HOPEFUL STORY: Lion-killing Kenyan Masai warriors become lion guardians - VIDEO

[Nothing Without Hope]

Traditionally, killing lions as part of male coming of age rituals and as revenge for cattle killings has been an integral part of the culture of the Masai of Kenya. As a result, what was once a population of tens of thousands of lions has been reduced to about 2000, threatening the economically important local tourist industry as well as the natural ecological balance. Now the warriors are compensated for cattle deaths and earn an income from tracking lion prides using antennas to follow lions they have collared. The location of the prides allows them to select safer areas to herd their cattle. This video, from the Scientific American web site, tells the story.

The video lasts about 5 minutes.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/video.cfm?id=47419404001

[SteppingRazor]

1. And besides, what's a more bad-ass coming of age ritual?

Killing a lion, or trapping and collaring a live lion? I'm going with the latter. :)

[Nothing Without Hope]

3. I'd have to agree! n/t

[snagglepuss]

2. Good story. Thanks for posting. nt

[Nothing Without Hope]

4. kick n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

5. Sinking way too fast in General Discussion, so I've reposted in Environment

here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=215345&mesg_id=215345

[Nothing Without Hope]

6. kicking n/t

[Desertrose]

7. K&R This is cool.

[Nothing Without Hope]

8. another kick for visibility. Nice to have an encouraging story for a change. n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

9. one last kick for the night. n/t

[proteus_lives]

10. Cool!

I glad they can balance watching out for the future with respect for the past!

:thumbsup:

[eppur_se_muova]

11. Herdsmen have been using insecticide to poison lions ... 60 Minutes did a story on this.

They described the importance of lion killing to Masai culture, but also pointed out that herders protecting their cattle may kill several lions with each bait carcass they poison with the insecticide carbofuran, and may repeat this several times, so they pose a greater threat to lion numbers.

DU's own GoddessOfGuinness was encouraging us to contact the EPA to ban carbofuran; they did (so it must have worked! ;))!

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=62308&mesg_id=62308
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5460943&mesg_id=5460943

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6901992&mesg_id=6901992

A little of the background:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7460008.stm
{WARNING: may be upsetting--animal cruelty}

Hopefully, the banning of carbofuran in the US will see a decline in lion poisonings (at least until China can start making the stuff).

[Nothing Without Hope]

12. Thank you for this important addition to the story.

Even a story that seems so far away, in a remote and wild area, is connected to us here.

[Nothing Without Hope]

13. kick n/t