African Wildlife: A Cost Worth Bearing
When one thinks of Africa, reveries of its wildlife immediately emerge. Its grand beasts, such as lions, hippos and elephants, amongst others, are emblematic of the continent. This wilderness ignites the imagination and rekindles vapid modern humanity's past to a primal and fragile time. Africa is, however, in this rapidly developing continent, where the population is booming, and wilderness areas are vanishing along with the creatures inhabiting them.
In these late capitalist times, everything, including wildlife, gets reduced to monetary value. The safari industry has protected vast areas of wilderness, and tourism has ensured the survival of some of these rare and endangered species. Yet, ironically, the hunting industry has done the same in less picturesque areas. The major problem is that the wildlife industry is exclusive because only those with the financial means can afford to enjoy it. Most Africans, irrespective of race, have never and will never witness their ecological heritage. Unfortunately, this threatens the future of wilderness as people protect what they love. Greater access to wildlife is vital for the future protection and conservation of what remains and for rewilding that must occur.
This project examines three sectors of the wildlife industry: nature reserves, hunting and zoos in Southern Africa. Although not a comprehensive documentation of this industry, this project begins unearthing questions that need answering. The main one is, can the wildlife of Africa be seen and treated for its intrinsic value, one not tied into an anthropocentric existence?
