THE VIEWFINDERNEWSLETTER : ISSUE NO 24, JUNE 2001 [New faces] [Are we feeling the changes] [And more testudinary news] [Visas made easier] We promised a photo of Chania, who has now been with us six months. One of her greatest admirers is Hissing Sid, a large leopard tortoise whom we inherited last year. Every lunch time, like clockwork, he plods into the office and heads straight for Chania’s desk, hoping for a handout of lettuce and/or cucumber. When she was away for three weeks, Sid did not come into the office once. On her first day back, the routine started over again and continues daily. Anyone like to make a tortoise film ?
ARE WE ALL FEELING THE CHANGES? The changes in the wildlife filming industry are being felt world wide – we can certainly feel the effects here in Kenya. Looking at the emails, newsletters and website chat sites, it is evident that everyone is aware that the future is uncertain. Subjects have always gone in cycles: one year it would be lions, one year it would be elephants, next polar bears, then everyone was out there filming sharks. More recently the "people and wildlife" programmes (pets, vets, game wardens) have taken over. It seems that this kind of programme appeals to some audiences, and everyone seems to be showing poor quality films endlessly. The subject matter becomes more and more banal, more and more boring. Surely the demand for terrified reptiles being pulled out of holes by non-charismatic cowboys must end soon? Or are we going to end up with a whole generation of young people who think that wildlife does not deserve respect? Which leaves us here, now, at the beginning of a new century, somewhat in despair. The audiences seem to have been dumbed down as well as the programmes. The demise of both Survival and Partridge Films does not help the situation. Everywhere budgets have been slashed, independent production companies are folding right and left, and only the very fittest are surviving. Barry Clark sums up the situation as being "in a wild state of flux". He suggests that we can "either stay home and wait out the storm, or we can take a deep breath and ride the winds of change wherever they may take us".
From the Viewfinders p.o.v, here on the ground in one of the world’s finest wildlife filming locations, we want you to know that we are still very much here. Winds of change are blowing, certainly. Of over 50 films this year, only about 30% have been wildlife/natural history. For the last fourteen years, the percentage of wildlife has always been 90% or more. Obviously someone out there wants documentaries on subjects other than wildlife, and we are now becoming experts in horticulture, agriculture, prostitution, adventure travel, medicine, palaeontology, tourism, refugees, livestock, mountaineering and street children. There has even been a touch of religion and politics (not really our scene…). We would welcome comments from you. This time a rare, endangered (Cites II) breed. Earlier in the year, the Uganda Wildlife Authority impounded an illegal shipment of pancake tortoises (Malacochersus tornieri) from a suspected animal trafficker at Entebbe airport. Pancake tortoises are not endemic to Uganda, but are found in Kenya and Tanzania. The apparent increase in illegal trade of this sort is of great concern to everyone concerned. The International Fund for Animal Welfare and Kenya Wildlife Service, together with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the National Museums of Kenya and several others say that law enforcement should be increased at international borders to reduce this illegal traffic. The Tanzanian authorities have also been approached for their support. The shipment that was impounded consisted of 209 of these little 500-gram tortoises. Of these, 190 survived and were cared for temporarily at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre in Entebbe before being returned to Kenya. Suitable sites are being found for their release, possibly in the Tsavo East National Park. Since the introduction of visas for everyone visiting Kenya, there have been complaints about the time it takes to complete the form on arrival, resulting in long queues at the visa counter. In an effort to streamline the process, the national carrier (Kenya Airways) are making it possible for you to download the visa form from their web site www.kenya-airways.com. You can then fill it in at leisure, and all that remains is to pay the US$50 on arrival. NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM IN THE MAASAI MARA Part of the Maasai Mara, the 465 sq.kms known as the ‘Mara Triangle’ will from 11 June 2001 be managed by the Mara Conservancy, under a new agreement with the Trans Mara County Council. This private organisation comprises representatives from the Council, tour operators, landowners and conservation professionals. They will be responsible for managing the area as a sustainable ecosystem and wildlife habitat, securing it from poaching, collecting and distributing visitor revenues, and building/maintaining infrastructure. Part of the revenue will be used for management, while the rest will go to local communities and the Council. The Chief Executive of the Mara Conservancy is Brian Heath, and other directors include Tunai ole Kijabe, Chris Thouless and Mark Stanley Price. Collectively they have wide experience from parks, reserves, private conservancies and community projects throughout Kenya, so it is hoped that this new style of management will enhance one of Kenya’s richest wildlife areas. HELL’S GATE LAMMERGEYERS STILL IN TROUBLE Following the introduction by Simon Thomsett of three more Lammergeyers into Hell’s Gate, one bird was recently stoned to death by a farmer. He was arrested, and it has been reported that he has now being signed on by the Peregrine Fund and is being trained to protect the remaining birds.
Following Tanzania’s budget last week, with effect from 1 July 2001 a departure tax will be charged as follows: US$ 30 per person on international departures and TShs 5,000 per person on domestic flights. |
|
© Copyright View Finders Limited. All rights reserved |
|
