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Out of Africa: The Life of Clive |
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Written by AMY REMEIKIS
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Friday, 14 April 2006 |
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Out of Africa: The Life of Clive
CLIVE Arnold's life story has all the makings of a best-seller.
He
has been shot twice during political upheaval in his African homeland,
befriended members of the nomadic Himba tribe and Kalahari Bushmen and
has helped bring endangered species back from the brink of extinction. The
45-year-old said he has recently been approached to write the story of
his life so far, but the Zimbabwean ex-pat and his wife Anne are too
busy educating the next generation about the importance of wildlife
conservation, cultural identities and breeding programs.
Mr
Arnold is on the Sunshine Coast visiting friends and promoting his
school educational programs, where he gives talks about his experiences
with conservation both in Africa and Australia.
The wildlife
photographer said he "made the natural progression" to conservationist
after his passion for wildlife "just grew bigger and bigger".
"Like everyone else who has a passion for wildlife, it started when I was born," he said.
"It just grew and grew and got bigger and bigger and I went into photography.
"Then
I went into game catching, and catching, breeding, rehabilitating and
re-releasing animals such as white lions, king cheetahs and more
recently rhinos."
Despite moving to Toowoomba five years ago, Mr Arnold has retained strong links with his homeland.
He
and his wife started "Safaris into Africa" after seeing the need for a
"more personal safari tour" and run regular tours, which also educate
visitors about the rehabilitation and conservation of the wildlife
which has made the "Dark Continent" famous.
But Mr Arnold also
has been instrumental in helping to strengthen anti-poaching laws in
southern Africa and educate poachers about conservation.
"The penalties in southern Africa are lot stronger now and you can see it's working," he said.
He
said he would always have strong links with the country of his birth,
but he was now turning his attention to matters closer to his new home.
"The sad thing I have found out, since I have been in
Australia, is the negativeness people have here when it comes to snakes
and reptiles," he said.
"To me that is very wrong. They are part of the ecosystem and needed here and we have to go out and create that awareness."
The Arnolds also are becoming involved in the fight to save the bilby.
"It will be our next project and we will be donating some money from the money we make towards this," he said.
"Wildlife conservation is a global issue and Australia is not immune."
But the Sunshine Coast's natural environment has had an impact on this world traveller.
"We would like to move here eventually. It's something we are working on."
More Information: Safaris Into Africa
AMY REMEIKIS is a journalist with the Sunshine Coast Daily
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 08 April 2007 )
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Friday, 16 May 2008
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