Current Affairs Special mission for King Kong
Probably the most exotic inhabitant of the Czech Republic's deep pine forests is fighting a losing battle for survival. The Czech lynx is a frequent target of illegal hunters, and despite heightened efforts to protect the breed, its numbers have dwindled to several dozen specimens. Environmentalists have now come up with a surprising plan that should help to save not only the lynx, but also bears and wolves living in the mountain regions. They are relying on King Kong to help them out.
Lynx
Although environmentalists are already patrolling the lynx-populated
regions in the Beskydy Mountains in the east and the Sumava mountain range
in the south of the country, it has become clear that the project will not
be successful unless the locals support it. Most of the poachers are in
fact locals, and the general attitude to these species in the mountain
villages to a great extent determines their fate. At present that attitude
is not good - wolves and bears are seen as dangerous predators who are a
threat to the local farms, while the lynx is seen as a rare trophy. Making
the locals listen is not easy but environmentalists think they know how to
go about it: with the help of the latest remake of King Kong and other hot
movies.
Lynx
Since the mountain villages are usually poor in terms of a cultural life,
they plan to take the latest movies there - in return for a little
attention. They are going to bring back the cinema on wheels, the kind
that travelled to distant villages in the 60s - and play the movies for
free or for a symbolic fee. Before they get to watch the movie, people
will be treated to a short film about the importance of the lynx, wolf and
bear in the Czech eco-system. Pavel Marhoul of the Environmental Protection
Agency, says that the plan hinges on "converting" the people who
influence public opinion. "These people are the real authorities here
and their word is stronger than the law. If the local teacher, doctor or
mayor says the lynx should be left alone - then the chances are it will
be, Marhoul says.
The cinema on wheels and King Kong should be on the road early next year. Their first stop will be the mountain village of Horni Plana where many hunters firmly believe that the only good lynx is a dead lynx.
