Teddy Roosevelt on Safari in East Africa – Uganda
Theodore Roosevelt-America’s first Conservation President-Wildlife Massacre Safari in East Africa, including Uganda
Teddy Roosevelt on Safari – Guns blazing, shooting everything that moved. On Safari in East Africa, including Uganda, Teddy Roosevelt did not go to Africa to preserve its Wildlife. In 1909 President Teddy Roosevelt turned a safari in East Africa into a gruesome massacre. Roosevelt and his party killed or trapped 11,397 animals, from insects to elephants.
Teddy Roosevelt A Wildlife Massacre under the Guise of Scientific Research. Let us be realistic, who needs stuffed Animals at the Smithsonian Institute? African Wildlife then and now belongs to the African Wild.
Though seen as America’s first Conservationist President, in Africa, the Patron Saint of Smith and Wesson remains Big Bwana Tumbo, Mister Stomach for African Wildlife. He remains the model today for Trophy Hunters who flock to Africa each year to kill African Game in the Wild.
In 1910 one year, President Theodore Roosevelt said. “The Nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which
it much turns over to the next generation increased and not impaired in value, and behaves badly if it leaves the land poorer to those who come after it. That is what I mean by the phrase, conservation of natural resources. Use them, but use them so that as far as possible, our children will be richer and not poorer because we have lived.”
Teddy Roosevelt on Safari – In 1909, during his last year of the Presidency. Theodore Roosevelt departed for Mombasa and traversed East Africa, including Uganda, on a one-year killing spree of Africa’s Wildlife to collect specimens for the Smithsonian Institute.
Various big game hunters assisted the father and son team. One of which was Frederick Selous, British and with an excellent reputation for killing big game. Ironically Federick Selous became very concerned about conserving the Wildlife of Africa and bringing balance to the world of Nature in later life.
Taxidermists and zoologists accompanied the hunters – it has been said that President Roosevelt thoroughly enjoyed his hunting safari in Africa. He wanted his hunting Safari, but he, in turn, also inspired many others to follow his path, including Ernest Hemingway.
Theodore Roosevelt, “the Rough Rider of old,” shot his way across East Africa and his son and the hunting party led by Frederick Selous, a Brit with an excellent reputation for killing big game. At first, he was a worldwide known hunter, explorer, and military man. Like many of us, Selous later in life had a change of heart and developed severe concerns about the need to keep a sustainable balance in the world of Nature. It was said in 1909 – “the ex-president thoroughly enjoyed himself.”
While on Safari, he was called “Bwana Mukabwa.” Meaning Great Master. The hundreds of porters involved in this East African Hunting called Teddy Roosevelt – “Bwana Tumbo,” which translates as Mr. Stomach in English.
Teddy Roosevelt certainly had a big stomach for Africa’s Wildlife, Big-Game, Birds, and Reptiles. Though considered a conservationist in America, this conservation philosophy was not apparent to the Wildlife that was along his route in East Africa.
During his 11 months on his hunting expedition, he trapped 44,900 mammals, 4,000 birds, 2,000 reptiles, and 500 fish. In that number were nine elephants, eight black rhinos, five white rhinos, seven giraffes, six buffalo,12 topi, 10 Uganda kob, and a shoebill stork. Here is what Teddy Roosevelt had to say regarding this hunt. “The most noteworthy collection of animals has ever come out of Africa.”
He also defended his hunt against critics by saying. “I can be condemned only if the existence of the National Museum, the American Museum of Natural History and similar zoological institutions are to be condemned.”
Today President Roosevelt and his son Kermit and the others would be classified as poachers of endangered species.
Thank goodness most Americans’ attitudes have changed since President Roosevelt’s hunting and gathering trips in East Africa, including Uganda
and Murchison Falls National Park.
Some Safari Tour Companies use his name as a trailblazer across East Africa. We still see him as Bwana Tumbo – the man with a prominent stomach exploiting and pillaging the African Wilderness.
Here is an Amazing Statement made by President Theodore Roosevelt after his Hunting Safari in Africa: “The Nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it much turns over to the next generation increased and not impaired in value, and behaves badly if it leaves the land poorer to those who come after it. That is what I mean by the phrase, conservation of natural resources. Use them, but use them so that as far as possible, our children will be richer and not poorer because we have lived.”
Theodore Roosevelt -Hunter – America’s First Conservationist President – a Jekyll and Hide Figure – a Role Model for Sports Hunters in Africa – to Africans, he is Bwana Tumbo – the man with a big stomach with no regard for conserving African Wildlife.
Teddy Roosevelt on Safari – We will not create a safari for you in the Spirit of Teddy Roosevelt. But one in the Spirit of Conservation and conserving for future generations.
