First comment! I just wanted to take a moment to express my appreciation for this documentary. I have studied Edward VIII / The Duke of Windsor for a while, and you never hear this story or get much of a glimpse of this side of him. You normally get the same old summary of extramarital affairs, Nazi sympathizing, abdicating after not even a year of being King, and him marrying Wallis, the woman he loved. I thank him, Denys and everyone else responsible for shedding a light on this issue and working on it.
The number of game animals killed on the Roosevelt safari was not eleven thousand. In the book "African Game Trails" written by Theodore Roosevelt, the number given is 296 for the President and 216 for his son Kermit. Most of the animals were used for the Smithsonian Museum or used for meat to feed the safari personnel.
Ironically, a total hunting ban causes wildlife collapse because there's no money and no incentive any longer in conservation. When there is "conservation" hunting, the money pours in to ensure that there's adequate, sustainable wildlife to support it because it's essentially simple economics at that point.
That is true. Hunters today are the true stewards of wildlife, especially in Africa. Several European countries are imposing "trophy import" bans on African wildlife taken while hunting. The African nations involved in legal hunting are saying the bans will lead to decimation due to poaching or over population of certain species. Our job on this planet has always been as caretakers. We usually flub it in one extreme or the other.
Yes instead they just take every opportunity they can to blame it all on “ ungentlemanly” and “savage” Americans. I’m in no doubt appalled by Teddy Roosevelt and his party just killing wildlife in wholesale numbers and especially the rhinoceros whose population was already in such rapid decline and we now know in the future would all but become extinct. It’s just laughable to think that it was mostly the Americans who indeed aren’t the ones known in popular culture of modern times as the people on the savanna with their white untanned knees showing wearing their “Safari outfits” and especially hats with one foot proudly propped up on the carcass of a dead lion and their big bore rifle in the other. And I must add it’s a bit of a shame to spend so much time speaking of the Prince in such regard. They must have forgotten the man embraced Hitler and the Nazis until he was forced to leave France by the government of the day before he got himself charged for treason because of his failure to even consider reporting the Nazis approaching him with ideas of possibly putting him back on the throne he left to the more capable and frankly more honorable hands of his brother when they had won the war they were in no doubt going to win but thank God turned out to be quite different. I don’t recall the details but he has been proven thru documents to truly have been more than just flirting with the idea they had presented him.
Interesting documentary although not evenhanded and at times even strongly biased in its views, not at all mentioning the important role of regulated hunting for conservation.
Excellent footage! One has to wonder however if the thing that excited them the most about Africa as apposed to England was the excesses in wildlife or just debauchery of the wild night life! Gotta assume the wife swapping going on at that time with that crowd was a huge draw compared to stuffy ole England. Also curious about the closing of hunting do to tourists and their “automatic” rifles which would have been very uncommon and more of a curiosity for any sportsman in 1929. Sounds more gangster Hollywood than any real issue. Seems more of a I have mine but you can’t have yours than any real threat to wildlife considering the real popularity of hunting Africa didn’t start until after WWII once air travel became more commonplace. Interesting documentary nonetheless 👍🏼
Remarkable story! The only pictures where I have seen the Prince smile. He really must have enjoyed himself.
First comment! I just wanted to take a moment to express my appreciation for this documentary.
I have studied Edward VIII / The Duke of Windsor for a while, and you never hear this story or get much of a glimpse of this side of him. You normally get the same old summary of extramarital affairs, Nazi sympathizing, abdicating after not even a year of being King, and him marrying Wallis, the woman he loved.
I thank him, Denys and everyone else responsible for shedding a light on this issue and working on it.
Very educational and up lifting.
*uplifting
So interesting and so well done - Bravo! Thank you so much for posting!
The number of game animals killed on the Roosevelt safari was not eleven thousand. In the book "African Game Trails" written by Theodore Roosevelt, the number given is 296 for the President and 216 for his son Kermit. Most of the animals were used for the Smithsonian Museum or used for meat to feed the safari personnel.
Just finished Sara Wheelers bio on Denys Finch Hatton this evening. Very good book! Very good documentary!
All well and good, but it doesn’t mention the fact that since the total hunting ban of 1977 Kenya has lost 70 percent of its wildlife.
Ironically, a total hunting ban causes wildlife collapse because there's no money and no incentive any longer in conservation. When there is "conservation" hunting, the money pours in to ensure that there's adequate, sustainable wildlife to support it because it's essentially simple economics at that point.
That is true. Hunters today are the true stewards of wildlife, especially in Africa. Several European countries are imposing "trophy import" bans on African wildlife taken while hunting. The African nations involved in legal hunting are saying the bans will lead to decimation due to poaching or over population of certain species. Our job on this planet has always been as caretakers. We usually flub it in one extreme or the other.
Yes instead they just take every opportunity they can to blame it all on “ ungentlemanly” and “savage” Americans. I’m in no doubt appalled by Teddy Roosevelt and his party just killing wildlife in wholesale numbers and especially the rhinoceros whose population was already in such rapid decline and we now know in the future would all but become extinct. It’s just laughable to think that it was mostly the Americans who indeed aren’t the ones known in popular culture of modern times as the people on the savanna with their white untanned knees showing wearing their “Safari outfits” and especially hats with one foot proudly propped up on the carcass of a dead lion and their big bore rifle in the other.
And I must add it’s a bit of a shame to spend so much time speaking of the Prince in such regard. They must have forgotten the man embraced Hitler and the Nazis until he was forced to leave France by the government of the day before he got himself charged for treason because of his failure to even consider reporting the Nazis approaching him with ideas of possibly putting him back on the throne he left to the more capable and frankly more honorable hands of his brother when they had won the war they were in no doubt going to win but thank God turned out to be quite different. I don’t recall the details but he has been proven thru documents to truly have been more than just flirting with the idea they had presented him.
Interesting documentary although not evenhanded and at times even strongly biased in its views, not at all mentioning the important role of regulated hunting for conservation.
Sadly since they’ve ended “paid for” hunting in Kenya the wildlife numbers have plummeted.
Excellent footage! One has to wonder however if the thing that excited them the most about Africa as apposed to England was the excesses in wildlife or just debauchery of the wild night life! Gotta assume the wife swapping going on at that time with that crowd was a huge draw compared to stuffy ole England. Also curious about the closing of hunting do to tourists and their “automatic” rifles which would have been very uncommon and more of a curiosity for any sportsman in 1929. Sounds more gangster Hollywood than any real issue. Seems more of a I have mine but you can’t have yours than any real threat to wildlife considering the real popularity of hunting Africa didn’t start until after WWII once air travel became more commonplace. Interesting documentary nonetheless 👍🏼
Glamping!👑
Prince Edward disgusted his fellow hunters because he hunted dozens of lions
Excellent video, but I was sad to learn that it was an American president that kicked off the senseless slaughter of African wildlife
I never understood the appeal of Africa. I’d like to understand but I just don’t.
I heard that he caught Gonorrhea there! I may be wrong.