Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/12/20

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Subject: [Leica] RE: suitability of M for wildlife photography
From: "Neal Friedenthal" <neal@nairobisafari.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2001 19:44:05 -0500

This past summer a German tourist at Kenya's Tsavo East National park decided to walk out of the camping compound, which is surrounded by an electrified 
fence, to take some "close ups" of several elephants which were near by. One of the pachyderms, a bull, charged and trampled him and then proceeded to 
dismember the now dead tourist, they are known to do that. These "Gentle Giants", ( a phrase too often used in wildlife shows ) as most african game [ along 
with most other big game animals ] should never be approached on foot without proper protection, (someone with a high power large caliber rifle behind you). It 
is best to photograph them from a vehicle or properly prepared protected blind. In Kenya alone around 50 people each year are killed by elephants, another 50 
or so fall to hippos, and lions, hyena, buffalo, leopards, and crocks all take their toll .  Proper respect for wildlife includes giving them their space and realizing 
that they can and will kill you if given the chance under the right circumstances. You rarely see the guy with the rifle behind the cameraman on the TV shows. 
In Kenya it is illegal to get out of a vehicle in the wildlife reserves and parks without an armed escort, it's also stupid.


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