June 16, 2011

A wonderful time in Namibia!


Photo credit: Nicolas Feron
As mentioned in an earlier post, last month, I was privileged to attend the Wildtrack Footprint Identification Technique (FIT) Monitoring Workshop at the breathtaking N/a'an ku se Wildlife Sanctuary and Lodge, near Windhoek, Namibia.
Here, the presence of great conservationists and wildlife researchers met to discuss the technology and utilization of an innovative (yet ancient, in origin) endangered species' non-invasive monitoring technique.
I look forward to employing FIT in areas of the Tsavo region to monitor the cheetah, as it is developed further for the species.
Thank you, to Sanctuary wildlife researcher, Florian Weise, for kindly sending me the group photo and for organizing and implementing much of the workshop, along with the awesome Wildtrack team, and first class hosts and staff at N/a'an ku se!
And a special thank you, to Simone Eckhardt, for making it possible for me to attend. :)

"Why did early man, when he expressed himself in rock engravings, choose animals as emblems of his aspirations? Why have highly cultured races like the Egyptians and Assyrians used animals as symbols for their Gods…? Why are we so deeply moved by tragedies involving our pets? Why are the first toys given to our children representatives of animals?… Do we need more proof that we need animals more than they need us – that they can give us something which we cannot give ourselves? "
Joy Adamson ----- "Pippa's Challenge"

"Wisdom is like a baobab tree; no one individual can embrace it." - A West Africa Proverb