Actually, Karen, wild populations only manage themselves when humans AREN'T
part of the equasion at all. The minute we share space in nature on our
terms, with our trash and our pets (remember what domestic cats and dogs
did to various ecologies when the Europeans were exploring?) and all the
little things we do...the cycle unbalances. If we want to share the space,
then we have to control the balance...because WE are the ones that are
unbalancing the cycle.
<snip,snip, alot of snip>
> > This is happening in Alaska today; the Dall sheep, moose, and caribou
> > population are in serious trouble because of outside interference with
the
> > management of predators. 35 times as many prey animal kills are by
> > predators than by hunters:
> > hunters 2.5%
> > accident/disease 10%
> > predators 87.5%
> > Predators take the easiest kills: old, infirm, pregnant, and young.
The
> > latter two vastly outnumber the former. Ever since predator management
> > started to be dictated by feel-good political correctness instead of
sound
> > wildlife management principles, 80% of all calves don't make it past
their
> > first year. Nearly 50% of pregnant cows don't make it.
Namibia, in Africa, was having the same problem...leopards and cheetahs
were killing livestock, and so the farmers were wiping out the leopards and
cheetahs. The Africats Foundation is helping the cats and farmers live
together peacably...perhaps we can learn from them...if everyone works
together,then the costs can be dealt with (news clip follows):
The Africat foundation is a non profit organisation based at OKONJIMA LODGE
in Namibia. It has been established to conserve and protect threatened
cheetah, leopard and other wildcats in Namibia. Its main aim is to educate
livestock farmers of the importance of conserving African cats whilst
asisting
them to protect their livelihood. For example they try to educate farmers
about the value of building an electrified holding pen for calves, until
they
grow sufficient size that they will not be threatened by cheetah and
leopard
when released. These on going projects have enormous set up costs, but are
invaluable in showing farmers that livestock and wild animals can co-exist.
Lise and Wayne Hanssen
The Africat Foundation
Okonjima, PO Box 793
Otjiwarongo, Namibia
If anyone's interested, by the way, you can actually visit the guesthouse
at Okonjima Lodge and get close to the animals (they also have a center to
help animals injured or captured by the villagers) and go on photo safaris.
All the money goes into the conservation effort.
If we work hard, with peace on our minds, love in our hearts, and patience
in our mouths...we can do anything. All my love!!!