THE WILD LIFE IS HERE
Hello, hello! My name is Amanda Lee Salb and I am a wildlife veterinarian for the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife here in Malawi. On occasion I see some pretty neat things, from leafhoppers to lions, and meet some pretty interesting people, from school kids to seasoned trackers; I […]
Hello, hello! My name is Amanda Lee Salb and I am a wildlife veterinarian for the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife here in Malawi. On occasion I see some pretty neat things, from leafhoppers to lions, and meet some pretty interesting people, from school kids to seasoned trackers; I thought that a blog would be a great way to share my experiences as I am monkey-ing around.
<- Aforementioned leafhopper. His butt is so fluffy!
I have the pleasure of working in the field of conservation medicine. Our favorite online resource for everything under the sun, Wikipedia, defines conservation medicine as “an emerging, interdisciplinary field that studies the relationship between human and animal health, and environmental conditions.”
Malawi is one of the most densely populated countries on the planet. Many of the people are subsistence farmers, growing maize and a variety of other vegetables. Since the vast majority of the country is without electricity, trees are cut and made into charcoal for cooking, resulting in widespread deforestation. The national parks and other protected areas are islands in a sea of humanity.
Please join me as I explore the conservation, health, and ecological issues facing wildlife in Malawi. On this journey, we will meet the animals at risk, the people working hard to save them, and just as importantly, the people struggling to stay alive on a daily basis whose actions, wittingly or no, imperil the environment around them.
Above: The Rhino Protection Team in Liwonde National Park.
As I travel this beautiful country, I definitely take time to stop and smell the roses, or baobab blossoms, as it were. The wildlife sometimes inspires verse that I shall also share, which at times is both serious and silly; a perfect reflection of life itself. As an example:
BIRDS
Chirp and squawk
titter, babble, and cheep
caw and chit
warble, hoot and squeak
arguments, gossip
chit-chat and such
conversations imagined
meaning little or much
the question I pose
between you and me
is it cacophonous noise
or some sweet melody?
Thanks for checking in! Until next time…
