Sunday, August 11, 2013

Fences That Can Save Lions
                                               Lions MM7947
The world’s lion population is in trouble. The land in which the lions live on is very popular for many humans to buy or own. When the humans buy more of the land the lion population decreases. The land where the lions live is the perfect land for farmers to grow crops for a human population. The lions eat cattle and unfortunately humans too. Humans kill the lions by using poison, so they won’t destroy anything else. Other factors that contribute to a decrease in the lion population are trophy hunting and the bushmeat trade, which steals lion’s prey and sometimes lions get caught in the traps used to catch prey. Projects have been made such as the Laikipia Predator Project in Kenya to save lions, but it isn't a big enough project to make a difference.

A possible solution to this growing problem is to build fences around large pieces of land to surround the lions. Craig Packer, an ecologist at the University of Minnesota, fenced reserves such as South Africa’s Kruger National Park, which is the size of New Jersey. This fenced in area is a small portion of the African land, but the lion population inside the fenced area is perfectly fine. Currently the population of lions is around 35,000, but the amount of lions that are dying in unfenced areas is to the point where in twenty to thirty years only ten percent will remain. Barriers to this solution are money and time. If Packer doesn't receive the proper funding for this project, then the lion population will continue to decrease dramatically. The time span to make this project happen is limited. Packer needs to fence in the areas in the next twenty to thirty years or the lions will die. I believe that the lions need us to protect them and if we choose to ignore this problem, then the lions that we see in movies or on TV will no longer exist. I think that Packer should create a team to complete this project in the time span given. The lions need our help to survive, and I believe we should help them. 
http://www.nbcnews.com/science/will-fences-save-africas-lion-king-6C10765765

3 comments:

  1. Lions are such extraordinary creatures that for many years have been struggling for survival. Lions need a large area of land to roam and humans keep buying and owning resulting in the drastic decrease of lions. I think building a fence around large areas of land to surround the lions is a great idea. I’m glad that ecologist are brainstorming ideas to help save the lions. I think that is a great idea Patrick that he gathers a team to help him complete the project in the time allotted. However, I think it’s scary to think if he doesn’t get the funding needed for the project the lion population will continue to decrease drastically.

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  2. I had no idea that lions were facing serious danger. Although something does need to be done to help the lions I’m not sure fencing in the lions would be the right choice. This solution could have negative consequences. Trapping them in a fence would be similar to caging them in a zoo; they need free land to roam. Also a fence would limit the amount of prey that they could hunt and this could be detrimental to their population. There needs to be a better solution that would benefit the lions more effectively. Patrick is on the right track in thinking of ideas to save the lions, but I think more brainstorming is in order to insure the survival of the lions.

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  3. Even though I am aware of the danger that lions are in, I had no clue that it was such a big issue. I am thankful for people such as Craig Packer who has donated so much of their time to protecting these beautiful animals. Perhaps the government could step in and ban trophy hunting in order to save the lion population.

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