Game Changer: Animal Rights and the Fate of Africa’s Wildlife

by Glen Martin

Are conservation and protecting animals the same thing? In Game Changer , award-winning environmental reporter Glen Martin takes a fresh look at this question as it applies to Africa’s megafauna. Martin assesses the rising influence of the animal rights movement and finds that the policies championed by animal welfare groups could lead paradoxically to the elimination of the very species―including elephants and lions―that are the most cherished. In his anecdotal and highly engaging style, Martin takes readers to the heart of the conflict. He revisits the debate between conservationists, who believe that people whose lives are directly impacted by the creation of national parks and preserves should be compensated, versus those who believe that restrictive protection that forbids hunting is the most effective way to conserve wildlife and habitats. Focusing on the different approaches taken by Kenya, Tanzania, and Namibia, Martin vividly shows how the world’s last great populations of wildlife have become the hostages in a fight between those who love animals and those who would save them.

Genres: Africa, Nature

268 pages, Hardcover

First published February 11, 2012

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Focused primarily on Kenya, but including Tanzania and Namibia, the author provides an accessible review of the key elements of the debate in wildlife management between the animal rights position focusing on individual animals and, the author's position, that of managing entire species and ecosystems for long-term sustainability while recognizing the need to be inclusive of the native population's economies. Kenya is presented as a test case of the effects of a complete hunting ban for the last 35 years, the effectiveness of which, given that there are far fewer animals today than then, is questionable at best. Although this controversy is presented somewhat repititiously, the author also delves into the longer term effects of climate change, population growth and income growth among humans as perhaps the much more important issues overlaying this debate.

[Sue Tidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Game Changer is a must read for anyone who loves wildlife! We cannot conserve Africa's spectacular species if we don't understand the REAL threats against them. This is an eye-opening book that might surprise you. I discovered the underlying principles of what Glen Martin discusses within these pages on my own while on a very remote Tanzanian safari. The experience opened my eyes and changed my life, resulting in my writing the book "Cries of the Savanna. An adventure. An awakening. A journey to understanding African Wildlife conservation." Glen Martin's book is based on the research of many African experts in the field. Having all this information...told in an interesting entertaining manner...was invaluable doing research for my book. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of Africa, conservation, and the threats against wildlife....and the rural people of Africa.

[Bernardo Llaguno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremly good Book. A must for anyone who wants to discuss or understand animal conservation, hunting and human rights. It is a very good read to understand the main problems facing Africa's wildlife and the future of wildlife.

[Ian Bennett]

Very interesting points, a little repetitive.