Community Chat

[Kachina624]

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@italia8140 wrote:

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@occasionalrain wrote:

Why would they be walking where there are lions roaming about? 

I'm not at all outraged, the lion didn't break into the man's home, he was just protecting his territory. 

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Love your comments! ITA.

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In another news report I read, they said these walking tours are extremely popular with tourists and they've been doing them successfully for years, over 20, I believe.  Apparently they came across an animal that was in a crabby mood.

Just wanted to see if people here were awake.  I guess ...semi.

[Stray]

Outrage really?  A lion is an animal and acts like an animal.  I was on safari two years ago  and did the Lion Encounter where I walked with three lions; I was in Botswana.  They make it clear to visitors that they are wild animals and anything can happen and you sign a release.  Rangers are well aware that there are risks when they take a job.  There is no comparison of a man purposely killing a protected species by luring him of the reserve and an accidental death of a man in the course of his job. The death of Cecil was an atrocity and has nothing to do with babies being killed; a human can have sympathy for many reasons and causes; we are humans with higher intelligence.  It doesn't minimize one cause against the other.  We can have compassion for all species, two legged or four legged and all else.  

[Kachina624]

@Stray.   So Greenhouse, I gather you probably touched the lions.  What does their fur feel like?  Is it very soft or scratchy?  I always wondered.

[PamfromCT]

Kachina,

With all due respect, I think something is missing in the essence of this argument.

According the statement you posted, which Inhave copies below, two things leap out 

at me:

1.  Swales was taking a group of tourists on A WALKING SAFARI.  Say What?  I thought people went on safaris on jeeps, etc., so they could look from the safety of a vehicle that could quickly get them out of danger.

2.  The safari company says, "Quinn did everything he could to successfully protect his guests and ensure their safety..."  Say What Again?  Really?  By taking folks on a WALKING safari?  If I ever make it to Africa for a safari, I can guarantee you it wouldn't be a walking safari...unless I had a death wish.

Sad to say, this man's ignorance caused his demise.  Don't blame the lion.

"(CNN)A safari guide has been mauled to death by a lion in the same Zimbabwean national park where Cecil the lion lived.

Quinn Swales was taking a group of tourists on a walking safari in Hwange National Park on Monday morning when a lion suddenly charged, the company he was working for said.

"Quinn did everything he could to successfully protect his guests and ensure their safety," the company, Camp Hwange, said on its Facebook page, adding that no other members of the group were hurt."

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[mousiegirl]

As long as mankind infiltrates the territory of a wild animal, lives will be spent.  The lion was acting on instinct.  Man protects his property, lion protects it's territory.  I am always on the side of an animal, always totally innocent, living their lives as instinct guides them, only killing to survive, can we say the same for man, no, we cannot.  Man kills for sport, something I will never understand, nor will I try, as there is no rational explanation for killing a beautiful animal for absolutely no reason at all.

We are pushing animals, all over the world, out of their habitats, and we expect them not  to try to protect themselves and their families, not going to happen.  The animal's instinct to survive is first and foremost, and they have no ulterior motives, they only want to survive and live their lives, raising their families to preserve their species, as their instinct dictates.

[spiderw]

I am sorry for this tragedy but the lion shouldn't be killed.  It's bad enough they are being killed by rich men and women who trophy hunt and are cowards.  Instead of throwing their money toward slaughtering animals, they should be donating to charities where it will help .

In my opinion animals could never do the damage that man has done and continues to do to each other.  The two legged predator is the most dangerous in the world and you need only to listen to the news or read a newspaper to see that fact of life.

[Stray]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

@Stray.   So Greenhouse, I gather you probably touched the lions.  What does their fur feel like?  Is it very soft or scratchy?  I always wondered.

@Kachina624 - yes, I did ....they were teenagers, the oldest being 2.  It was 110 degrees and they were a bit grouchy but we walked with them to the river, but they kept leading the group under trees for shade.  The one was male and did not have a full mane but that part was soft and his body hair course but very muscular and strong. The two others were female but the male easiest to interact with.  But, a fabulous experience.  Three rangers, one armed  accompany each group of 6 people.  It sounds like they did not take proper safety precautions on that particular tour.  

[Kachina624]

@Stray. I'm envious of your experience.  I'd love to do that.

[Stray]

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@PamfromCT wrote:

Kachina,

With all due respect, I think something is missing in the essence of this argument.

According the statement you posted, which Inhave copies below, two things leap out 

at me:

1.  Swales was taking a group of tourists on A WALKING SAFARI.  Say What?  I thought people went on safaris on jeeps, etc., so they could look from the safety of a vehicle that could quickly get them out of danger.

2.  The safari company says, "Quinn did everything he could to successfully protect his guests and ensure their safety..."  Say What Again?  Really?  By taking folks on a WALKING safari?  If I ever make it to Africa for a safari, I can guarantee you it wouldn't be a walking safari...unless I had a death wish.

Sad to say, this man's ignorance caused his demise.  Don't blame the lion.

"(CNN)A safari guide has been mauled to death by a lion in the same Zimbabwean national park where Cecil the lion lived.

Quinn Swales was taking a group of tourists on a walking safari in Hwange National Park on Monday morning when a lion suddenly charged, the company he was working for said.

"Quinn did everything he could to successfully protect his guests and ensure their safety," the company, Camp Hwange, said on its Facebook page, adding that no other members of the group were hurt."

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@PamfromCT - as posted previously, it is not uncommon to walk on a safari.  Mostly, you are in a jeep but if you go to a part of the reserve where they house particular animals as part of a breeding program or a reserve for say elephants, you are on foot.  However, when I walked with lions, you are well protected by Rangers and never just one...there are also Rangers on lookout towers.  I don't think this tour had good safety practices.  Tourists don't really know any better and forget they are wild animals because of their beauty.