| Lion conservation is vital work. The king of the jungle | | | | order to do their bit. One of the spin-offs is the lion |
| is not invincible. Sadly the lion is in grave danger | | | | walk, taking daily exercise with these magnificent |
| across Africa and it's man who is causing the damage. | | | | beasts as they learn to hunt. Whilst full-grown adults |
| Fortunately the opportunity exists to help try to | | | | aren't part of the deal, these are far more than just |
| redress the balance and a lion walk is just one of the | | | | cubs! |
| benefits. | | | | African lion conservation volunteers do much more |
| Figures tell us that lion population in Africa has | | | | than just have a stroll in the bush though. The proper |
| dropped from something in the region of 200,000 in | | | | care of these animals is paramount but there's also a |
| 1975 to less than 40,000 today. That's a huge decline | | | | lot of work to do to teach local tribes people about |
| in just thirty years. When you see pictures on the | | | | the program. The last thing that ALERT want is to |
| TV of a pack of lions bring down a Wildebeast it's | | | | release a young lion back into the wild only to have it |
| difficult to think of them as "vulnerable" isn't it? But | | | | trapped or killed by a well-meaning but misinformed |
| that is the official listing. | | | | local Zulu warrior. |
| So what can be done? And what's this about lions | | | | So education support is an important part of the lion |
| walks? | | | | volunteer's task. There's also important data-checking |
| One exciting program in Zambia, Zimbabwe and | | | | and record-keeping to be done so it's not all cuddling |
| South Africa is run by the African Lion & | | | | cubs. On the other hand, lion conservation volunteers |
| Environmental Research Trust (ALERT), a non-profit | | | | do get time off to go bungee jumping off Victoria |
| organization dedicated to the conservation of the | | | | Falls or white water rafting on the Zambezi! |
| African lion. They rehabilitate lions, using both rescued | | | | The fact is that volunteering to help rehabilitate |
| and those originally captive bred, to breed "wild" | | | | African lions has tremendous rewards - not least the |
| offspring for release into the relatively safe | | | | lion walk - but it's also hard work from time to time. |
| surroundings of some of Africa's national parks. The | | | | It's not a vacation for the lazy or those that are |
| breeding program is highly monitored for correct | | | | afraid to get their hands dirty. Sure you could just go |
| welfare and animal husbandry and has received many | | | | lie on a beach for a month for the same money, but |
| accolades. | | | | for those that love wildlife and want what they do |
| Of course there is never enough money for this kind | | | | to have real impact and real long-lasting value might |
| of work. Luckily, there are volunteer placements | | | | want to investigate what could become the |
| available and many people from all over the world | | | | adventure of a lifetime. |
| take what could be described as working vacations in | | | | |