Once upon a time, Cuddlehorn the resilient rhino roamed the vast grasslands of Western Africa that he happily knew as his home. One day, Cuddlehorn was enjoying his typical mud bath under the hot savanna sun when he encountered a man known by the name of Finn Featherfoot who carried dangerous weapons. With an overwhelming fear, Cuddlehorn aggressively stomped away as he attempted to escape the presence of Featherfoot. Out of luck, Cuddlehorn was killed and captured by the happy hunter who lifted a horn in celebration. As time went by, and more hunters visited the savanna, the relatives and fellow rhinos of Cuddlehorn began to vanish until no rhinos were left.
In Zimbabwe, a country located in the continent of Africa, our lion friends are at risk of having the same fate as Cuddlehorn and the other rhinos. On arriving in the open plains of Southeastern Africa, the selfish hunters desired the largest, strongest lion with the most vibrant mane they could find. The hunters searched for the leaders of each lion family. After much success, the capturing of the many male lions by the hunters caused immense disruption to the lion families and their behaviors [1]. Legend has it that male lions who survived their encounters with the infamous hunters would actively search to become the leaders of disbanded families[1]. To assert their dominance, these motivated lions would cruelly take down male cubs, preventing them from obtaining(gaining) any power [1]. Following long lonely days of capturing lions, Featherfoot and his fellow scouts decide to take a break from their tiring efforts to hunt for their one true love. With the hunters gone, the worries of the lions began to fade away into the gentle wind. The long energy-consuming strolls that male lions took to find their queens and protect their territories were no more [1]. The small home ranges which contained plenty of rich resources were enough to satisfy the joyful lions.
An important lesson that we can learn from our animal companions is that we must not disrupt their way of life. The actions of humans have led to the vulnerability or extinction of many animals. This means that because of human doing, some animals are at risk of no longer existing while some are absent. Dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, you name it, we love our adorable pets! We keep them safe and well-fed. Although we must watch wild animals from a distance, the beautiful lions and other vulnerable animals need our love and support too. Show your support by spreading the word about endangered animals to conserve life!
Citations:
Author links open overlay panelZeke Davidson a, et al. “Socio-Spatial Behaviour of an African Lion Population Following Perturbation by Sport Hunting.” Biological Conservation, Elsevier, 3 Sept. 2010, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320710003459. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.
