Speak! Jennifer McCarthy's Blog: June 2010 Archives

June 2010

Johannesburg Pictures

Posted by jennifer on June 30, 2010.

These are pictures from my lay-over in Johannesburg... Crime is so bad in this city, you are literally in lock down once at your location. Murder capitol of the world :-( Hopefully the rise in the economy from the World Cup will help the economic issues...

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Heading To Johannesburg...

Posted by jennifer on June 29, 2010.

Within human nature, there is the seemingly relentless obsession to control and ultimatly change nature. I have had the displeasure of witnessing non-human animals over managed and undermanaged during this conservation revolution by their supposed superiors-human beings. I am a firm believer in overhauling the concept of sole responsibilty and being part of human's working to understand our own psycholgy and our relationship to the natural world. In my experience, it has been part of our ego to consider ourselves a part from or above what other creatures consider themselves- part of the truest form of reality in the wild.
My neighbor recently found out the hard way that by putting out bird feeders, she had attracted a large redish, black bear who had broken into her car and garage on the hunt for food. Had she called the authorities, the bear would most likely have been shot. It is this concept where in lies the problem: We attract what we don't want and then after, we manage through euthanasia or other means whether a tree, a monkey or a sacred place. The focus should be on larger enforcements of regulating human being's actions rather then actions toward our kinship- wild and domestic creatures, plants and the earth itself.
With this said, we go back to a more chaotic and natural environment. Western science is believed that when a certain study is done, it proves in theory, that x will happen. However, I do not believe in many cases that this is true as I have witnessed many unbelievable things that essentially disproved theory x or concept y. In order to be creative, one must be open to the unpredictable and this speaks true of a more Native Science. I have learned a great deal from both forms however, when dealing with nature, it seems like western science is playing more catch up to what Natives have told through stories and experiences from long ago. There is something about being open to all things that flows with the ebb of life and allows one more progress, invention of new ideas and concepts that could very well change the world. I am very excited to unveil a new concept that focusses on this very freedom I have learned from the wild, my friends in the forest and domestic animals.
As I fly to South Africa, I am not in control of the weather, the world or the wild animals of which I will bear the pleasure of witness to. I am open to observation, new ideas and concepts that may change me. I learn just as animals do by soaking up and using all senses to their full capacity. What does this smell tell me? What is that sound? Seeing, touching and being instinctive is being "a part of" the experience.
With this said, I don't base my knowledge and research on one species but rather mammals, the land and the humans that surround them. This then can be opened up to all things which gives one the ultimate palatte to work from. A whale or a lion for example may just give me a new idea for a horse, dog or even human being. When you allow a river to flow, all things can come out of that river. Fish can spawn, new plants can grown and the river essentially becomes the vein for blood to flow through the land. When you block that river by a dam, new things can't grow and you have effects to the environment itself. Africa is the vein of life. It is essentially where things started. To not go there would essentially put up a dam in my work and my creativity would be limited. This is the ultimate classroom and the animals, people and earth there are my teachers. I will document my first of many trips here daily. Please enjoy the notes as I report from the field in Mozambique and the struggles to repopulate Gorongosa National Park after a long cival war killed off most of the animals in the area. I will also update you via boat on research to marine life and discussions with local biologists and people working on the ground towards a common goal. As featured recently on National Geographic, Gorongosa was part of a one hour special entitled "Africa's Lost Eden". Welcome to a different kind of World Cup adventure from the Southern Hemisphere here in South Africa...

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New Adventures...

Posted by jennifer on June 14, 2010.

Today I am heading home after spending some time with my friend Henry (a high percentage wolf-dog) as he recovers from an injury from hiking last week. It's one thing to get a 100 lb. animal that is pretty much all wolf, into the back of my Jeep and into emergency care. It's another thing getting him down the mountain, into the emergency clinic off a high traffic area street, going through surgery and then successfully adopting a lamp shade collar. Then after this, having to take him back to the emergency clinic after he figures out how to chew through the collar and pull out his drainage tube. I am happy to report that Henry is now doing well and is no longer resisting the lampshade although many objects tend to fall or get knocked over in his path.

I have a busy next two months ahead of me- I am leaving for Africa in two weeks, packing up a lot of my things into storage and when I return, heading to Arizona to begin a journey back to horses, coyotes, the Mexican Gray Wolf and coexistence issues between wildlife and ranchers. You may be wondering why I do all of this and you will soon find out as I launch a new behavioral concept this fall right here on my website based on four years of research. Don't worry, it still has to do with dogs but on a much broader spectrum.

After heading to Az. for one week, I am then in L.A. to meet with clients then up to a horse ranch where I will be living at for 1-2 years. I will still have my current locations and will eventually be heading back to Colorado but will still be there to meet with clients as I do in L.A. & Vegas in the meantime.

This is good news for those in Los Angeles and in Scottsdale, Prescott & Phoenix as I will be in these areas more often now to service those that need my help.
With all of this research, I have come to find some great advancements in the world of non-human animals so stay tuned for some amazing new information coming soon!
I am off to pack and gather up my equipment for some tent living in the bush of Gorongosa National Park as I document the re-introduction of species similar to that of the wolves in Yellowstone. I will be gathering information on local struggles between wildlife and livestock and see if they are having success with the Hyena and Wild Dog packs that run through the park and into local communities.
Off to pack and will blog from the road!
Best wishes,
Jennifer

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