Mammal Watching

Mammal Watching in Africa

Some time ago, I was asked by a good friend what my most memorable mammal experience had been in Africa. Well, I've been very fortunate to have spent time in some wonderful places and have had marvellous encounters with Mountain Gorillas, Lions, Giant Forest Hogs, Black Rhinos, Forest Buffalo and Aardvarks, to name a few. But my best experiences are the ones when the animals were completely unaware of my presence. Among these, was sitting alone on the banks of the Endabash River at twilight while a small family of elephants came to drink and bathe before drifting off into the Tanzanian night. Another was watching a pair of Side-striped Jackals outwit two Lappet-faced Vultures at an Impala carcass in Zimbabwe's Gonarezhou.

Nothing terribly dramatic in these observations, just a privilege to witness without being seen. Without disturbing. In a world where just about every living thing flees from humans, (and who can blame them?) it is indeed a moment to be savoured when we can achieve this.

Greatest Assemblage of Mammals

Africa is blessed with the greatest assemblage of large mammals on the planet. The diversity and abundance of these spectacular animals, coupled with the fact that they occur mostly in open savanna habitats, is what attracts so many people to visit the national parks and protected areas.

In places such as the Serengeti, Masai Mara, Okavango and Kruger, visitors expect to see impressive creatures such as Elephant, Giraffe and Lion, and most of them do. Used to safari vehicles, many of these animals are apparently blasé to the whole idea of being gawked at. But step out of the Land Rover, or approach too close, and the situation can change rapidly (as evidenced by a recent attack by a Leopard on a tour guide leader in South Africa's Kruger National Park).

While mammal watchers in Europe or North America may be thrilled to encounter a hedgehog or weasel, such small creatures are hardly noticed in Africa although they are often just as fascinating as larger mammals. Even antelope, many of which are truly impressive mammals, are usually taken for granted by visitors to Africa who are often on a quest to see the ‘biggest', ‘rarest' or most ‘fearsome' animals. If they were to see a Greater Kudu in their own country, they would fall over themselves, but here in Africa it's all too often "just another antelope, where are the lions?" And lions sleeping (which is what lions do for much of the day) are not really enough. The carnivores need to be doing something, preferably ripping the heart out of some other animal.

Influence of Television

This culture of ‘mammal watching' has clearly been influenced by television which is obviously driven to produce programmes which out-compete their competitors with more action, more drama, more blood. Film makers increasingly push the limits not only of technology, but - disturbingly - also of the animals themselves. While it is fascinating to place miniature cameras in predator dens to see how the family lives (albeit in ‘Big Brother' style), for example, this is not a sight which anyone visiting an African wildlife reserve should expect to see. When you view television footage of a Cheetah coursing across the grassland to bring down a gazelle, this is likely to be the culmination of months of patient and hard work for a wildlife cameraman, not a predictable sighting.

Most disturbing, is the way in which so-called ‘reality TV' has infiltrated the wildlife arena, with National Geographic and Discovery channels jostling with each other for ratings, and new kid on the block ‘Animal Planet' trying to outdo them with even more dramatic programmes. Now that TV dramas of killer sharks and killer crocodiles have been exhausted (or am I being too hopeful?), attention has apparently been turned to African savannas. "Just how dangerous can we make this look?", I can hear them asking themselves in the Hollywood Hills.

A newly released series that I have watched once or twice (that's quite enough!), follows the activities of a pair of khaki-clad bushwhackers using their "extraordinary tracking skills" to creep up on feeding Lions or follow hunting Leopards (among other things). The idea behind this seems to be: who will ‘chicken out' first - the cat or the cameraman? This blatant and shameful invasion of the personal space of wild animals breaks the cardinal rule of mammal watching - be sensitive to the animals at all times. In a perversion of the whole concept of enjoying nature, the producers of this programme appear intent on turning mammal watching into some kind of adrenalin sport.

Not only is this downright dangerous it seriously compromises the animals. Given television's power to influence, it is frightening to think of how many people might be tempted to try some of the ‘tricks' employed in such programmes. One of the reasons that humans can drive around game reserves looking at elephants, lions and other potentially dangerous animals, is that these species regard vehicles as benign objects. As soon as this association is broken (for example by somebody leaving a car) the animal typically flees. In certain circumstances, fleeing may not be an option (for example, if young are nearby) and an attack might take place.

Sensitivity is the Key

Responsible safari operators in Africa will surely join me in condemning this kind of television. Leading companies train guides to adopt and embrace stringent field operating standards which always put the animals' needs first. Critical to remember, is that the closest view of an animal is not always the best view. In fact, it is rarely so. At all times, it is crucial to remember that we humans are privileged visitors into wildlife habitats. By understanding animal behaviour and approaching wildlife slowly and cautiously, it is possible to watch and photograph large mammals without interfering in their lives, and to have experiences which will linger long in the memory.

- Duncan Butchart -

Opinions expressed in wildwatch.com are those of the authors and not necessarily those of CC Africa.

Posted: Mammals by CC Africa, Date: 21 November 2006