Paul Kirui Blog

If it was me I would try not to interfere but I know I would want to and given the opportunity would.

Feeding Romeo and Clawed will this help in the long term? Probably not unless they get fit and well and are able to kill for themselves or join up with the lionesses.

Re-uniting the cub - yes I would even though I know you shouldn't interfere. Not sure I really answered that Doogs.

Lai Pai

Definiately yes to feeding Romeo and Clawed, my heart always rules my head and always will do. Without food they wont get strong enough to hunt and I would rather they get killed out right than starve to death, that is far too nasty and painful to go through.

Reuniting the cub......theres no doubt in my mind, its a resounding yes, leaving a little cub on it's own, scared, bewildered and alone.....no way.

As you say Doogs, numbers are dwindling and they do need help, even if for some it goes against the grain of nature, sometimes going with your heart is the right thing to do, well I think so.

littlewid-x-

Thats a tricky one. I always say let nature take its course, but the caring humane side says man has impacted on these creatures through no fault of their, therefore we should try and save in the smallest of animals. A bit of a conflict there I think.

SM

Interesting questions Doogs and interesting answers

Lai Pai

Doogs, my thoughts exactly on reading this!

Its a big yes to me for reuniting the little cub with Joy. With Lion numbers decreasing I think its important to help the lion population as much as they can.

With Clawed and Romeo, I seem to keep contradicting myself too! I hate to see an animal suffer so therefore I would feed it. However, even feeding them and helping the build up their strength won't help them in the long run as they can't hunt ... and will the loan female stay with them? How long do you go on feeding them for?

That is a tough question AM and one I have thought about this evening, well it has played on my mind.

I stand by what I said earlier but yes, how long do they keep feeding them, especially if the lone female doesn't stay around. In all intense and purposes, for Romeo and Clawed it would be better if she did stay as she can hunt, although she is apparantly getting on a bit as well.

You all know I am one who can not always go along with what is natural nature, I have an overriding urge to save everything, so on this I have tried to look outside the box and i'm sure to some, if not all, it will be contravertial.

The animals in all game parks, safari parks, do a service to the area and the country by bringing in money and creating employment in those areas, all by living their natural lives and living by nature as it was intened and many thousands of safari goers have enjoyed watching them and taking photo's .

However, as spectacular and special as the Wildebeest and Zebra are in the migration, the thousands of them have not been given the status of world wide stars and given names that millions of people have fallen in love with. Each animal appeals to different kinds of people and in it's own way brings employment and revenue by being part of the safari. But, the big lodges I believe engage in a huge way with the stars of Big Cat Diaries and Big Cat Live as do the renowned film makers and photographers and some bloggers.

Romeo and Clawed, in their own right, must draw huge world wide attention and must be given the respect for the income they must have generated to Kenya.

Therefore I believe, they deserve to be considered in a slightly different way. If they had been left to live their natural lives without the notoriety of "stardom" they would live and die like any other older males pushed out of the pride by a take over and either lived or died, either by death on a take over, starvation or old age, but there would have been no extra monetary gains out of them, they would be like the millions of Wildebeest. Romeo and Clawed have been extra money earners for Kenya by the status and celebretary, for want of a better word, thrust upon them, so I believe they do deserve a different consideration for all they have done for Kenya and by that I mean they should not be left to die a miserable death of starvation. I feel quite passionate that they should be given the respect of either being euthanised if they can no longer hunt and are sick and their only expectation is to starve to death without intervention or they are fed until they die of natural causes.

Unknowingly, they have given so much to kenya and it's people and I think they do deserve a thank you back, even if it is an unconventional one.

Nature can be very cruel indeed but to knowingly let an animal starve to death is crueler.
In some ways, I just wish they had been killed in the take over because unless someone is brave enough to be unconventional Romeo and Clawed are going to have a very painful and unecessary end.

Very well said Littlewid - their fame and all of the big cats from BCD are special and perhaps deserve special attention and care.

Lai Pai

thats really good LW. I think that sums up very well why they should help Romeo and Clawed! Very well written!

Pretty horrendous news on Paul's FB Page :-

"We are having devasting rain in Trans- mara, we had a torrential rain yesterday that made rivers burst their banks. There was a very sad incident where a mini-bus was swept away with all the occupants............ My appeal to everyone do not try to be heroic and cross flooded rivers/streams, it may cost your life and that of others"
Apparently this happened in a small river in Kilgoris, 13 people perished

OMG that is just awful, what horrendous news and what a tragedy.

RIP to the 13 who perished.

Lai Pai

Masai Mara Wildlife Updates . Paul has updated. Great photo of Notch

http://paul-kirui.blogspot.com/

WS

Thanks for the nudge WS - the weather really has played havoc in the Mara.

Lai

Thanks Doogs - going for a read now

Lai Pai

Thanks Doogs will check it out later
WS

New update from Paul


http://paul-kirui.blogspot.com/2012/01/lion-and-buffalo-drama-in-mara.html

WS

Thanks Doogs thats a great find going to save it in favourites
WS

Thanks WS and Doogs. I saved his website to my favourites last week, I think I read on his FB page he had a website, some great photos and info on it.

Lai Pai

Another great update and photos - thanks Doogs.

Lai Pai