''Milking the Rhino'' is a 2009 documentary film, produced by Kartemquin Films, that examines the relationship between the indigenous African wildlife, the villagers who live amongst this wildlife and conservationists who look to keep tourism dollars coming in. Both the

Maasai Maasai may refer to: * Maasai people *Maasai language * Maasai mythology * MAASAI (band) See also * Masai (disambiguation) * Massai Massai (also known as: Masai, Massey, Massi, Mah–sii, Massa, Wasse, Wassil or by the nickname "Big Foot" Mas ...

of Kenya and the

Ovahimba The Himba (singular: OmuHimba, plural: OvaHimba) are an indigenous peoples, indigenous people with an estimated population of about 50,000 people living in northern Namibia, in the Kunene Region (formerly Kaokoland) and on the other side of the Cu ...

of Namibia have spent centuries as cattle farmers. With their lands being turned into protected game reserves, these ancient tribes have turned to tourism as a means of survival. While some environmentalists think that community-based conservation is ideal for these villagers, the dangers of drought and the starvation of their cattle remains a constant reality. Stuck between the always growing Western influence that wants Africa to remain a place for sight-seeing safaris and their own ancient cultures, the Maasai and Himba are at a crossroads of cultural change. The Kenyan section of the movie features interviews with Kinanjui Lesenderia, an Ndorobo Maasai elder at Il Ngwesi in Kenya, Ian Craig, former rancher and founder of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, James Ole Kinyaga, Senior Host of Kenya's first community-owned and managed eco-lodge and

Helen Gichohi Helen Wanjiru Gichohi is a Kenyan ecologist who was President of the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) from 2007 to 2013. Education Helen Gichohi was born into an agricultural community in central Kenya. She earned a Bachelor of Science degre ...

, President of the African Wildlife Foundation. Produced by Kartemquin Films and directed by David E. Simpson, Milking the Rhino won numerous awards at multiple international film festivals, including Best Documentary at the Pan African Film Festival and San Luis Obispo International Film Festival. On April 7, 2009, Milking the Rhino made its television premiere on PBS's Independent Lens."Independent Lens"
Retrieved. 19 Jan. 2011.

References

External links

Official siteKartemquin FilmsIndependent Lens
*
"Milking the Rhino" Official TrailerJeannie Magill, co-producer of ''Milking the Rhino,'' interviewed on ''Conversations from Penn State''
2009 films 2009 documentary films American documentary films Ojihimba-language films Swahili-language films Documentary films about environmental issues Films shot in Namibia Films shot in Kenya Kartemquin Films films 2000s English-language films 2000s American films {{environment-documentary-film-stub