our beautiful wilderness is in trouble it’s being hammered on all sides by
it’s being hammered on all sides by
it’s being hammered on all sides by human encroachment poaching and habitat
human encroachment poaching and habitat
human encroachment poaching and habitat degradation and our mission is to save
degradation and our mission is to save
degradation and our mission is to save these light cuts work dogs and all these
these light cuts work dogs and all these
these light cuts work dogs and all these other species in a beautiful ecosystem
Zambia’s Luangwa Valley is indeed one of
Zambia’s Luangwa Valley is indeed one of Africa’s best-kept secrets this
Africa’s best-kept secrets this
Africa’s best-kept secrets this environment is so awesome that it is one
environment is so awesome that it is one
environment is so awesome that it is one of the last remaining strongholds for
of the last remaining strongholds for
of the last remaining strongholds for lions on the African continent I have
lions on the African continent I have
lions on the African continent I have been very fortunate to live in this
been very fortunate to live in this
been very fortunate to live in this beautiful environment surrounded by
beautiful environment surrounded by
beautiful environment surrounded by wildlife and living here I’ve been able
wildlife and living here I’ve been able
wildlife and living here I’ve been able to see animals live in action previously
to see animals live in action previously
to see animals live in action previously I only used to see them on a tiny
I only used to see them on a tiny
I only used to see them on a tiny black-and-white TV but I was fascinated
black-and-white TV but I was fascinated
black-and-white TV but I was fascinated even then my uncle works as a safari
even then my uncle works as a safari
even then my uncle works as a safari guide and he always came home with
guide and he always came home with
guide and he always came home with wonderful stories of animals that he met
wonderful stories of animals that he met
wonderful stories of animals that he met during his work and those just
during his work and those just
during his work and those just fascinated me they encouraged me to join
fascinated me they encouraged me to join
fascinated me they encouraged me to join my secondary school Conservation Club so
my secondary school Conservation Club so
my secondary school Conservation Club so I could learn more about these species I
I could learn more about these species I
I could learn more about these species I found many fascinating things about the
found many fascinating things about the
found many fascinating things about the animals in this place but also really
animals in this place but also really
animals in this place but also really sad news ecosystem was under threat from
sad news ecosystem was under threat from
sad news ecosystem was under threat from you know common things that are
you know common things that are
you know common things that are affecting many other places in the world
affecting many other places in the world
affecting many other places in the world human encroachment poaching habitat
human encroachment poaching habitat
human encroachment poaching habitat destruction you name them and so I
destruction you name them and so I
destruction you name them and so I decided then then to say I’m going to do
decided then then to say I’m going to do
decided then then to say I’m going to do something about it I decided to become a
something about it I decided to become a
something about it I decided to become a wildlife vet so I could help treat and
wildlife vet so I could help treat and
wildlife vet so I could help treat and cure animals that had survived bullet
cure animals that had survived bullet
cure animals that had survived bullet wounds from poachers and so I studied
wounds from poachers and so I studied
wounds from poachers and so I studied really hard I would stand at night
really hard I would stand at night
really hard I would stand at night really late at night with my feet in a
really late at night with my feet in a
really late at night with my feet in a bucket of cold water so I could make the
bucket of cold water so I could make the
bucket of cold water so I could make the grades to get into University and that
grades to get into University and that
grades to get into University and that did work I was very lucky I got admitted
did work I was very lucky I got admitted
did work I was very lucky I got admitted into the pre vet program at UBC in
into the pre vet program at UBC in
into the pre vet program at UBC in Canada ready to go take on this
Canada ready to go take on this
Canada ready to go take on this challenge to become a wildlife vet but
challenge to become a wildlife vet but
challenge to become a wildlife vet but you know it didn’t go down well second
you know it didn’t go down well second
you know it didn’t go down well second year into the program I discovered I
year into the program I discovered I
year into the program I discovered I could not handle cutting anything with a
could not handle cutting anything with a
could not handle cutting anything with a sharp knife and
sharp knife and
sharp knife and my dream for vet school crashed and
my dream for vet school crashed and
my dream for vet school crashed and burned right there it was so sad that
burned right there it was so sad that
burned right there it was so sad that spent so many sleepless nights studying
spent so many sleepless nights studying
spent so many sleepless nights studying to do this but it did not end there I
to do this but it did not end there I
to do this but it did not end there I got diverted into a different career
got diverted into a different career
got diverted into a different career paths where I could still help these
paths where I could still help these
paths where I could still help these animals I currently work as a wildlife
animals I currently work as a wildlife
animals I currently work as a wildlife biologist with the Zambian kind of a
biologist with the Zambian kind of a
biologist with the Zambian kind of a program and our mission is to save these
program and our mission is to save these
program and our mission is to save these large cats who are dogs my absolute
large cats who are dogs my absolute
large cats who are dogs my absolute favorite and all these other species in
favorite and all these other species in
favorite and all these other species in our beautiful ecosystem through Applied
our beautiful ecosystem through Applied
our beautiful ecosystem through Applied Research and community-based
Research and community-based
Research and community-based conservation so my job is one of the
conservation so my job is one of the
conservation so my job is one of the best on the planet I get to see and
best on the planet I get to see and
best on the planet I get to see and touch animals that are only seen in
touch animals that are only seen in
touch animals that are only seen in books and magazines before and it’s an
books and magazines before and it’s an
books and magazines before and it’s an amazing experience I get to collect key
amazing experience I get to collect key
amazing experience I get to collect key data on survival on who’s going where
data on survival on who’s going where
data on survival on who’s going where who’s eating what and what sort of areas
who’s eating what and what sort of areas
who’s eating what and what sort of areas they’re using in our beautiful ecosystem
they’re using in our beautiful ecosystem
they’re using in our beautiful ecosystem a typical day begins with me and my
a typical day begins with me and my
a typical day begins with me and my partner in crime
partner in crime
partner in crime Gibson Banda it’s not crime crime
Gibson Banda it’s not crime crime
Gibson Banda it’s not crime crime because Gibson is a wildlife police
because Gibson is a wildlife police
because Gibson is a wildlife police officer with Department of Wildlife and
officer with Department of Wildlife and
officer with Department of Wildlife and national parks in Zambia and he is a
national parks in Zambia and he is a
national parks in Zambia and he is a great person to work with he’s a
great person to work with he’s a
great person to work with he’s a comedian so we’re laughing all the time
comedian so we’re laughing all the time
comedian so we’re laughing all the time he’s a wonderful human GPS he knows the
he’s a wonderful human GPS he knows the
he’s a wonderful human GPS he knows the system like the back of his hand and
system like the back of his hand and
system like the back of his hand and this is an area the size of Yellowstone
this is an area the size of Yellowstone
this is an area the size of Yellowstone National Park so it’s great we get
National Park so it’s great we get
National Park so it’s great we get carried away sometimes we out for days
carried away sometimes we out for days
carried away sometimes we out for days we run out of water and we had to share
we run out of water and we had to share
we run out of water and we had to share water holes and drinking points with
water holes and drinking points with
water holes and drinking points with hippos elephants sometimes we get to
hippos elephants sometimes we get to
hippos elephants sometimes we get to some really bad places you know we get
some really bad places you know we get
some really bad places you know we get stuck and getting back on the road can
stuck and getting back on the road can
stuck and getting back on the road can take anything between 15 minutes 24
take anything between 15 minutes 24
take anything between 15 minutes 24 hours sometimes the best we hope for is
hours sometimes the best we hope for is
hours sometimes the best we hope for is an entire afternoon but it works out
an entire afternoon but it works out
an entire afternoon but it works out quite able to get around and so this
quite able to get around and so this
quite able to get around and so this difficult task if you call it is
difficult task if you call it is
difficult task if you call it is compensated by even more beautiful
compensated by even more beautiful
compensated by even more beautiful pictures like this one our absolute
pictures like this one our absolute
pictures like this one our absolute favorite to see out in the field is the
favorite to see out in the field is the
favorite to see out in the field is the male strawberry blonde lion coat ginger
male strawberry blonde lion coat ginger
male strawberry blonde lion coat ginger he is not ginger ginger his ma
he is not ginger ginger his ma
he is not ginger ginger his ma strawberry blonde but strawberry is not
strawberry blonde but strawberry is not
strawberry blonde but strawberry is not a good name
a good name
a good name I’m a liar Jinja has a brother called
I’m a liar Jinja has a brother called
I’m a liar Jinja has a brother called garlic garlic is a regular lion we
garlic garlic is a regular lion we
garlic garlic is a regular lion we always happy to see garlic he’s a lion
always happy to see garlic he’s a lion
always happy to see garlic he’s a lion what’s not good it’s not good about that
what’s not good it’s not good about that
what’s not good it’s not good about that anyway all of these wonderful scenes all
anyway all of these wonderful scenes all
anyway all of these wonderful scenes all of these amazing experiences in the
of these amazing experiences in the
of these amazing experiences in the field lead to the sad reality that we
field lead to the sad reality that we
field lead to the sad reality that we have to live with animals are being
have to live with animals are being
have to live with animals are being affected by the poaching crisis fueled
affected by the poaching crisis fueled
affected by the poaching crisis fueled by the illegal bushmeat trade these are
by the illegal bushmeat trade these are
by the illegal bushmeat trade these are not the targeted species for the
not the targeted species for the
not the targeted species for the bushmeat trade we do not eat lions we
bushmeat trade we do not eat lions we
bushmeat trade we do not eat lions we don’t eat war dogs but people are going
don’t eat war dogs but people are going
don’t eat war dogs but people are going for deer sized antelope that they can
for deer sized antelope that they can
for deer sized antelope that they can sell to urban areas and all those places
sell to urban areas and all those places
sell to urban areas and all those places the methods that they use are non
the methods that they use are non
the methods that they use are non selective so that means animals anything
selective so that means animals anything
selective so that means animals anything that is of this shoulder-height this
that is of this shoulder-height this
that is of this shoulder-height this shorter height can get in and get caught
shorter height can get in and get caught
shorter height can get in and get caught and the impacts are catastrophic as you
and the impacts are catastrophic as you
and the impacts are catastrophic as you can see animals die animals lose their
can see animals die animals lose their
can see animals die animals lose their legs and that is just pretty sad but we
legs and that is just pretty sad but we
legs and that is just pretty sad but we work really hard to save as many animals
work really hard to save as many animals
work really hard to save as many animals as we can and working really closely
as we can and working really closely
as we can and working really closely with people that are in the park all the
with people that are in the park all the
with people that are in the park all the time helps us do what we do and these
time helps us do what we do and these
time helps us do what we do and these animals I’m happy to say made a complete
animals I’m happy to say made a complete
animals I’m happy to say made a complete recovery animals do recover even from
recovery animals do recover even from
recovery animals do recover even from injuries that as gruesome as that just
injuries that as gruesome as that just
injuries that as gruesome as that just going to share one story about a
going to share one story about a
going to share one story about a particularly favorite lion of mine who
particularly favorite lion of mine who
particularly favorite lion of mine who we call funny ear it’s a very it’s a
we call funny ear it’s a very it’s a
we call funny ear it’s a very it’s a very unimaginative name for a really
very unimaginative name for a really
very unimaginative name for a really beautiful lioness but funny here was a
beautiful lioness but funny here was a
beautiful lioness but funny here was a young lioness when I first started with
young lioness when I first started with
young lioness when I first started with a Zambian kind of a program she was
a Zambian kind of a program she was
a Zambian kind of a program she was about a year and a half she stands out
about a year and a half she stands out
about a year and a half she stands out because of her ear that funny ear in
because of her ear that funny ear in
because of her ear that funny ear in 2010 she picked up a snare in her
2010 she picked up a snare in her
2010 she picked up a snare in her travels with her pride and it was pretty
travels with her pride and it was pretty
travels with her pride and it was pretty sad but luckily the people that spotted
sad but luckily the people that spotted
sad but luckily the people that spotted her and they reported to us and were
her and they reported to us and were
her and they reported to us and were able to go there check off the snare and
able to go there check off the snare and
able to go there check off the snare and she healed remarkably well and so her
she healed remarkably well and so her
she healed remarkably well and so her story kinda ends in a beautiful business
story kinda ends in a beautiful business
story kinda ends in a beautiful business type you know
type you know
type you know Disney style ended she got her prints
Disney style ended she got her prints
Disney style ended she got her prints and well couple princess cause she’s a
and well couple princess cause she’s a
and well couple princess cause she’s a lioness in her prime really beautiful
lioness in her prime really beautiful
lioness in her prime really beautiful and in 2015 we so funny
and in 2015 we so funny
and in 2015 we so funny erase her first litter of Cubs really
erase her first litter of Cubs really
erase her first litter of Cubs really amazing a graduation ceremony of some
amazing a graduation ceremony of some
amazing a graduation ceremony of some sorts so gives us hope to keep on
sorts so gives us hope to keep on
sorts so gives us hope to keep on pushing and keep on working and so we’ve
pushing and keep on working and so we’ve
pushing and keep on working and so we’ve heard all about getting people to care
heard all about getting people to care
heard all about getting people to care and every society every culture has a
and every society every culture has a
and every society every culture has a saying that goes in the line children
saying that goes in the line children
saying that goes in the line children are the future and we take that to heart
are the future and we take that to heart
are the future and we take that to heart in our wake and we really try to work
in our wake and we really try to work
in our wake and we really try to work really hard with these communities and
really hard with these communities and
really hard with these communities and these students to just get them become
these students to just get them become
these students to just get them become environmentally conscious lawyers
environmentally conscious lawyers
environmentally conscious lawyers teachers nurses and conservation leaders
teachers nurses and conservation leaders
teachers nurses and conservation leaders of the next generation we take students
of the next generation we take students
of the next generation we take students out in the field and expose them to our
out in the field and expose them to our
out in the field and expose them to our life in their natural habitat and it’s
life in their natural habitat and it’s
life in their natural habitat and it’s it’s just an amazing experience and
it’s just an amazing experience and
it’s just an amazing experience and these kids love being out in the field
these kids love being out in the field
these kids love being out in the field they don’t want the fieldwork to stop so
they don’t want the fieldwork to stop so
they don’t want the fieldwork to stop so it gives us hope to see that they’re
it gives us hope to see that they’re
it gives us hope to see that they’re ready to learn and they’re willing to go
ready to learn and they’re willing to go
ready to learn and they’re willing to go the extra mile and along with this
the extra mile and along with this
the extra mile and along with this conservation education work we want to
conservation education work we want to
conservation education work we want to impart skills that will empower them
impart skills that will empower them
impart skills that will empower them going forward so it skills like public
going forward so it skills like public
going forward so it skills like public speaking writing computers that can be
speaking writing computers that can be
speaking writing computers that can be taken for granted in the developed world
taken for granted in the developed world
taken for granted in the developed world and in our cities these students who
and in our cities these students who
and in our cities these students who have the chance to get and sort of equal
have the chance to get and sort of equal
have the chance to get and sort of equal footing almost with regards to uni
footing almost with regards to uni
footing almost with regards to uni admission getting employment anything
admission getting employment anything
admission getting employment anything other than poaching and so last year
other than poaching and so last year
other than poaching and so last year with a generous support from the big cat
with a generous support from the big cat
with a generous support from the big cat initiative were able to do a human
initiative were able to do a human
initiative were able to do a human wildlife conflict study focused entirely
wildlife conflict study focused entirely
wildlife conflict study focused entirely on understanding people’s interactions
on understanding people’s interactions
on understanding people’s interactions to big cats and also other carnival’s it
to big cats and also other carnival’s it
to big cats and also other carnival’s it was a nice opportunity for students to
was a nice opportunity for students to
was a nice opportunity for students to get in the villages talk to people share
get in the villages talk to people share
get in the villages talk to people share their conservation message but also we
their conservation message but also we
their conservation message but also we found happily that there is not as much
found happily that there is not as much
found happily that there is not as much conflict as we thought in our part of
conflict as we thought in our part of
conflict as we thought in our part of the world but there was a lot of
the world but there was a lot of
the world but there was a lot of negative perceptions about big cats in
negative perceptions about big cats in
negative perceptions about big cats in general we need to get people to care
general we need to get people to care
general we need to get people to care about these issues and it comes from us
about these issues and it comes from us
about these issues and it comes from us all of us that are here talking to them
all of us that are here talking to them
all of us that are here talking to them about experiences that we
about experiences that we
about experiences that we had with these animals Alice deal middle
had with these animals Alice deal middle
had with these animals Alice deal middle school right here in DC they did a
school right here in DC they did a
school right here in DC they did a podcast on what it means to them to
podcast on what it means to them to
podcast on what it means to them to conserve lions and I’m going to quote
conserve lions and I’m going to quote
conserve lions and I’m going to quote one of what one of the students said she
one of what one of the students said she
one of what one of the students said she said we need to give big cuts and large
said we need to give big cuts and large
said we need to give big cuts and large predators a chance we are their only
predators a chance we are their only
predators a chance we are their only predator they cannot survive without our
predator they cannot survive without our
predator they cannot survive without our help thank you
”
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