DISAPPEARANCE OF BIG GAME FROM CENTRAL AFRICA IS PREDICTED

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6863, 19 March 1929, Page 7

DISAPPEARANCE OF BIG GAME FROM CENTRAL AFRICA IS PREDICTED

OAPE TOWN, Jan. 23. “In 20 years’ time there will he 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 ho has been engaged in the 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 tho extermination of wild animals is being shown oven in the silence of the lion to-day. Lions do not roar as much as they did in the early days, for they are learning that silence as the best protection, scant though it is.” Tho Tapidjty with which game was being destroyed, said Mr Kearton, meant tho doom of wild animal life. Public interest in Africa ha? 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 tyP<*> of animals, and efforts are being made to persuade the governments concerned to take action iu the matter before it is too late. Although there is still Toorn for greater protection for gome in the Union, yet a lot has been dono already and the Kruger National Park in Transvaal is one of tho 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 Mm,