Save the Serengeti
By huntley@escape4africa.com at June 24, 2010 | 12:37 pm | Print
Ask a non-African what their image of Africa is, and most will probably recall scenes from a wildlife documentary of great herds stampeding across the dusty open grass plains dotted with Acacia trees; and a hungry prowling lioness waiting for an opportunity to provide a kill for her pride.
Yes, the Serengeti National Park is an iconic African image, and made famous for its great game viewing and the countless nature documentaries that endeared it to viewers from all over the globe.
But there is a distant metallic rumble of bulldozers disturbing the peace of this magical and sensitive ecosystem; and driving fear into nature lovers world wide. The last thing you will associate with this serene wildlife environment is a high speed highway with trucks rumbling past, and that is exactly what is planned (and given the go ahead for construction) by the Tanzanian government.
Yes, developing countries sometimes have to make drastic steps to stimulate economic growth; but in many cases at the expense of the environment and future generations that will inherit this planet from us.
The highway will cut across the north-western area of the park, an area earmarked by scientists as being particularly sensitive and vulnerable. It is also the main route for the great wildebeest migration, one of the most impressive nature spectacles on earth. And guess who will come of second last when a 200kg wildebeest collide with a 20 ton truck?
Maybe that hungry lioness will be seen on the next documentary feeding from a road kill.
What are your thoughts and feelings on this? Do we allow economic growth at the expense of our environment and the legacy we are leaving behind for future generations?
But construction has not started yet, so if you feel strongly about this, you can take action and make a difference. Sign the petition to stop the proposed building of this highway.
http://www.savetheserengeti.org/issues/stop-the-serengeti-highway/
