Dave Salmoni
- Thread starter LeeMac13
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Im very impressed with his understanding and application of said understanding of big cat behaviour. However, I am in strong doubts as to the positive outcome of his project in Africa, and its impact on the locals.
As I recall, the whole point of the experiment was to show the locals that they can live close to lions without bloodshed, but impacting this uppon the native population seems overly ambitious to me. It's a noble idea, and I really hope it works, but I dont think it will.
I found the show entertaining and picked up quite a few tips along the way, but deep down I think the only results of his trip to africa was an entertaining TV series, and a few lines on his resumé.
As I recall, the whole point of the experiment was to show the locals that they can live close to lions without bloodshed, but impacting this uppon the native population seems overly ambitious to me. It's a noble idea, and I really hope it works, but I dont think it will.
I found the show entertaining and picked up quite a few tips along the way, but deep down I think the only results of his trip to africa was an entertaining TV series, and a few lines on his resumé.
Vulpes
Well-Known Member
Personally I think he is an idiot! I think his results were fabricated for the program and I am very disappointed in Discovery with their string of documentaries about the people that risk their lives and the animals lives to get up close and personal with wild animals. Where is the educational benefits in programs like these? What happened to good old David Attenbourough style programs? They actually were like reading a natural history book. This new generation of programs are trying to appeal to a new audience I think.
With regard to this program into the pride I failed to understand how taking away the lions fear of man would make them safer? I think it made them a lot more dangerous!
With regard to this program into the pride I failed to understand how taking away the lions fear of man would make them safer? I think it made them a lot more dangerous!
Whenever you start an experiment with the aim of increasing conservation you have to very carefully compare potential risk against potential gain. Lions are wild animals and no matter how much you know accidents do happen and humans are, no matter how we look at it, potential food to a lion. I guess Dave Salmoni did not carefully weigh potential risks against potential gain. If Dave or a local was killed or seriously injured by a lion during the experiment I can only imagine the terrible effect it would have on lion conservation. One I suspect far outweighs the potential gain of the experiment. For this reason and reasons mentioned by Vulpes in last post I also guess a similar program would never be allowed by the authorities if it was in the western world. Trying to habituate mountain lions or bears to humans in North America for example.
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Vulpes
Well-Known Member
Very good example just shows how ridiculous this idea is!