswana so the goal is to combat greed
Botswana so the goal is to combat greed and to secure large protected landscapes
with a big cat work we’ve had the
with a big cat work we’ve had the opportunity to really focus on what
opportunity to really focus on what
opportunity to really focus on what works and what doesn’t work and we’ve
works and what doesn’t work and we’ve
works and what doesn’t work and we’ve come down to the notion that there are
come down to the notion that there are
come down to the notion that there are four major causes of declines
four major causes of declines
four major causes of declines 25% of the declines on the cats is
25% of the declines on the cats is
25% of the declines on the cats is habitat loss so it’s ultimately
habitat loss so it’s ultimately
habitat loss so it’s ultimately important to protect wild landscapes
important to protect wild landscapes
important to protect wild landscapes poaching is another major pillar of
poaching is another major pillar of
poaching is another major pillar of these declines and so we spent four and
these declines and so we spent four and
these declines and so we spent four and a half months paddling up the river from
a half months paddling up the river from
a half months paddling up the river from the Okavango to the northern river
the Okavango to the northern river
the Okavango to the northern river systems in the northern part of botswana
systems in the northern part of botswana
systems in the northern part of botswana checking on poaching the good news is
checking on poaching the good news is
checking on poaching the good news is this is the highest density of elephants
this is the highest density of elephants
this is the highest density of elephants in the world and the perch is very low
in the world and the perch is very low
in the world and the perch is very low the bad news is they weren’t always
the bad news is they weren’t always
the bad news is they weren’t always happy to see us
so we’ve spent the last 35 years forming
so we’ve spent the last 35 years forming and focusing all our attention on the
and focusing all our attention on the
and focusing all our attention on the Bearcats protecting these magnificent
Bearcats protecting these magnificent
Bearcats protecting these magnificent creatures how can you not be in all how
creatures how can you not be in all how
creatures how can you not be in all how can anybody not be in awe of this
can anybody not be in awe of this
can anybody not be in awe of this amazing line but they’ve led us on a
amazing line but they’ve led us on a
amazing line but they’ve led us on a journey so six years ago we were shocked
journey so six years ago we were shocked
journey so six years ago we were shocked when we discovered that we were losing
when we discovered that we were losing
when we discovered that we were losing 95% of all these cats in just 50 years
95% of all these cats in just 50 years
95% of all these cats in just 50 years that’s alarming and so that’s where we
that’s alarming and so that’s where we
that’s alarming and so that’s where we co-founded the big cat initiative was
co-founded the big cat initiative was
co-founded the big cat initiative was National Geographic and as you can see
National Geographic and as you can see
National Geographic and as you can see we now have great progress we have 91
we now have great progress we have 91
we now have great progress we have 91 projects in 27 countries many of them
projects in 27 countries many of them
projects in 27 countries many of them are right through Africa we’ve managed
are right through Africa we’ve managed
are right through Africa we’ve managed to give out over 3 million u.s. dollars
to give out over 3 million u.s. dollars
to give out over 3 million u.s. dollars in grants so all our goal is to now
in grants so all our goal is to now
in grants so all our goal is to now protect these lost living and thriving
protect these lost living and thriving
protect these lost living and thriving bear cats we need to be successful one
bear cats we need to be successful one
bear cats we need to be successful one of the other big pillars of decline is
of the other big pillars of decline is
of the other big pillars of decline is hunting so we stole these 660 largely
hunting so we stole these 660 largely
hunting so we stole these 660 largely male lions a year to the hunting
male lions a year to the hunting
male lions a year to the hunting industry and a lot of that comes into
industry and a lot of that comes into
industry and a lot of that comes into the USA 1.2 million trophies in the last
the USA 1.2 million trophies in the last
the USA 1.2 million trophies in the last 10 years in to the United States so
10 years in to the United States so
10 years in to the United States so we’ve reached out and we’ve tried to do
we’ve reached out and we’ve tried to do
we’ve reached out and we’ve tried to do whatever we can in this regard and we’ve
whatever we can in this regard and we’ve
whatever we can in this regard and we’ve spoken to governments around the world
spoken to governments around the world
spoken to governments around the world we’re already starting to see some very
we’re already starting to see some very
we’re already starting to see some very very interesting things at this
very interesting things at this
very interesting things at this crossroads the US government has has
crossroads the US government has has
crossroads the US government has has announced that they will be restricting
announced that they will be restricting
announced that they will be restricting lion trophies coming into the United
lion trophies coming into the United
lion trophies coming into the United States similar conversations are
States similar conversations are
States similar conversations are happening in Australia in Netherlands
happening in Australia in Netherlands
happening in Australia in Netherlands the European community everything is now
the European community everything is now
the European community everything is now starting to close down we spoken to
starting to close down we spoken to
starting to close down we spoken to Airlines we started this conversation
Airlines we started this conversation
Airlines we started this conversation with Airlines there are 42 Airlines
with Airlines there are 42 Airlines
with Airlines there are 42 Airlines today that refuse to carry hunting
today that refuse to carry hunting
today that refuse to carry hunting trophies so that we are having quite an
trophies so that we are having quite an
trophies so that we are having quite an impact and that’s what we so pleased
impact and that’s what we so pleased
impact and that’s what we so pleased about and then we need to look at the
about and then we need to look at the
about and then we need to look at the successes in Africa
successes in Africa
successes in Africa there has been some policy changes in
there has been some policy changes in
there has been some policy changes in governments but Swan has stopped all
governments but Swan has stopped all
governments but Swan has stopped all lion hunting
lion hunting
lion hunting and then in 2011 stopped all leopard
and then in 2011 stopped all leopard
and then in 2011 stopped all leopard hunting 2014 they decided no hunting
hunting 2014 they decided no hunting
hunting 2014 they decided no hunting completely shut down
completely shut down
completely shut down Uganda followed in the footsteps of
Uganda followed in the footsteps of
Uganda followed in the footsteps of Botswana and this topic had hunting and
Botswana and this topic had hunting and
Botswana and this topic had hunting and now all hunting South Sudan followed and
now all hunting South Sudan followed and
now all hunting South Sudan followed and they have now stopped all hunting a
they have now stopped all hunting a
they have now stopped all hunting a little different with South Africa South
little different with South Africa South
little different with South Africa South Africa’s put a moratorium on leopards
Africa’s put a moratorium on leopards
Africa’s put a moratorium on leopards for a year but that shows that we can’t
for a year but that shows that we can’t
for a year but that shows that we can’t be complacent
be complacent
be complacent we need to drive forward the fourth big
we need to drive forward the fourth big
we need to drive forward the fourth big pillar of course is communities that I
pillar of course is communities that I
pillar of course is communities that I love next to these big wildlife
love next to these big wildlife
love next to these big wildlife populations and are in conflict with
populations and are in conflict with
populations and are in conflict with them we have a number of grantees that
them we have a number of grantees that
them we have a number of grantees that are working with communities largely to
are working with communities largely to
are working with communities largely to reduce the conflict with cattle
reduce the conflict with cattle
reduce the conflict with cattle communities like the Messiah for
communities like the Messiah for
communities like the Messiah for instance one particular innovative
instance one particular innovative
instance one particular innovative project that we came across is in the
project that we came across is in the
project that we came across is in the redirecting the this young warrior
redirecting the this young warrior
redirecting the this young warrior instinct to go out and to kill a lion
instinct to go out and to kill a lion
instinct to go out and to kill a lion and we’re trying to find with them new
and we’re trying to find with them new
and we’re trying to find with them new ways to direct that energy even though
ways to direct that energy even though
ways to direct that energy even though it’s a very very ancient activity
so this is a race against time what we
so this is a race against time what we have to do is stop all killings we have
have to do is stop all killings we have
have to do is stop all killings we have to stop all conflicts and we need to
to stop all conflicts and we need to
to stop all conflicts and we need to mount a major campaign to stop all the
mount a major campaign to stop all the
mount a major campaign to stop all the trade in animal parts for us to be
trade in animal parts for us to be
trade in animal parts for us to be successful who would have thought that
successful who would have thought that
successful who would have thought that within a year of Cecil the lion in
within a year of Cecil the lion in
within a year of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe been killed there would be
Zimbabwe been killed there would be
Zimbabwe been killed there would be marches in the streets there would be
marches in the streets there would be
marches in the streets there would be governed policy’s being changed
governed policy’s being changed
governed policy’s being changed there would be airlines stopping trophy
there would be airlines stopping trophy
there would be airlines stopping trophy hunting and so for us there’s never been
hunting and so for us there’s never been
hunting and so for us there’s never been a time when the pass in those crossroads
a time when the pass in those crossroads
a time when the pass in those crossroads was been clearer
”
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