Life On The Serengeti
Forty-some years ago, a friend and I were the sole guests on a walking safari in Kenya. There we were, led through the Rift Valley by a Masai tribesman in traditional garb, complete with spear, and an Egyptian guide armed with a .357 magnum rifle to back up the man with the spear. A small crew in the background was there to haul the equipment, set up camp, prepare meals (served on a linen tablecloth), and provide us with washcloths every afternoon as we approached each new campsite – just a couple of Bwanna in the midst of MMBA (Miles and Miles of Bloody Africa).
The purpose here, though, is not so much to recount that trip as it is to introduce a long-form essay (click Africa) for the way it captured the magic, mystery and feel of the “dark continent” more profoundly than did my own up-close-and-personal experience. That focus piece will take your breath away (as do so many of Lance Morrow’s other pieces) as it helps frame our discussion about African wildlife by posing and answering the question of what might be lost if the wild animals of Africa were to vanish from the face of the earth.
Joining us as lead participant, and at the invitation of club member and African wildlife conservationist Tommi Wolfe, is a former park ranger of a noted African game reserve whose professional life has been dedicated to avoiding such a fate. Tom Coetzee now represents Wildlife Protection Solutions (WPS), a global non-profit for the conservation of endangered species by deploying advanced technology. You may be amazed by the way the most advanced modern technology now watches over these creatures of the primal garden.
Example: WPS uses AI-powered real-time monitoring systems, camera traps, remote sensors and software to provide continuous surveillance of protected areas, enabling a rapid-response intervention to poaching threats. You might witness the sophistication of a camera feed that spots and identifies a would-be poacher almost to the point of facial recognition.
These WPS field tools can then be leveraged to support educational and entertainment experiences that come pretty close to providing your very own armchair safari experience through the integration of over forty-five thousand camera feeds and photos daily. One clip that particularly stood out featured a one-on-one face-off between a wildebeest and a hyena. It's what’s for dinner. Life on the Serengeti.
Perhaps we could even arrange for a sample live feed to accompany our lunch discussion.
Please note the following RSVP Policy for Member Monday: RSVP sign-up opens up at 11:00am on Fridays via the City Club weekly Newsletter. Seats are first-come, first-served: the first 14 secure a spot at the table, the last 3 on the couch. Cancellations must be made 24 hours in advance or the standard Social Lunch rate applies.