"Man, in many instances lacking wisdom or in any sense of values, seems hell-bent on destroying - for self-aggrandisement and sheer greed - these great and graceful creatures, which have outdone him on the planet for intrinsic and historic value….

What is lacking in the human spirit - for all its moral values and technological advances in the 20th century - that it has failed to recognise the kind of values, which would guarantee the survival of our priceless wildlife into and beyond the 21st century.

The harsh reality is, however, that such noble ideals are not to be. It therefore falls on the likes of you and me and thousands of other conservationists to rally to the challenge at what is, in my view, definitely the eleventh hour."

Extract from a speech by Nick Steele,
Director of Kwanzulu/Natal Department of Nature Conservation