Column. When the Savannah is Empty…

When the savannah is empty, you’ll only have yourself to blame

By Daniel Wilke

My image of what a real savannah should look like was formed when I was seven years old at the premiere of Disney’s film The Lion King. An image with lots of animals, lush greenery and constant interaction between all of nature’s different beings. But, as an adult, when I got the chance to visit a real savannah, I could only be disappointed. Now, 25 years after The Lion King’s premiere, Disney has made an updated version of the classic film. And again, a generation of children will be deceived in our cinemas by what once was. The truth is that the film’s iconic opening scene, where herds of animals stomp on the ground, is now more fiction than reality.

Our children are usually true animal lovers. They show their interest in animals when they politely ask to pet a stranger’s dog, wish for teddy bears, or watch one of the many cartoons that are set in the animal kingdom over and over again. Some children lose interest. But for others, their interest will grow until one day they want to see the inspiration behind the film scenes themselves, so they travel to see the wild animals in their natural habitat. But by then it’ll be too late. Unfortunately, there are lots of indications that we are the last generation to able to see many of the big mammals in the wild. And yet, we selfishly continue to buy the latest fashions, or take weekend flights to Paris to enjoy a piece of beef fillet. So when your children ask about the savannah... don’t blame the politicians... tell them the truth, you simply didn’t care enough.

We’ve stuck our heads in the sand for far too long now. For many, our considerable consumer power is an unexploited tool. And yet, many parents will take their children to the cinema to fill their heads with false images of the savannah. But when the savannah is empty, you’ll only have yourself to blame.