A lot happened here on Planet Earth on this last trip around our little star. While I was out hiking, our exquisite and restless little planet tumbled 92.6 million chaotic, tumultuous and exhausting miles through space. There were many times when the days’ events left me feeling awash with hopelessness and despair at the our species’ shortsightedness and greedy disregard for the miraculous beauty of our home and the astounding diversity of life forms with which we share it. My only solace was to put on the shoes and go for a walk with the dogs.
I’d walk as long and as far and as hard as I could, sometimes from dawn to dark, worrying and thinking about the future of life on Earth. As a biologist with keen interest in natural history, I can’t help but look at the big picture- where did we come from, how did this planet come to be inhabited by such an amazing diversity of plants and animals, and does the Earth have the resiliency and resources to sustain life (as we know it) after all the damage we are doing?
The geologic record shows us that Earth has evolved through waves of violence and change- coalsecing from the dust of creation though earthquakes, volcanoes, continents forming, drifting and colliding, periods of extreme heat and cold, eons of time when the atmosphere was full of poisonous sulfurous gases, and at least six periods when life forms have risen, evolved, reached a peak of dominence and died out- the palette wiped nearly clean and the residues all swept back into the forge to be melted down and resculpted by the artist and creator we only know as divinity. Go outside and walk far enough and long enough and you get a fleeting glimpse of it. Then come back and you can look at the news again with perhaps a little better perspective on it. Sometimes, at least, it works for me.
Real change takes more than worrying and thinking; it means walking the talk, and putting one’s money where one’s mouth is. I’d like to think that I’m doing what I can for wildlife and conservation, but I suspect that I’m not doing my share, that I could & should be doing an awful lot more. I’m lucky to have born in the richest and most powerful country on earth, but my lifestyle is supported by machines that guzzle fossil fuels and I’m made comfortable by commodities wrapped in miles of non-biodegradable plastic. Certainly I need to be giving back a lot more than I do.
Take, for example, the wildlife rangers in Africa: the dedicated men who go out every day patrolling for poachers, the 24 hours a day armed guards protecting highly endangered rhinoceros and other species. They are the last line of defense for so many species facing extinction. Behind them are environmental lawyers, policy-makers and social activists who are so often targeted as scapegoats by big business and industry lobbyists as being the cause of all that is wrong with the world. And then there are legions of regular caring folks like us who are trying to make a decent living for ourselves and our families, but find ourselves caught in the squeeze between ideals and bottomless consumerism. It seems like it’s always a balancing act between finite resources vs endless needs. It’s hard to feel connected to the animals themselves. We feel small and helpless to do anything for them; at most we can only stand on the sidelines and root for the guys in the trenches.
James Mwenda and the Northern White Rhino named Sudan
Part of my path this year brought me close to a Kenyan Wildlife Ranger named James Mwenda. I followed his writings as he shares his thoughts and insights via social media, giving a very personal up-close look at what it is like to be on the front lines of caring for endangered animals. Here are his words from June, 2019:
“June 18, 2019 · After successful community and school talks last week,I sat on my bed Sunday evening self evaluating the value,reason and purpose of all my commitment to this journey of telling people the dark side of extinction from my perspective of being a caretaker for the Nothern white rhinos.I felt an overwhelming feeling that this what I was born to do,Despite being tiring and challenging at times,I said a prayer and slept.
And so in the course of the night I had this dream,I dreamt about rhinos,dreamt of a time when rhinos will be free,free from our harm and the merciless deaths they go through our hands as we hack them off their horns,A time when they will live on the African plains without the fear of being killed,a time when there won’t be orphaned baby rhinos without parents,a time that they will live and thrive in the African Savannah’s and bush velds.
I dreamt that a sad fate of extinction of the Nothern white rhinos won’t be the trigger to awaken people on the need of protecting our flora and fauna,I envisioned a time that we will secure and protect our fauna for what they are “contemporary beings”
I then dreamt that a sad heart-wrenching picture and image of a rhino hacked off its horns and dying won’t be a catalyst to boost our pockets and motivate us to protect or care about them,I hope we can willingly do it now as it’s too late when they are gone,Its a prerogative that they need our help now!
I woke up and realized my dream requires me to work more harder,harder than what i think I have worked to tell the world how dark and cold extinction is! Harder that the one million species declared by the United Nations to be near extinct won’t walk this path!
My dream requires all of us to join hands and fight for them and give them a hope,when one rhino or elephant is protected an entire ecosystem rejoices that’s why they are key species.
It was my dream and through our sacrifices and commitment hope it comes true! I wish to be part of them that are raising a generation of people that can see and understand the value of our planet before it is completely deformed,because much of the effects that happen to the natural world are irreversible!”
James Mwenda
In July, James celebrated World Ranger Day with the a moving tribute to his fellow Rangers:
“July 31, 2019 · Happy World Ranger Day to all rangers all over the world,Thank you for all that you do for the planet,your commitment,determination, Courage and Resilience is the backbone to earth’s existence and the heart of planets well-being.
The World recognizes your efforts,and I too have a taste of how this sounds,you have laid your lives as buffers,ready to face anything that comes in the way of Mother Earth’s well being,Compromising your own lives to give others a life,and even to be precise the planets life.Ready to fight anything and anyone who threatens the already strangled Mother Earth.
Running away from a buffalo,lion,elephant or an aggressive rhino and many other animals to you is the order of the day,You Stare at death,laugh at it and move on.It’s like a driver having a puncture all he has to do is mend it and move on.The nights on the tents and the hard trainings to keep you on the go to counter the mis-informed intruders and those that love to destroy what holds them.
Those thin lines in the line of duty can only be explained by you,the scars and marks are a constant reminder of the calling you embrace,those breathless moments in an ambush,or signs of poachers in your working area,the biting cold,the scorching sun,the weight of the gun and the long patrols are just a few,not forgetting those days you get into the camp just to say thank you God,I survived the day.
Torn away from your families by this divine call of duty,80% of your time spent away from your loved ones,your kids growing to know you work for this infinite train of life,to safe guard it lest it’s destroyed ashamedly by the same people who need it.Your wives and family members crossing their fingers for a return just to see you back safe and sound.
The world might not recognize you enough,Not all of you who are on social media to hear and receive the wishes sent to you.Not many of you who can hear or even speak English to pride on the many compliments,from the heart of the bushes,jungles or wherever you work,as you daily go about your jobs it’s my prayers that God blesses you,your families and all that entails you.
Happy World Ranger day Heroes and Heroines,so many of you have so many untold stories,as I have a feeling every Ranger has a story to tell.
James Mwenda
In November James wrote about his feelings as he was herding his very special wards, the last two Northern White Rhinos in existence, home to their safe enclosure for the night. It’s an inspiring Thanksgiving message for Life itself.
“November 23, 2019 · Nanyuki, Kenya ·
…..I am realizing that as long as I am alive I can achieve all my dreams and be the person I do desire to be.As it takes time to be the person we wish to be.
As I watched them this evening,and as they gracefully moved when herding them home,I had this profound and sincere thankfulness for the gift of life,I wondered whether they knew that they are hanging in a thin string towards an infinite road of extinction.
It sparkled a thought and a self-criticism of whether I honestly am thankful for this gift of life enough.we might not see “life” itself as we busy ourselves trying to make it work,We should take time for ourselves and realize some other things that really matter in life can’t be touched or seen.How often have we paused,to just be thankful for it even when nothing seems to make sense?
The prerequisite for all of our achievements,goals and all that we wish to achieve in the cause of our existence is in life itself.
Hang in there,even if nothing is working and don’t see any hope of Tommorow,because as long as you breathe and are alive tommorow is a great opportunity and being alive the best gift.
And even if you have everything and all makes sense,at least be thankful that life has given you the opportunity to enjoy all you have.
James Mwenda
In December James wrote a post that struck to the core of my dilema of how much we should be doing for conservation of wildlife and the environment. In sum, he says that caring for the earth should be woven into the fabric of our lives. Conservation shouldn’t be about putting out fires; conservation should be living life in a way that makes the fires never start to begin with; Conservation is preventing the crisis before it becomes a crisis. When he looks at the faces of the animals entrusted to his care he sees their reproach for having let them come to this place- the last two individuals of their kind, entirely dependent on the care and protection of humans, the very same species of creatures who have brought them to the verge of extinction.
Reproach….
“December 10, 2019 · What do you tell her,when she throws you such a glance just before bedtime?
Sometimes I wonder what these rhinos could say if they just could be able to speak it up!
Some days I end up feeling sad of my title “caregiver” to me this term means something went wrong somewhere that these gentle rhinos have to be in our care.
Sometimes it’s sad that they know us,they listen and respond,it might sound awesome but in their wildest dream they should be on the grassy plains of their native homelands,thriving and living their lives.
Come to think of it? What have we done to them! Why this human fallacy that we wait until something gets out of hand that we can respond to it?
I still believe there is a grace time gifted to us revisit our purpose and walk on the planet,to me conservation isn’t what we define it is.It is what we choose to live with.
Look at your plate today,your house,your clothes ,your car and all aspects of your life,all this is supported by mother earth.When was the last time you thought about the food and water in the shower? Maybe if you knew that bees give you over 80% of what on your plate,then we could care,If we can work to stop the reasons before they become reasons,then we would have no one to blame for our planets sake.
That element of concern is the very genesis of continued hope for our planet,because so many of us don’t care because we don’t care to know.
The planet isn’t being messed by the bad people we think,but the good people who do nothing,and all they do is take from the planet without giving back.
*mythoughts
Love these girls.
James Mwenda
Sorry for the long winded essay, but I hope you read enough that you can begin to feel a personal connection with James and the African Rangers and animals for whom he speaks; they will be receiving the donations of money that I am raising via my virtual marathon!
I wanted you to see that your donation will be well spent and appreciated by the rangers who are profoundly dedicated to the earth and the animals. It’s not just a job for them. It’s their lives. Knowing that a few dozen regular folks like us from the other side of the globe admire and support their work will mean so much to them. It will help lift and renew their spirits and dedication in the face of the daily heartbreak they are facing.
It’s really easy to donate online! After I wrote this essay I was so inspired by it that I sat right down and donated $100 right then and there via this link:
It was really easy, and you can use paypal or a credit card. By using this link you can be sure that your donation will get linked to me in the marathon.
Thanks for reading, thanks for your support, and as always, HAPPY TRAILS!
Real change takes more than worrying and thinking; it means walking the talk, and putting one’s money where one’s mouth is. I’d like to think that I’m doing what I can for wildlife and conservation, but I suspect that I’m not doing my share, that I could & should be doing an awful lot more. I’m lucky to have born in the richest and most powerful country on earth, but my lifestyle is supported by machines that guzzle fossil fuels and I’m made comfortable by commodities wrapped in miles of non-biodegradable plastic. Certainly I need to be giving back a lot more than I do.
The World recognizes your efforts,and I too have a taste of how this sounds,you have laid your lives as buffers,ready to face anything that comes in the way of Mother Earth’s well being,Compromising your own lives to give others a life,and even to be precise the planets life.Ready to fight anything and anyone who threatens the already strangled Mother Earth.
Sorry for the long winded essay, but I hope you read enough that you can begin to feel a personal connection with James and the African Rangers and animals for whom he speaks; they will be receiving the donations of money that I am raising via my virtual marathon!
