Page 18 - Dainfern Precinct Living 5 2021

NATURE

How close would you
venture, on foot, to this
little family? In a car,
50m would be about the
limit.

WILD ANIMALS

HOW CLOSE CAN ONE GET?

BY JAMES CLARKE, PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARY BROADLEY

recently wrote about how close we Significantly, such animals do not has been heavily influenced by
were able to approach zebra when shy away from other species – buck television programmes. Remember
driving in Kruger Park once the will graze quite close to resting the programme, Mad Mike
park was fully re-opened after the lions. The hypothesis that animals and Mark not long ago? They
I initial COVID-19 lockdown. This in the wild will flee at our approach performed flamboyant and pointless
brought a response from somebody is not, however, an immutable rule antics, getting perilously close to
who had noticed that lions at and it could be fatal to assume so. dangerous animals, seemingly
Crocodile Bridge were unfazed when In fact, a ranger was killed in the to show off just like circus lion
he drove within a few metres of them. Kruger Park last month though I’ve tamers used to when they put their
heard nothing of the circumstances. heads in lions’ mouths. Other TV
Has there been a change since programmes depict wild animals
the lockdown started – or are we The problem is that, these days, in an anthropomorphic way, often
imagining it? ‘normal circumstances’ do not insinuating there can be a sort
prevail over much of Africa. We of Doctor Dolittle bond between
It is interesting how, under normal have to sow crops and so we humans and wildlife.
conditions, wild animals do not attract herbivores; we have to
become overly alarmed – cautious, have livestock and so we attract Influenced by this, a few years ago
yes – when they are approached carnivores; and, as Africa’s human some Southeast Asian students
by vehicles. If we are on foot, they population grows, we have to driving in a South African lion park
invariably move away as soon establish villages and towns and saw a group of lions and two of the
as they see us. Lions, elephants, invade the habitats of other large students got out of their vehicle
buffaloes – even crocodiles when species – some bigger and toothier and casually walked over to them
encountered on dry land – move than we are – and so a conflict wanting to pose for photographs.
away at our approach. Most, situation arises. They were instantly killed.
including lions, will even flee.
Many overseas tourists have About that time, I was driving a
This doesn’t say much for humans. a perception of wild Africa that Hungarian visitor in Kruger Park
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