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50 years ago there were an estimated 450,000 lions which roamed the earth. Today, approximately 430,000 of those lions are extinct and less then 20,000 are left. If nothing changes, then in 10 years that number could drop again and put this beloved species into extinction.
In an attempt to stop the decline and raise awareness Fairfield University is taking an interest in this issue. On Thursday, September 29 at 4 p.m. in Gonzaga Auditorium, Fairfield’s Program of the Environment and the International Studies Program are co-sponsoring a talk by Evan Schiller discussing the “Big Cat Initiative.”
“Tigers, leopards, jaguars and lions are threatened as never before as their numbers are declining quickly.” said Director of Fairfield’s Program on the Environment and Associate Professor of Politics David Downie, Ph.D. in the press release on Fairfield University’s website.
“The Big Cat Initiative is a global effort by citizens and professional conservationists to address this issue before it is too late,” he noted.
Evan Schiller, an esteemed wildlife photographer, will be coming to Fairfield not only to raise awareness through his talk but also through his photographs. After two trips to Africa and Botswana, Evan and his wife have seen the Big Cats, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, tigers and panthers in their natural habitat.
The second trip was a two week photography safari in 2010. This trip inspired Evan to take a larger role and help save the Big Cats from extinction.
Schiller said, “That meant using my photography to build awareness and ultimately raise interest and funds to battle this acute situation.”
The Jouberts, multiple awarded filmmakers, photographers, and conservationists, estimated that 50 million dollars needs to be raised in order to save the Big Cats from extinction.
“The Big Cats Initiative is an Emerging Action Fund whose intention is to drive the world’s attention to the Big Cats and to develop solutions to stop their decline.” said Schiller. There are other projects working towards this goal as well, some are the Human-Big Cat Conflict, Halting Lion Hunting, National Park Support and others.
Looking at the numbers today it will take five years to reverse the decline or if it continues on 10 years until these animals are extinct. The two countries with the most needed work are Kenya and Tanzania; however, these animals live in countries throughout Africa, India and South Africa.
“One of the problems we face in addition to poaching, hunting and loss of habitat, is complacency,” said Schiller.
As Fairfield University students, we can help not only by attending this event on September 29 and educating ourselves, but on a larger scale as well. Schiller suggests we write to the Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, and request that Lions be added to the Endangered Species List and also talk to others and create more awareness about this serious situation.
As stated in the Press Release by Fairfield, Jermain Griffin, associate director of the International Studies Program said, “Schiller’s exceptional photography and amazing story will inspire students to think globally and act locally.”
To find out more about the Big Cat Initiative, check out the National Geographic website.
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