Close Encounter

In the past, only a small group of vacationers and adventure seekers participated in wildlife watching and other eco-tourism activities. However, over time, and increasingly during the past two decades, that activity has significantly changed. Both wildlife watching and eco-tourism adventurers are among the most popular activities for today’s vacationers.

At one time, the number of tourism-related businesses and outfitters offering eco-tourism and adventure vacations were very few; and due to little competition in the marketplace, very expensive. However, as the public became more aware of what Mother Nature had to offer, along with an increase in disposable income, the eco-tourism market began to flourish.

As vacationers returned from trips with beautiful pictures and stories of exotic wildlife, stunning natural vistas, and exciting adventures, this newfound market quickly grew. New companies, catering to this new market segment, seemed to “appear” overnight.

The end result is that locations once known for their pristine beauty and solitude became mercilessly exploited. Rapidly, remote wooded areas, isolated beaches, exotic islands, and even National Parks and forests became the destinations for thousands upon thousands of annual visitors and adventure seekers.

People and wildlife

One of the positive effects of the wildlife watching and eco-tourism boom is the heightened appreciation of what our natural environment has to offer. More and more people are experiencing magnificent wildlife and scenic beauty. As a result, one would hope that most folks understand that to insure the survival of these resources, very difficult choices, decisions, and changes need to occur.

Unfortunately, as the increased popularity of many of these eco-tourism destinations escalates, so do the problems. The problems range from litter to wildlife harassment and habitat destruction.

Today, large tour groups routinely visit remote locations once only visited by breeding colonies of sea mammals, nesting birds, or grizzlies; and unfortunately, commercialism in the form of hotels and resorts becomes inevitable. The result is habitat loss and a shrinking environment that was once capable of sustaining the existing wildlife population.

Less obvious than the habitat loss, with the advent of eco-tourism and wildlife watching, are the relationships between people and wildlife. As encounters with wild and exotic animals become more commonplace, so do the attitudes towards these critters. Many people feel that since tour groups make daily visits to a location or because they’re in a National Park, that the wildlife has become tame and, therefore, approachable. I personally witness this everywhere I go.

Photo Caption: An avoidable dangerous encounter could have resulted in death. (David A. Murray photo)

Flirting with danger – the story

It was a winter day of photographing moose in northern Maine. This activity consists of hours of driving along old logging roads in search of this giant mammal, which is often very difficult to locate during the winter months.

Rounding a corner in the road revealed a yearling Bull Moose munching on some uncovered roadside vegetation. I pulled over, mounted my camera and 500mm lens on a window-mount, and began to photograph the moose. I stayed in my truck to maximize my photo opportunities and not stress the animal. Winter is a time of survival for wildlife, and utilizing precious energy to escape a human encounter was avoidable in this situation. I’m certainly comfortable around moose, but also know that each one has its own personality and that they are wild and unpredictable critters. Moose, in this area, often see logging vehicles and, if not harassed, eventually will go about their business as if nobody was there.

A short time later, another pickup truck arrived. It was a man and a young woman who were also looking for moose. Their windows were down and as they loudly spoke, I could clearly hear everything said. The young woman was very excited as she proclaimed in a southern accent that it was the first moose she had ever seen and was thanking the local (Maine plates on the truck) man for creating this opportunity.

As if I was not there, the man rudely pulled his truck in front of me, blocking my view of the moose, and encouraged the young woman to get out and take a picture. I backed my truck up so that I could see the moose, as the man coaxed the woman to move closer. As she approached the moose, with her point-and-shoot camera, the moose began to feel threatened and turned its head with a glaring stare. The woman stopped in her tracks and called back to the man saying she was scared. He responded by saying that moose are harmless this time of year and she could get as close as she wanted. Then, the man stepped from his truck concealing a loaded handgun behind his back. He repeated that everything was okay and not to worry.

Fortunately, the young woman got her picture without paying a potentially very high price. This was a death-threatening situation unnecessarily created. The moose, with two strides, could have killed this young woman. The man, who assumed he could have shot the moose, would have never stopped the moose’s momentum before it crushed the woman. That is, of course, if the man did not mistakenly shoot the woman during the potential mayhem. Unfortunately, if an incident had occurred, the moose would have been blamed and one-way or another ended up dead.

This was a prime example of an untrained eco-tourism operator cashing in on a booming market with no regard for the safety of the wildlife or his client. His only focus was the big tip he would receive, and the future customers that this satisfied wildlife watcher would refer. Once the woman got back in the truck, they drove directly at the moose, as flashes from the camera went off in the truck’s cab, frightening the moose off into the thick forest.

Eco-tourism and the awe of vacationers experiencing wildlife are here to stay. Respect and ethical behavior should be as important when interacting with wildlife and the natural environment as in any other facet of life.

Good shooting!

For questions or comments, e-mail: mail@davidamurray.com.

© 2008 David A. Murray.