The Place of the Elephants - Gona Re Zhou

 

The sun sets on another beautiful evening , a sensation of color crosses the sky 

 

So Close and such a Gentleman , Powerful Regal presence - representing so much regards the plight of the wild - a place we have to preserve 

 Another incredible view of Africa - this is what it is - hard - dry and yet soft , the contrast of the colors as the sun sets on the cliffs in incredible , soulful

 

Life is tough out there , but its real , not excessive -not glutenous just real 

 

Incredible colors 

 

The top of the Pillar  over looking the Runde - Magnificent 

 

The trek to and from water in the Runde

 

Beauty that speaks for its self 

 

Klipspringer ( Oreotragus oreotragus ) - in the rocks above Chipinda 

 

Curious , inquisitive , and boisterous 

 

"The Elephant often charges to the accompaniment of a blast of high pitched trumpeting -caused by forcibly expelling air from its trunk  -which sounds like an orcehstra of outraged demons .

Except perhaps for the prospect of imminent hanging ,there can be few things that concentrate the mind more wonderfully "(Murray)

We live in an incredible world - with incredible things all around us - take one moment to consider those who work so hard to protect and preserve - support them , either morally or financially , a dollar goes a long way !

We are the custodians of this for our Grandchildren and their children 

Tread lightly on the earth 

Will Maberly

August 2015

Sim

Somewhere in the Zambezi Valley not far from Kaveve Spring on the Chewore River, there is a great Baobab - probably over 2000 years old, it stands overlooking the sands of this timeless river and all that cross it.

A Plaque sits high on its trunk, amongst the graffiti of the Elephants that adorn the grey bark, markings of many generations of the great grey Giants, left like messages for those who follow in their footsteps.

On the plaque there is an inscription to Sim, it was placed there ten years ago overlooking this bend in the river, by his friends and family as a memorial to him, in such an appropriate place, a place he loved.

In the shadow of this tree there is an overwhelming sense of peace – a feeling of quietness, a deep sense of knowing – a respect almost.  The timelessness of the view, makes one question our own mortality.  How is it that we are so concerned with time?  We definitely seem to feel we are timeless, or perhaps it is the prospect of life that means the most, the possibility that we have the next twenty four hours? Sooner or later we learn though, there are no guarantees of life in this form, however, such is our obsession with the future that we are seldom living in the present - living our lives in an imagery of a better place, a better life style.

Ten years ago this month, our Husband, Father, Brother, Son and Friend – Sim went on the  journey we eventually all take, impossible to believe and tragic though it was, perhaps it was always meant to be that way.  There are so many things that have happened in that time, it’s almost impossible to believe that its only ten years.  Every day I think about this incredible Man, a Man who lived life to its fullest, an incredible support and friend to all who knew him.  It’s been a tough ten years without you here – perhaps tougher now than ever, but we manage and know that somewhere you are watching, guiding and laughing at the comedy of errors we make.

As I sit here in my studio watching the sun drop on yet another beautiful day in Africa – I think of you and the great privilege it has been to be a part of your family all of these years - they carry you forward in a way that you would only be proud, they wear you on their chests!

I think of that day ten years ago when we saw that great male Lion get up in the shade beneath that Baobab in the Chewore, and challenge us, as though he too was guarding the tree.

And I think of you, there on that tree, watching over what is truly Africa, something you loved so dearly.  The tree, in so many ways represents what you mean to us all – that incredible strength and presence you were and still are.

“The tree is our meeting place, where we meet with “our brother”.  The meeting is not a noisy affair – it is quiet and respectful, where we remember and, as we watch the movie that is our minds, we see life for what it truly is - beautiful and unpredictable.”

“They say that it is not what we gather in life – but what you scatter that tells what kind of life that you have lived”

Will

Opinions

Getting Perspective

Just thought I would share this with you . Recently the plight of Cecil - one of the well known  lions of Hwange has been made very public - and there have been a lot of opinions voiced over how it should or shouldnt have been . Is hunting right or wrong ?- there is a place for it definitely - are Professional hunters bad  people ? No definitely not all of them .In fact some of them are the most dedicated conservationists , many with National Parks Backgrounds- people who are deeply involved in assisting in anti poaching and other conservation activities .

The real truth is that in every barrel of apples there are some bad ones - what happened was wrong -  no question , and there should be repercussions- Its time the penalties were paid for breaking the rules 

 . But when the dust has settled its important to take a balanced view of what will happen now and how we go forward -how do we learn from this incident ?Lets learn from Cecil -Personally I believe hunting Trophy animals in an ever decreasing gene pool is wrong  - it is no longer sustainable and most Hunting operators will be feeling the economic pinch anyway   - But there is no denying the link between Hunting and conservation - Perhaps most people are not aware - or perhaps they dont want to know the numbers of elephants that are being Poached daily - some of them Juveniles - often for tiny bits of ivory -what hunting is doing as regards population reduction  doesn't register compared to the poaching - so lets get it all in perspective !.

Whether you like it or not , hunting has in the past provided certainly Zim Parks big revenue , AND a presence in remote areas where poaching would have wiped out elephant - just look at the stats on the remote areas where poaching has had the most effect !

You have an opinion too - but perhaps too many opinions are just words ?we all have the ability to make a difference here -even a dollar goes a long way - the amount of money raised every year just to keep anti poaching teams paid  and other conservation activities funded is not enough - and every little we can contribute to this will make a difference - There are some seriously committed organizations out there with very dedicated people who get real results on the ground . perhaps by backing some of our opinions with a few dollars we can in the future put Zimparks in a situation whereby they are not as reliant on hunting as they are now for revenue and support .

The Outrage is good , but lets turn it positive , lets not sit in some coffee shop somewhere and make comments about all Professional hunters ,like those made about a very dedicated man recently who was tragically killed . lets rather make a real difference , learn from this , put money into the hands of those who can really make it happen on the ground .Some may ask where a good place to start is regarding funding - look up www.thetashingainitiative.org , an organization involved in all aspects of conservation

Cecil , Jericho , Mpofu et

 Memories Of Amazing Lions

 

Bath Time !!!

Pandamonium !!

Is this the sunset on the Elephants ?

As the sun sets on another day In Africa . it becomes thought provoking to say the least , much is happening - the plight of our beautiful land continues -  I am energized by the dedication of some in the cause of the wild , and yet fascinated on the other hand by the misguided opinions of others who have no knowledge of the "stage set "

My closeness and fascination with nature has taught me many things – one of the main ones of which is that we have no more than right now to really contemplate , the past is your own personal  encyclopedia of mistakes and victories as a reference for now  - and the future doesn’t really exist ! Take in the moment , take in the sensations of life and live – that’s what life is about , living now – no more ,no less …We are here ....and that's all. pointing fingers at the past is not going to change where we are now !

I have often written about the times when I am most alive , for me its when I am in Nature , preferably amongst the wilds of Africa .Perhaps for you it’s a different place – the essence is the same however we need to feel a part of it all – and whilst our society races ahead in the name of progress , it becomes harder and harder to be in touch with our reality .Its too fast out there , the checks and balances are often discarded – there is more and more need – and no sustainability .

Incredibly in the not too distant future , with the current onslaught of Elephant poaching we will no longer be able to see Elephant in the wild areas of Africa – as they get slaughtered irrelevant of size to feed an insatiable thirst for some perception of value .

Today sitting here in a remote area of Zimbabwe ,  a combination of sensations surround me , dust and heat , the smell of the Mopane , and a whiff of Elephant  in the wind ,heighten my senses , excite me , that I am still able to be a part of this – that I am so completely privileged to be here amongst these wild animals – in this natural place .The haze from all the bushfires covers the distant tree line  like blue smoke , and the wind is talking to me as it passes through the branches of the baobabs , there is no other place like this for me ,its my “musha “, my home .

It is here that I get to be me , its here that I share a deep sense of contentment and special moments with the beings that matter the most to me , both those that are absent  and present

I feel a deep sense of protection over it , this we have to preserve !, I say to you -we have to know that in years to come Elephant and Buffalo will move silently on there journey through the jesse here , we  need to know that our children’s children will hear the roar of the lion and the call of the Hyeana –those sounds that we call the sounds of Africa . Its time to make a stand – its no good in pointing fingers from afar , there is no time to be a "coffee shop guerrilla " pointing fingers and taking uneducated guess‘s at who is to blame here ! We are here , get in behind the people who are doing and not talking- the people who need your support most , dedicating their lives to the cause

I leave you with a passage  that has been with me since I was 18 – words that hit home every time I read them  - By T. Roosevelt

"Its not the critic who counts , not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles , or where the doer of the deed could have done better .The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena , whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood , who strives valiantly , and who errs and comes short again and again -because there is no effort without error and shortcoming  -but who does actually strive to do the deed , who knows great enthusiasms , the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”