The changes in our lives have been coming fast and furious in the early part of 2020. Ever since the coronavirus “situation” turned into a full-blown pandemic right before our very eyes, life as we know it has shifted rapidly. First, many of us began working from home. Those who are essential to report for duty in person and those who are non-essential became a hot topic of debate. Factories began to shut their doors, self-quarantine became a thing, and all our roots began to show.
Those roots are literal and figurative. Sure, some of us definitely need to get to the salon… pronto. But this time is also inviting us to get back to the basics in life. Right now we are seeing clearer than ever the value in things like growing our own food, baking our own bread, and learning new skills. It’s the value of being quality humans, a functioning part of the ecosystem we all share.
In many ways, it’s the animals of this planet who are really showing us the value of taking it down several notches. Their message has been a strong and profound one. Almost immediately upon the collective human withdrawal indoors, the animals of Earth began taking their space back. At one time the world’s mountains, streams, oceans, and desert plains were home to wild animals too. But as our factories and endless traffic polluted everything to the point of dysfunction and disease, the animals retreated further and further into the shadows.
South Africa Is Wild Again
The swift undoing of the environmental damage we’ve caused can be seen and felt to varying degrees around the globe. Almost immediately upon ceasing production in many factories worldwide, the skies brightened up and our lakes, streams, and oceans breathed a sigh of relief. The animals of South Africa have been enjoying an epic safari adventure of their own if photos out of Kruger National Park are any indication. In shots taken by park ranger Richard Sowry, we can see a pride of lions, with seemingly no cares at all, relaxing on the warm pavement of a road that’s normally busy with traffic. Isaac Phaala from the Kruger media office explained the lions would normally be in the bushes but that they are “very smart and now they are enjoying the freedom of the park without us”. (1)
Kruger visitors that tourists do not normally see. #SALockdown This lion pride are usually resident on Kempiana Contractual Park, an area Kruger tourists do not see. This afternoon they were lying on the tar road just outside of Orpen Rest Camp.
📸Section Ranger Richard Sowry pic.twitter.com/jFUBAWvmsA— Kruger National Park (@SANParksKNP) April 15, 2020
The lions of the park aren’t the only ones who seem to have got the memo. Word that the humans aren’t coming out right now has spread all the way to the golf course, where majestic lionesses drink lazily from ponds and hyenas can be seen strutting their stuff (when the lions aren’t around of course).
Re-balance In The World
It’s not just South Africa that’s getting back to its wild roots. The news is full of stories these days about animals reclaiming their territory. As we have collectively settled into this “new normal”, it has become more apparent how deeply the actions of humans affect the environment. When that “off” switch was thrown, a lot of things came into sharp relief very quickly. Moving forward we will have so many opportunities to call upon our lessons from this time and to choose a new way of being in the world. One that is more harmonious and honors the best interests of all forms of life, including our own.
