[ad_1]
Conservationist Hamiora Gibson, aka “Trap Sam”
photo: @SamTrapMan
When Gisborne-based conservationist Sam Gibson, aka Sam the Trap Man, takes the youngsters out into the wild, he sees them start to visibly calm down, he told Saturday morning.
“They usually have a pretty fast pace and move very quickly when they go into the bush. Sometimes you go to shake their hand and they’re staring at your feet.”
“Then, after a day in the jungle, they slow down. They look you in the eye and feel more alive.”
Gibson shares fascinating stories of jungle life in new book Trapman Sam.
Gibson, also a hunter and trapper, grew up in “a beautiful Lockwood house” on the banks of the Manatua Creek in Tairawhitiham, Gisborne.
Although his family doesn’t have a lot of cash, he said they “make up for it” through outdoor adventures.
“My father was a really great storyteller who could capture our imaginations and start to unravel the intricate details of those ecosystems that were going on in the world around us.
“My mother was an anthroposophical nurse and an expert in healing, and she really began to uncover the little miracles that plants create.”
After moving to Hawke’s Bay and “getting into some mischief” at his new school, Gibson began playing with his godfather, a hunter from the Te Urewala Forest.
Ultimately, a visit to the area’s “incredible” bushland led him to discover his calling.
“After a while, those trips started to mean more to me than the parties at home, where I felt like I could really be myself. I really haven’t looked back.
“You know, I’m actually good at something. Good at carrying traps, and good at doing protection.”
While those who aren’t involved in trapping or hunting might “think” the anti-predator projects Gibson is involved in are “worst-case scenarios,” he said everyone he knows tries to avoid causing undue suffering to any animal.
Today, with the advent of modern “humane” ammunition, such situations are rare for him.
However, it was his first deer hunting experience, a “complete failure” in which he was shot several times but could not lift the deer carcass, that led to some deep soul-searching.
“I remember sitting there with this deer next to me and I knew I wanted to be a hunter, I wanted to provide for my family, but I definitely wanted to get better at hunting and not just shoot one animal multiple times.”
As a conservationist and “dog lover”, Gibson was forced to do further soul-searching during his time as a wild dog culler in Te Uruwela.
“Shooting and trapping dogs is a hard job, but the reality is we lose a lot of kiwis to dog predation, so it has to be done… I make sure every interaction with the dogs is as humane as possible.”
photo: Provided by Allen & Unwin NZ
Being a hunter doesn’t mean Gibson doesn’t respect the animals who take their lives so that other species can survive.
“Stoats are truly incredible creatures and they are so important to the ecosystems and Aboriginal people of their homeland. The same goes for possums. A lot of Aboriginal people hold possums in great reverence… When I capture a possum I make sure I treat it in a way that I think Aboriginal people would consider appropriate.”
Trapping is now more efficient and effective than ever before, he said, and it is one of our most effective conservation tools because it keeps people connected to the environment and advocating for its protection.
To engage the next generation in this mission, Gibson later in life — at the suggestion of his wife — became a content creator.
“I was one of those people who didn’t have a smartphone… I was like, ‘What is Instagram?'”
He is pleased to see that “healthy” and educational content on social media has received enthusiastic attention from a wide audience.
“People really want to learn more about trees, learn more about how they relate to the ecosystem… It’s a good thing for people, and I think it’s a good thing for the bush, too.”
Many of us walk through the bush and notice the trees, but don’t slow down enough to see how they are constantly trying to “build a relationship with us,” Gibson said.
“The bush slows us down, gives us fresh air, good water, plus a bit of exercise, which feels good. If we’re out there for a while we get into the rhythm of the bush, which I guess is a good thing.”
[ad_2]
Source link
