An inside look at the controversial subject of big game hunting in East Africa and how large wildlife reserves in Tanzania are able to sustain themselves through selective sport hunting. Jean also looks at how the proceeds from hunting go to help large scale conservation projects. Jean joins members from the Friedkin Conservation Fund on Anti-Poaching patrols in the Moyowosi Eco-System.
A two part episode looking at the conflict outside of National Parks in Tanzania between predators and Masai livestock. Jean looks at the work being done by the Tarangire People and Predator Project to find solutions to this problem. In part two Jean investigates the die-off of 40,000 pink flamingos in Lake Manyara national, and goes off on an adventure to check out other lakes to see if the die-off is isolated or affecting all the volcanic lakes that support flamingos.
Through out Africa small groups of primate species have been able to forge out an existence and in some cases remain isolated to ovoid being discovered by the scientific work as a new species. In this episode Jean looks at the problems facing primates in Africa through habitat destruction. He travels to Mahale Mountain where one of the largest populations of chimpanzees can be found to look at the pressures facing one of our closest living relatives. From there he travels to Udzungwa N.P. which is considered one of the world greatest bio-diversity hot spots, and is home to two newly discovered monkeys.
For the past three-hundred years, the Masai tribe of East Africa have inadvertently been the protectors of the Serengeti. It's not done out of love for wildlife, but out of preservation of the their own culture, and a way of life that co-exists with the animals. Their fierce warrior have prevented neighboring tribes from moving into the Serengeti. In this episode, Jean will hike the Serengeti's Western boundary with a Masai friend to look at their contribution to the parks history. Today the Serengeti is recognized as one of the most important animal habitats in the world. From there, Jean will look at it's more modern guardians, the Frankfurt Zoological Society who help manage the park. Jean will join in a census of the parks animals, fifty years after the first census was carried out by the famous father and son team from Germany. Their study lead to the re-drawing of the parks boundary enabling the migration to be protected. Their book about the Serengeti put the place on the map, and a documentary the son made won the Academy Award in 1959. The son Michael was killed in a plane crash in the Serengeti during filming of the movie. Looking towards the next fifty years, Jean would look at the impact tourism is having on the park and the Masai.
Jean ventures to Gabon West Africa where the country is looking to develope a tourism industry. There he explores wild beaches, and goes off in search of un-habituated gorillas. He also visits Kongou Falls, one of Africa's most spectacular waterfalls, where he learns that Chinese plan to build a hydro electric dam that will completely destroy the falls.
Jean returns to Ol Pejeta where management are forced to deal with problem elephants that use their tusks to break through eletricfied fence and raid local villagers crops.
A look at the efforts of the FCF anti-poaching team in the Maswa Game Reserve in Tanzania. Outside of professional hunter, few people ever visit Maswa, an area along the Western boundary of the Serengeti. Every year as the wildebeest migration passes thru, the poachers move in. FCF will launch a major operation to push the poachers before the Migration heads thru.
Jean takes viewers to some of his favorite spots in Tanzania. From walking elephant to hunting with the Hazabe Bushmen. Jean's trip is put into jeapordy by the eruption of the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano.