Lions, Hyenas Poisoned in Ugandan Park - AP

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Lions, Hyenas Poisoned in Ugandan Park

Thursday July 26, 2007 10:01 PM

By KATY POWNALL

Associated Press Writer

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) - Cattlemen who have been temporarily
resettled in Uganda's popular Queen Elizabeth National Park are
poisoning lions and hyenas to protect their herds, damaging the
park's ability to attract tourists, authorities said Thursday

The herders are awaiting government resettlement, authorities
said.

“We have seen a big decline in large predators in the areas
these people are occupying,” said Tom Okello, the park's chief
warden.

-snip-

The herders have occupied a 115-square-mile area since March
2006, when they were moved from Congo's Virunga National Park.
While Uganda arranges to resettle them, they have temporary
rights to graze their 40,000 cattle in the park.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6808088,00.html

[NNadir]

1. That's some pretty bad news.

[malakai2]

2. I see removing native wildlife to appease the livestock lobby is

more of a global phenomenon than I thought. If it's not grizzly bears, it's wolves. If it's not wolves, it's coyotes. If it's not coyotes, it's bison. If it's not bison, it's elk. If it's not elk, it's prairie dogs. If it's not prairie dogs, it's beavers. If it's not beavers, it's mountain lions. If it's not mountain lions, it's Indians. If it's not Indians, it's jaguars. If it's not jaguars, it's crocodiles. If it's not crocodiles, it's lions. If it's not lions, it's leopards. If it's not leopards, it's hyenas. If it's not hyenas, it's wild dogs. If it's not wild dogs, it's tigers. If it's not tigers, it's thylacines. If it's not an animal, it's the trees. If it's not the trees, it's the forbs. If it's not the forbs, it's the grass. If it's not the grass, it's the dirt. If it's not the dirt, it's the rain. If it's none of the above, then the government probably has a handout for that too.

The conservation lobby DREAMS it could get governments to dance for them like they do for stockmen.