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Caption: Deep in human nature #ConservationStory
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Caption: Deep In Human Nature is a collection of photos documenting the lesser shared scenes of wildlife safari from the Serengeti National Park, opening up the complexities of conservation. The images explore protected landscapes with the hope to examine and challenge the humancentric view of the natural world.
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Caption: I. | #DeepInHumanNature | Stark contrast
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Caption: Despite the popular portrayal of East African savannahs as icons of wilderness, the reality is that human influence in these ecosystems is essential, and hard to miss.
To maintain healthy ecosystems fires are deliberately started most years to encourage grass growth and to control insect pests.
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Caption: II. | #DeepInHumanNature | En route
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Caption: Cutting across the middle of the Serengeti is a dusty sloping road. It is a trade route, both locally and nationally.
For isolated communities living in this region poor roads mean that trips to the hospital, school and to see family are long and expensive. Paving the roads would benefit locals, and increase access to more fee-paying foreigners who buy art, craft and food from locals on the way to the country's most-prized natural asset.
Scientists and environmentalists fear the annual wildebeest migration would collapse if the main route were tarmacked. So far plans by the government have been objected.
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Caption: III. | #DeepInHumanNature | Carcass
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Caption: The evidence of human activity in the park is most pronounced by the occasional relics of machinery, which are slowly slipping into the fabric of the landscape.
It's hard to know whether it's their unsightliness or their threat to wildlife which is of more concern to the tourist's gaze.
What's apparent is that these abandoned wrecks are a reminder that these plains are not a wilderness but a place with the pressures of people and development, even if the romanticised shots from BBC Earth films suggest otherwise.
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Caption: IV. | #DeepInHumanNature | International Welcome
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Caption: The 5,700 sq miles of national park is notionally marked with a freestanding entrance gate. Despite a lack of fencing this boundary marker is clearly distinguished for the ancestral Maasai communities who are not permitted to live and hunt within the park borders.
Each day a group of boys sit outside the gate waiting for safari vehicles to pill so they can sell their crafts and art, or get reward for being snapped for a tourist photo.
Some reports suggest Maasai communities near to the park boundaries are increasingly evicted as the government makes way for exclusive hunting retreats.
In an act of defiance the authorities threaten to build fences to separate wildlife from growing human settlements. Fences are largely unknown to these pastoralists who have their own word to describe the Serengeti as the heart of their homeland, siringet, "the place where the land runs on forever”.
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Caption: V. | #DeepInHumanNature | Role reversal
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Caption: Campsites are a popular option for park visitors. The opportunity to get close to wildlife is enhanced by limited or no fencing, and raids made by animals for leftover food.
Basic shelters provide a place to prepare food, picnic and keep a distance from (un)welcome visitors. There's a certain irony as you find yourself caged in a foreign land, being peered in on by an unfamiliar face. And of course, the natural response is to reach for your camera.
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Caption: VI. | #DeepInHumanNature | Champagne and hot air
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Caption: There's some debate whether animals are frightened and stressed by the high frequency of hot air balloon burners overhead, which humans cannot hear.
This point of view might accompany a purist ideal that animals should be free to roam in pristine environment, void of human presence. In this case the park authority restrict balloons to operating over very small portions of the park to reduce the disturbance they cause.
National parks work to address the conflict of interest between wildlife and human activity, and it is accepted that tourism is a necessary part of conservation. Equally the wellbeing of the animals are necessary for the continued employment and business. On average, one balloon flying in the parks require a staffing complement of approximately 12 - 15 people.
Maintaining and enhancing biodiversity is seen to be best matched when promoting local development and opportunity, and visa versa.
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Caption: VII. | #DeepInHumanNature | Feeding frenzy
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Caption: Vehicles must stay on the marked sand tracks that weave across the grass plains. This can make seeing wildlife in the long grasses difficult.
Tourists have the Big Five in their sights and naturally drivers will do all they can to ensure customers expectations are met, in the hope to receive a good tip for their efforts.
As a driver comes across the animals, a broadcast goes out over the long wave radio to notify other drivers. This is smart business and results in up to 15 vehicles at a time, as tourists get a feeding frenzy around their prey.
Research shows that there are many more endangered species that fit the 'characteristic megafauna' profile of elegant and unique species, and so considered worthy of being protected. These have just not had the exposure to capture public consciousness.
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Caption: VIII. | #DeepInHumanNature | “It’s a two way street, you know. You make a picture perfect scene behind that lens too."
Caption: Encouraging work is going to try to benefit both wildlife and local communities across all continents. It is vital that local knowledge and voices are not left out of the #ConservationStory To learn more about how you can
have an impact on conservation, visit:
awf.org/conservation-story