TLDR: Make more Poaching events encounters that deal with smaller animals like Pangolins etc.. as well as the very real and horrifying reality of canned hunting. Just to help raise awareness for their plight and to make users aware of other websites and charities to look out for.

Long read version:

So... It's no secret that poaching is rife in my country and my neighboring countries. Seeing this event for the first time made me increasingly happy that Lioden staff, in their small little way, wanted to make a big difference. And even if you as players don't give them a profit, they're influencing you and that my friends is a major difference.

But I've noticed a lot of central focus put on the trade of ivory and rhino horn. Which, don't get me wrong is a really big one. But I also think there's some little guys that deserve some spotlight. And I say this because I've had the privelage of working with some amazing little creatures whom, if not helped will end up extinct and I've probably handled and cared for them for the last time in my life at just 21 years of age.

I'm talking about Pangolins, Sungazers (girdled lizards), Lions (yes they're a small guy and yes they're in big trouble) and hundreds of smaller animals including hares, certain buck species, monitor lizards, snake species you name it.

I'm not asking the charities to be donated to are added or changed. Would be awesome but that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that we need more encounters with these guys in.

So for example with the pangolins and the girdled lizards and other smaller animals that are able to be caged, like the bird cage encounter. As a March exclusive you get an equally rare encounter that instead of giving you bird decor. Gives you decor of these guys.

Pangolins and Girdled Lizards sit incredibly close to my heart. And I feel like I should mention why I think it is so important we put this out there too.

Last year alone, thousands of Pangolins were illegally trafficked to get boiled alive, have their scales stripped and used for medicine. They are CRITICALLY endangered friends. They're the cutest and most unique little anteater friends you can find, and they are the most trafficked animal on the black market to date. Not only African Pangolins but Asiatic Pangolins as well. And they're not trafficked to add to people's pet collection they're trafficked to die a horrible death and I do not encourage anyone's morbid curiosity to go look it up.

This year I've had the privelage of working with Sungazers. They're stunning little lizards and look like proper little dragons. They're slow. They're stupid. They're adorable. And this unfortunately makes them a target for illegal pet trade and medicine markets. They've rightfully earned the right as Africa's Gold, fetching up to R200000 per lizard (no bigger than a bearded dragon I can assure you). Thing is these guys are struggling. And they really are beautiful little creatures and the little time I've spent being able to help them has been incredible and also utterly bone chilling to think that I may NEVER get the chance to pay witness to them in real life again as the ones we have in our care and rehabilitation programme currently are the last we will ever see.

There are hundreds of other small species, Karoo hares were believed to be extinct they were hunted off so badly. Little African Pygmy Chameleons who keep getting killed because our environmental managing teams supposedly helping with construction never do their job properly and hundreds more.

Not to mention the little guys who already went extinct.

Heck I think we should make the cage encounter a year round mammal and bird mash up of extinct and endangered species.

Now.

Onto lions. This I think is kinda really important all things considered.

Lions are under major threat due to the Asian mooti (medicine) markets and, wait for it.

Canned hunting.

Game Reserves and theme parks in South Africa are responsible for the death of hundreds of lions a year. Not due to any other reason than canned hunting. They release lions into certain areas of a game farm maybe an hour before the paying hunter arrives and the lion is tracked from there. It gives the hunter the thrill of the chase but the lion is under constant supervision. They know where he is and he is going to get shot.

Lion parks and other areas where you have cub interactions. Those are the worst. Those lions are bred for the sole purpose of being shot. That's why they're used in cub interactions. To get them used to human contact. They will stand looking at you not even a meter from where you are and you will stick a gun through the fence. A few mere inches from him. And you'll pull the trigger. And lie about your trophy.

Theres been such outcry in my country to stop this. There is even a gas station that had small enclosures with little to no shade/shelter that has lions.

A gas station. You can't honestly tell me they're being looked after?

And here's the sickest part. There's no laws preventing it.

Encounter idea:
You come across a lion or lioness running for their life. They're being hunted. They have a collar on. Their footing is unsure. They've lived in a cage their whole life they don't know where they are. You keep walking, finally hearing a sickening gunshot and the lions final cry.

I had the unfortunate opportunity to go for a guided tour of a local mooti market. You can't look anyone in the eye. You can't say anything to anyone. You can't do anything that might seem threatening because you don't belong there. There are stalls packed to the BRIM with pangolin scales, lion claws and teeth, monkey feet and the place stinks of death. But this is common practice in most cultures. And it's not illegal. They are under vigilance by wildlife authorities but it has not stopped them from doing some heinous acts to get what they want and the wildlife can do little to prevent it because it's traditional medicine. It's their culture. And they're authorized to do it.

More and more people need to learn about these things.

Lioden has a stunner of a platform to showcase this even if it is for a month a year.

I really think the little guys need some spotlight too. Because the longer people put a central focus on other very well funded projects. The longer these other projects go unnoticed and even if lioden staff make a post with worthy causes and a small summary of what they do and how to help. They'd make a world of difference.

Edit:
Types of encounters
- Bird cage encounter modified to either be year round or this event only that allows members to have a rare chance at getting unique decor for near extinct or extinct species of mammal, reptile or amphibians.

- Canned lion hunting experience where you see a lion bred and raised in captivity that's being hunted for sport.

-Event exclusive NCLs maybe coming in the form of rehabilitated canned lionesses who are looking for new prides. Or a lioness seeking refuge from the hunt on her that you save. These will have event exclusive markings.

Thanks for reading and thanks for the support!