DISAPPEARANCE OF BIG GAME FROM CENTRAL AFRICA IS PREDICTED

Shannon News, 30 April 1929, Page 1

DISAPPEARANCE OF BIG GAME FROM CENTRAL AFRICA IS PREDICTED

OAPE TOWN, Jan. 23. “In 20 years’ time there will be no big game left in Central Africa,” was the startling opinion- expressed by Cherry Kearton, the famous photographer of big game, on his return from Central Africa, where he has been engaged in t-lic production of a film with a strong natural history interest. “I predict that in 20 years’ time there will be no big game left in Central Africa,” said Mr Kearton. “Everywhere elephants, lions, and rhinos are forsaking the open. plains and are moving into forests, which are to them unnatural surroundings. The effect of the extermination of wild animals is being shown even in the silence of the lion Lions do not roar as much as they did in the early days, for they are learning that silence is the best protection, scant though ■it is.” The rapidity with which game ‘was being destroyed, said Mr Kearton, meant the doom of wild animal life. Public interest in Africa has lately been riveted very closely on the question of big game. Outside the Union there is no protection area of any note, except one in Kenya which is only suitable for certain types of animals, and efforts arc being made to persuade the governments concerned to take action in the matter before it is too late. Although there is still room for greater protection for game in the Union, yet a lot has been done already and the Kruger National Park in Transvaal is one of the finest sanctuaries in the world. It was President Paul Kruger who first realised the value of a game sanctuary, in South Africa, and it was he who first laid aside a portion of land for the reserve that was ultimately named after him.