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Africa's Lions Poisoned

April 5, 2009 2:08 PM

The African lion is in danger of becoming extinct, with a population that's diminished by as much as 85 percent over the past 20 years. As Bob Simon reports, cattle ranchers are poisoning them with a cheap American pesticide to protect their herds.

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by rc20001 April 9, 2009 5:03 AM EDT
Once land is over populated by humans, the problem of the coexistence of humans with other animals, specially predators, becomes a very difficult problem, whether in Africa, North America, Europe, Asia or any other place. Recently, there was a program support by a North American state government to shoot wolves from helicopters to reduce predation of herds of livestock. This is an example that such problems are not limited to Africa. However, where there is will, there are solutions. But the solutions may not be perfect, as human over population is becoming a monumental problem that may required tremendous energies to resolve such problems as global climate change, water shortages, droughts, food shortages, and on and on from the exponential growth of the human population. This may be the defining problem of this century, and the lions are just one part of the overall problem, IMO.
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by rc20001 April 9, 2009 4:49 AM EDT
In most areas, herds are guarded by dogs to alert and to even fend off attacks by predators such as wolves. In another video document, there was a program to provide guard dogs to herders. Although it is not probable that a single dog can fend off attacking lions, it can alert the approach of lions as well as other smaller predators, usually from miles away if the wind direction is favorable, as dogs have exceptional smelling and hearing abilities. Once alerted of the presence of lions, they may be chased off, or captured and relocated, if such a program is implemented. If relocation is not possible because there is not enough land, then there is a serious problem of over population, and other additional solutions will be needed. Dogs, of course, must be fed, raised and trained. They are an increased cost, although they can offer increases in the efficiency in herding by reducing strays, speeding up the movement of herds, and reducing the number of herders needed to free them for other work.
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by rc20001 April 9, 2009 4:22 AM EDT
Most substances that needs to be controlled are "marked" with markers by the manufacturers (often as required by law) to prevent or to at least reduce, misuse. Grain ethanol based rubbing alcohol at the corner stores is "marked" with stomach ache chemicals to prevent it being used as liquor. Heating oil is marked with purple dye to reduced its use as truck fuel. It seems that it would be a simple matter for the manufacturer to mix in some very bitter smelling or bitter tasting chemicals to discourage eating such poisons, which have no taste nor smell. Markers can be used also to provide tracings of its use, as the poison mentioned disappears rapidly in the poisoned animals. Of course, where there is a will, there is a alternative. Markers probably have to be used in conjunction with other solutions, although markers are usually fairly cheap to apply.
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by missyx325 April 8, 2009 8:16 PM EDT
I believe that we should all boycott the use of this posion and other poisons used to grow our crops or kill off animals/bugs. Watching this video was very disturbing to me. Im only a junior in high school and my teacher showed me this video, it really hits home when you think that these lions could possibly be extinct within a few years. Just think what kind of world would it really be with just humans? I sure wouldnt enjoy it. Havent you ever heard "mans bestfriend" the person who said this was clearly talking about the animals. Animals such as lions help our ecosystems be better places to live. If we use pesticides and poisons such as these were just going to kill off everything that was here before us! You dont see lions and polar bears killing us off now do you? no. So please dont use pesticides and posions just because you want your crops and such to look better or taste better. Truth is if you just use the old fashion way to grow your crops then it would be healthier for the WORLD and for YOU. All of the products that are made now always have some certain defect on humans/animals. What is that obviously telling us? To stop.
I honestly want my children to be able to see all the animals and world that i got to see. So lets put a stop to deadly poisons and pesticides.
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by PaulSchuette April 4, 2009 11:02 AM EDT
Banning the use of poison will certainly not put an end to declining predator populations in Kenya. Surely, frustrated individuals will find similar, cost-effective strategies to remove
conflict species. The problem will continue until affected individuals and communities gain direct benefit from coexisting with wildlife.

This is not a simple task because many wildlife policies and land management decisions have consistently alienated people from the wildlife with which they share the landscape. Coexistence will only become possible when the socio-economic concerns of local people
are addressed, and communities are re-empowered to manage their own natural resources.

Frequently, compensation programs are proposed as a means to alleviate tensions between people and wildlife by reimbursing people for their losses. Although the concept is appealing, there are a multitude of problems associated with sustaining a compensation program in the long term, particularly when funded entirely from abroad. And what kind of
message does this send to people most affected by wildlife? Many people already feel alienated because wildlife belongs to the Kenyan government. Imagine the disconnect local people must feel with an NGO or individual based abroad that has now taken ownership of their wildlife.

Unless compensation programs are sustained from within communities themselves, they will not provide a long-term solution to carnivore conflict. Key to any new conservation program is active participation in the development and management of the program by local communities. Otherwise, enthusiasm will fade as quickly as the donor money runs dry.

Many of these community programs are already underway in Kenya, particularly in the southern Rift Valley. Several years ago, the South Rift Association of Land Owners was developed across 14 Maasai group ranches (8,500 km2) to locally manage natural resources to improve livelihoods, protect wildlife, and sustain a biologically rich ecosystem. On two of these group ranches, the Shompole and Olkiramatian Community Conservation
Areas (CCA?S) (200 km2) were designated by the community. These CCA?s simultaneously protect wildlife, encourage tourism, and provide a grass bank that can be grazed by Maasai livestock during times of drought. In this way, both local people and the surrounding ecosystem benefit. Additionally, this is not a foreign imposed concept. The CCA?s complement the traditional Maasai practice of living and grazing particular tracts of land only during certain times of year to prevent overuse.

This system allows the Maasai to support their livestock while simultaneously gaining economic benefit from eco-tourism. SORALO also recognizes the importance of understanding the ecological processes that impact their livelihoods, and the implications of their land-use practices. Again, this is not a foreign concept. Maasai are constantly evaluating environmental conditions at the community level to determine when and where to graze their livestock. One must only take a walk with a Maasai herdsman to realize the great wealth of knowledge one must have to successfully graze livestock in such an arid region of the country.

Recently, the Maasai have partnered with local and international researchers to document the rich biological diversity in the region and develop strategies to sustain this human-integrated ecosystem in perpetuity. One of the recently initiated programs is actively studying the interactions between people and carnivores, and identifying trends in human-carnivore conflict. In 2006, I was attracted to the area by the Shompole and Olkiramatian communities?
proud statement that lions were actually increasing on their lands. They claimed there were less than 10 lions in the area prior to the CCA?s, but now more than 50 range across the region. As we have initiated long-term research on human-carnivore interactions in the
southern Rift, we are constantly updated by local game scouts, rangers, and resource assessors of carnivore locations and behavior.

Clearly, there is a sense of pride (pun intended) for their abundant and diverse carnivore community from the largest (lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs) to the smallest of species (African wild cat, serval cat, among others). Furthermore, we have strong evidence to suggest that Furadan has not been used to poison large carnivores in over 3 years. Sure, many will scoff at such a suggestion. But at a minimum, one must admit there is great
enthusiasm for conservation in the southern Rift Valley. And it is this positive attitude that provides hope for long-term coexistence of people and wildlife in the southern Rift. Now, these communities must build on this willingness to develop and sustain programs that will
satisfy the economic needs of their people and sustain this ecosystem indefinitely.

- Paul Schuette, Nairobi, Kenya, and Montana State University carnivore research program
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by rweisshaar April 2, 2009 12:56 PM EDT
Although correspondent Bob Simon did mention the Lion Guardians, a group of Maasai warriors who warn herders when lions get too close to their cattle, he failed to highlight other, more comprehensive community conservation programs in the area, such as the <a href="http://www.ilngwesi.com/">Il Ngwesi Group Ranch</a>. I mention Il Ngwesi in particular because its health and conservation programs coordinator, <a href="http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1413&fuseaction=topics.event_summary&event_id=404579">Kuntai Karmushu</a>, actually appears in the 60 Minutes segment (although he isn't interviewed).

The Il Ngwesi ranch has successfully used a multisectoral approach to protect wildlife and promote rural development. Eighty percent of the ranch?s 16,000 hectares are devoted to conservation efforts, including a very successful ecotourism endeavor that Karmushu calls ?the Il Ngwesi backbone.? Il Ngwesi?s ecotourism enterprise?which employs community members, is run sustainably by the community, and directs revenue back into the community?has enjoyed steadily increasing revenue since 1999.

Although Tom Hill, an American philanthropist interviewed in the segment, says, ?The amount of tourism that?s here is not sufficient to offset the cost of these people living with wildlife,? Il Ngwesi proves that with a comprehensive approach and local buy-in, conservation can be a smart investment for local people. To learn more about innovative conservation and development programs in East Africa, see the <i><a href="http://newsecuritybeat.blogspot.com/2009/04/60-minutes-gives-community-conservation.html">New Security Beat</i></a> blog.
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by reinolds2 April 1, 2009 12:51 PM EDT
This is a great sample of reporting without any desire to solve the issue.
If these people are so worried about the Lions/Wildlife and less for the ratings how come they never considered asking a Physician, Psychologist or heck, a person who took PSY 101 how to solve the problem?
Because if they did they would have heard of something called the Garcia Effect or Conditioned Taste Aversion.
For the people who never heard about it the Garcia Effect simply states if the animals are fed something that will make them ill, instead of killing them, warped in cattle skin dummies they will not have a taste for cattle anymore.
Yes it is that simple.
I think someone should have done some investigative reporting, try to fix the problem before claiming doom and gloom.
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by Dog-Mom April 1, 2009 11:57 AM EDT
Spud6321 - How sad you feel it necessary to defend FMC. The conscionable decision would be to STOP manufacturing a product with this effect...period. nduKy hit the target with their response. This is truly corporate greed. These poor people in Africa have been exploited by FMC.

While Furdan is used on a limited basis in the US, it should be banned here too. Any product banned from use in the US should not be allowed to be sold to any other country either.

There is no way I would ever believe (and I am sure everyone who watched the program would agree) that Furdan does not have adverse side effects on humans as well.

I am still upset and I am not finished with my effort to get this product banned in the US. Please those of you who are as disturbed as I was, please don't stop your emails, calls to people with the authority, law makers, the FDA, the EPA to do something.
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by karlsson23 April 1, 2009 7:59 AM EDT
If you care about Afrikan wildlife there is an easy answer to what to do.
Boycott Furadan. I know i wont buy anything from FMC untill they remove furadan from the market the world market not just in Afrika.
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by nduKY March 31, 2009 10:18 PM EDT
While I can understand everyone's outrage about the poisoned lions, it never fails to surprise me how ignorant some people from developed countries can be. How is it that chemicals that are banned in Europe and limited in use in the US are readily and cheaply available in developing nations? Just another example of the duplicity and greed of these powerful corporates which have figured out ways of evading the laws in their home countries, by exploiting poor countries that are run by corrupt governments. Unlike the western world, most populations in African countries do not have a VOICE and are left to their own devices to survive. No doubt some fat cat in the government had his pockets greased by another fat-cat from FMC. The MAasai are doing what they can to protect their sacred animals, which are their only form of livelihood. I agree with Leakey - BAN the chemica; and heavily penalize these greedy coroporations! I support wildlife conservation but I'm outraged by the mis-directed anger.
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by spud6321 March 31, 2009 2:53 PM EDT
I am writing in defense of FMC. The chemical in question is used widely in the United States and I emphasize that we use it in accordance to EPA regulations that have been established for use to keep people and animals safe. The people in Kenya have been using carbofuran off label and illegally. If you will do your research you will find that when FMC discovered that their product was being used illegally, they stopped all shipment to the country and banned its sales in and to Kenya. It is not the manufacturer to blame. Would you tell mother nature to stop raining down moisture from the sky because someone drowned or your home got flooded. Think about it!!!
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by 4Lions March 31, 2009 10:38 AM EDT
This segment showed the cruel inhumane reality of poisoning a Lion in Africa.Though painful to watch, it showed graphically the outrageous pain and suffering a Lion experiences when poisoned.
This stimulates a public outcry that is more than appropriate!Anyone who is aware of this situation
can be pro active.Everyone has to write e-mails and snail letters to the CEO of FMC.These letters need to state that we will not support a company that does not respect the earth and all of Gods creatures.They should support Tom Hill's group(The ODWT)in Kenya.They have a working model for Lion preservation that helps compensate farmers for lost cattle without killing
Lions.That program is sustainable for the lions,the people,and the environment.Check out LionsLiveFree.com for more info on the ODWT in Kenya.Tom Hill and this group was detailed on the 60 minutes segment.Each one of us that understands the relevance of all sentient beings value to the eco-system needs to be proactive about this situation.Write your thoughts to those that can make a difference.Speak up and help save of wonderful wildlife before it all vanishes!
Everyone can help make the world a better place by doing something!
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by Phidippus March 30, 2009 8:34 PM EDT
Almost the SAME THING IS HAPPENING IN CALIFORNIA. There has been a mass slaughter of wildlife, by poisoning in Bard Valley, in the PAST 30 DAYS. Its on youtube and is called "Terrorism from Within." Click on the picture of the raccoon or the lady in pink. (Not professional, but interesting. The biologist and nurse seem to think its poisoning the people too.)
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by annefry March 30, 2009 8:08 PM EDT
Thank you Bob Simons for excellent reporting. My daughter just returned from Uganda where she witnessed just what you reported. Any company selling such dangerous products has an obligation to educate in safe use. I am contacting FMC and asking others to do so. The King of the Jungle must be protected. Perhaps FMC could assist Africans in new and innovative ways to protect their cattle. Anne Fry, Cincinnati, Ohio
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by LifesLesson March 30, 2009 7:02 PM EDT
Personal Responsibility and Education.

One cannot save something that the people do not hold to be of value, simply by getting rid of the means with which they dispose of it.

To save Lions the people of Keyna must value the lions MORE than they value the things that Lions take from them.

It is to easy to scapegoat a faceless Company who has had their product used in a way that goes against its directions..as well as the Law in Keyna concerning its lawful use.

The majority of respondants here reaffirm the actual cause for America's current situation. You fail to see a simple truth:

-- Those Who Poison Lions are the Law Breakers.
--THEY should be the target of any wrath you feel.
--Hold THEM accountable for their actions.

If a proven Pesticide that works as intended is thrown on the pyre of ignorace simply because it is misused, the Keynans shall simply find another. Meanwhile those who do not live totally on cattle may starve since most pesticides that actually work ( KILLING INSECTS that ravage crops), can be used to kill anything else if used improperly. Banning a proven pesticide risks possible starvation due to crop destruction, in a place not all that over abundant in food stores.

Change the Peoples Values thru Education and you stand a chance at changing their actions.

I.M.
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by Dog-Mom March 30, 2009 6:17 PM EDT
THANK YOU CBS for airing this segment. I have emailed and written the President and CEO of FMC Corporation, the Humane Society of the US, the FDA, Jim Cramer on CNBC, family and friends as well as Erin Brockovich! I contacted my lawn company to see if they use any products produced by FMC, and I am doing everything I can to get a list of products they manufacture so I won't use them and so I can provide them to people who are as upset as I am.

As far as the comments here regarding humans over animals - God entrusted us with their care and well-being. Allowing this to continue is totally irresponsible. Any product this potent surely has bad side effects for humans too. May God forgive FMC for the lives (animal and human) they take every day that they CONTINUE the production of this insecticide.

Ask the FDA to join the European countries in banning the product in the US. Next, we need to ban together and insist FMC STOP THE PRODUCTION OF FURDAN! Get the word out to everyone you know. Create emails and send to everyone in your address book!
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by gregoryhamilton March 30, 2009 5:12 PM EDT
To say the report was one sided is appalling; it reflects all that's wrong with this world and the deep seeded ignorance that resides in the worst of the human race. People having been coming first since we started walking upright to the detriment of every other living creature?animals always lose, people always win. To say that a lion deserves to writhe in pain as it nervous system is attacked by a pesticide so a farmer doesn?t lose a few bucks is despicable. Anyone who is indifferent to the lion?s situation is the kind of person that would see no problem in shooting an elephant w/ a assault rifle so the ivory can be harvested....people first.....right?
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by zikomosafari March 30, 2009 4:52 PM EDT
Thank you 60 minutes for reporting on something that should be important for everyone. The lion
is an important part of Africa's future. Tourism is one of the only ways that Africa will be able to
thrive in the future. What must be changed is for those that make money from tourism to give more to the local people by
building hospitals, schools, etc. that way the local people will care more if the wildlife survives
and if the wildlife survives the culture will survive. I was very shocked by the letter from the
man who said "people come first, so what are these people supposed to do to protect themselves from these lions?" Did he not hear that there are only 30,000 lions left in all of
Africa down from 200.000 twenty years ago? Doesn't he realize that not only lions are
dying from the poison and that the poison is probably extremely toxic to the humans as
well as the animals. Perhaps that is why it has been outlawed in Europe and much of the
rest of the world. We are all part of this earth animals and humans. We need them far
more than they need us. In fact we have been the worst thing to ever happen for most
animal species. We use them for experiments, we eat them, use them as clothing and
shoes, we use them for what we call 'sport' and hunt them down. We are supposed to
be stewards of this planet. Instead, we destroy the animals, their habitats and the earth.
We need to get it together and take care of all of the beings that live on this earth. Both
humans and animals and we need people like the reporters of 60 minutes and the
enviromentalists of Kenya and the world if we are to survive.
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by animalspeaker March 30, 2009 11:34 AM EDT
I can't believe anyone would think the report was arrogant or one sided! What would our world be without all of God's Creatures? I will not stop thinking about this tragedy! I will be contacting the makers of furadan and continue to do all I can to help the helpless creatures!
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by 4Lions March 30, 2009 11:25 AM EDT
In a time of corporate irresposibility FMC chooses to ignore the obvious truth about the illegitimate use of their product Furadan in Kenya!
Your valid video report on 60 Minutes visually shows the abuse of this product Furadan.The CEO of FMC should immediately remove this product from the market place now that they have seen your documented abuse of their product.
Now FMC can not say that they are un-aware of the existing situation regarding Furadan abuse in Kenya.
Please send the CEO of FMC a copy of the show about Africa's Lions Poisoned.
My hats off to you and your show for exposing and reporting this critical issue and making it public!
Predatory animals play an important part in the ecosystem of the world and Africa.They should not be poisoned out of existance.
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