Dialogue for "Born Wild: The Path of Wildlife Conservation"

0:00- All right, so today we're taking a deep dive into the world of wildlife conservation, but through a pretty unique lens. - Yeah, definitely. - We're gonna be diving into Born Wild, which is the memoir of Simba, who's a Chinese conservationist. And what's so interesting about this book is we see him kind of find his way to the savannas of Kenya. And I don't know about you, but just that in itself really struck me, like what was it about Simba and his background that made him decide to go to Kenya? - Yeah, well, I think what's so compelling about Simba's story is that it's this unexpected perspective, right? He's trying to make it in a field that's often seen as very Western dominated. And on top of that, he's dealing with all these, these complexities of cultural differences, you know, personal aspirations.

0:43And then, you know, his journey to Africa, it's just, it's fueled by this lifelong passion for lions he's had since he was a kid. And it just, it speaks volumes, I think, about how universal the appeal of conservation can be. - Absolutely, it really does. And the memoir starts with him in Nairobi, which, you know, it's this bustling city, a world away from anything he's used to, right? And he's really trying to break into the conservation world. But as you can imagine, it's no easy feat. - No, not at all. - I mean, he's hit with financial hurdles, cultural biases, you name it. - Oh yeah, for sure. - Was there anything, any of those early challenges that really stood out to you when you were reading it? - Yeah, you know, the part that really got me was, when he's trying to get a spot on this research project, He's got the qualifications, but he's passed over.

1:28And you just, you pick up on this subtle, but it's there, you know, this bias. And it just, it makes you think about the bigger picture, right? Representation, inclusion, the whole thing. It's still a big issue in conservation. - Yeah, that's such an important point. And it makes a determination even more incredible. You know, he could have easily packed it in and said, this is too much. But then, then there's this pivotal moment and he watches to walk with lions. I don't know if you're familiar, it's it's a documentary and it features Tony Fitzjohn who we'll talk about a lot. Oh, yeah, definitely. And Tony's doing this incredible work with Lions in Kenya. What do you think it was about Tony's story in particular that resonated so deeply with Simba? I mean, there's something about seeing someone you admire, right? You kind of get that starstruck feeling. Oh, total. And for Simba, it's not just about meeting Tony, which he does in this little cafe in Nairobi. It's, it's like a turning point, you know. What do you think, what do you think each of them was feeling at that moment.

2:26You can just feel this connection, you know, right off the bat, like this shared love for lions. It just cuts through all the cultural stuff, you know what I mean? Yeah, absolutely. Because Simba's looking for someone to show him the ropes, someone to tell him he's on the right track. And I think Tony, I think he sees a younger version of himself in Simba, but also this chance to bridge this gap, this cultural gap. Right, like he recognizes what Simba represents being Chinese in Africa doing this work. And he even says to him, it's in the book, your presence here, it's important. Like he really emphasizes that. - Totally, because Tony gets it, right? He understands the whole historical context, like how Chinese involvement in Africa has been perceived, the need for cultures to understand each other.

3:08He saw Simba not just as another conservationist, but like as this bridge between two worlds. - And their mentorship, it's fascinating, 'cause it's not just here's how you track a lion. Tony really empowers him, gives him the confidence to challenge how people see things, to break down those barriers. - And Simba takes that and runs with it right into Lion Country, the Maasai Mara. He's dealing with human lion conflict, which is, I mean, that's, that was Tony's life's work, trying to find solutions for both. - It's amazing how it all connects, that lineage. And he, even Simba, he makes this trip to Korra to attend the Memorial for George Adamson. And George Adamson, that's Tony's mentor, right? So you have these connections going way back. What do you think that experience in Korra meant for Simba though.

3:51- Yes. - Yeah, I bet being there in chorus, surrounded by all that history, must have been incredibly powerful for him. - Right, like a pilgrimage almost, you know? Connecting him back to the roots of why he got into this whole thing in the first place. - Totally, and then life takes this turn, you know? Tony passes away, and you can only imagine how much that affected Simba. It's interesting because it makes Tony's forward in the book even more, I don't know, more poignant, I guess. - Oh, absolutely, reading his words, you can feel the weight of everything they went through together, the challenges, all of it. But there's this deep sense of hope that Tony has for Simba, like his final message, almost like a call to action.

4:31Was there anything in the forward that really stuck with you? - There's this one line he says, Simba represents the future of conservation. But then he goes on, he's like, a future where borders and cultures become less important than the shared responsibility we have to protect our planet. I don't know, it just, it gets to the heart of their relationship, and what Tony saw in Simba, I think. A hundred percent, and the thing is Simba's out there living it, you know. He's not just carrying the torch, he's blazing his own trail, proving that this passion for conservation, it goes beyond borders, beyond cultures. It's pretty inspiring, and it makes you realize, we can all play a part, right? Yeah. I mean, Simba's journey, his dedication, it reminds us that we can all make a difference.

5:13Exactly, whether it's supporting organizations like his, speaking up for change, even just learning more about these issues, every little bit counts, you know? It all adds up. So as we wrap up this deep dive into Simba's story, it really makes you think, "What's your part going to be in all of this? What's that thing that sparked that you're going to ignite?"