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Meaningful Nature Experience 0

Fauna mirrors flora

By Matthew Zylstra @eyes4earth · On February 15, 2012

I really love this photo, although I cannot lay claim to actually capturing it – that was done by the quick thinking and coordination of Susan Kram.

In 2009, in my position as Wildlands Studies course co-instructor, I was driving in the Great Fish River Reserve with a car full of North American undergraduate students. We were on our way out for a day in the field, and for one reason or another, I recall that the topics, tone and volume of the student conversations that morning were not super appealing nor so appropriate for a day of focus in the field.

Something needed to shift.

We drove along fairly unaware of our surroundings and then, boof, there it was. Unmissable. Just off to our right, this splendid male kudu stood in its magnificence, his presence immediately hushing the vehicle.  The striking juxtapose and mirroring of fauna and flora, of kudu horns and deadwood was breath-taking and mesmerized  us all. It is an image which has become permanently etched in the recesses of my mind.

We continued driving, slowly.  The vibe had totally transformed.

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Matthew Zylstra

Matthew Zylstra, PhD is an ecologist, lecturer and facilitator focusing on human~nature connectedness. His transdisciplinary research has entwined ecology, environmental psychology, and education in support of deep learning and wellbeing. He is a keen naturalist, especially in coastal and marine ecosystems.  Matthew’s PhD dissertation on meaningful nature experience, nature connectedness and its role in transformative education is freely available for download here »

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