Abstract
THE Society for the Preservation of the Fauna of the Empire performed a great service when it persuaded the Secretary of State for the Colonies to approve of and support a general survey of the Bast African group of Colonies and Dependencies from the point of view of the preservation of wild life. A fortunate choice selected as observer Major R. W. G. Hingston, already well known for his natural history observations and after a rapid survey of the land, the results and conclusions of his tour were presented on Mar. 9, in the form of a lecture to the Royal Geographical Society. Major Hingston had the advantage of discussing with Government officials and representatives of public opinion the problems which face the fauna of Africa, and on the basis of these discussions and his own observations he has submitted for the consideration of H.M. Government a scheme of nine national parks, which, if brought into being and effectively conducted, would ensure the perpetual preservation of the fauna of these territories, without undue interference with native rights or economic development. To anyone familiar with the history of wild life in Africa, the gradual but constant retreat and often final extermination of the large animals is a commonplace, but surely Major Hingston exaggerates when he states that “great and small, everything is retreating”. The general experience is that cultivation of the soil increases the amount of wild life only, the great animals go, and the small things that take their place, even if they do not become pests, far from compensate for the picturesqueness of the departed.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
[News and Views]. Nature 127, 602–606 (1931). https://doi.org/10.1038/127602b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/127602b0