Exploring the Uncertain Future of East Africa’s Great Wildlife Migration
East Africa’s 25,000 sq km Mara-Serengeti ecosystem is often called The Last Place on Earth. It is defined by the nomadic wandering of 1.2 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebras and 400,000 gazelles, a moveable feast for the lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and wild dogs that prey on them. It is a Pleistocene vision, a reminder of a time when human beings were an integral part of the landscape, moving according to the seasons in search of food and shelter.
Today, the “great migration”, as it is known, is under mounting pressure from the burgeoning human population. Competition for grazing, large-scale wheat farms, the impact of the bushmeat trade, rampant tourism development, global warming, invasive plant species, and deforestation in the Mau Forest in Kenya (where the dwindling Mara River rises) are all causes for concern. In this beautifully illustrated talk, Jonathan and Angela Scott also highlight the demise of the four other most threatened wildebeest migrations in East Africa – the Athi-Kaputiei, Amboseli, Mara-Loita, and Tarangire-Manyara migrations, and touch on the current status of elephant, vulture and flamingo migrations in the region.
- Duration 35 minutes
Date
- 24 Feb 2025
- Expired!
Time
- 17:55 - 18:30
Labels
- TalK
Location
Speakers
-
Angela ScottAngela Scott is an accomplished wildlife photographer and conservationist, renowned for her artistic and atmospheric images. Raised in Tanzania, she has lived in Kenya since the 1970s and collaborates with her husband, Jonathan Scott. Together, they have published 40 books, won prestigious awards, and hosted global photography workshops. Angela co-founded the Sacred Nature Initiative to inspire and educate about nature conservation. Her work, including the award-winning Sacred Nature books, reflects her deep passion for the environment and commitment to its protection.
-
Jonathan ScottJonathan Scott is an award-winning photographer, author, TV presenter & conservationist, famous for his work with big cats. He is married to wildlife photographer Angela Scott. He was the Overall Winner of the Wildlife Photographer of Year in 1987, and was the recipient of the Royal Geographical Societies Cherry Kearton Award and Medal in 1994. The Scott's have published more than 40 books including the award winning Sacred Nature: Life's Eternal Dance (HPH, 2016) & Sacred Nature 2: Reconnecting People to Our Planet (HPH, 2021). Their latest work is a series of 5 EBooks on Wildlife Photography and Safari. Jonathan has presented & co-presented numerous TV programs & series such as Big Cat Diary (1996-2008, BBC/Animal Planet) and Big Cat Tales Seasons 1 & 2 with Angela (2018-2020, Animal Planet). He features prominently in the BBC/PBS 90 minute documentary Lion: The Rise & Fall of The Marsh Pride (2002, BBC/PBS). The Scott's founded the non-profit Sacred Nature Initiative in 2021.
