Snow leopards — what next

I thought I had heard it all.

Being on so many mailing lists, my email inbox suffers fools gladly, admitting dozens of dubious digital missives from people / computers I have never heard of.

Then came one from a trusted source, but the content was staggering.

It was Federated Farmers commenting on a proposal to introduce a snow leopard sanctuary in the South Island high country! Predictably, official comment was a negative response to the idea, but where did the notion come from in the first place? Further, why would Federated Farmers take it seriously enough to write a rebuttal?

I checked the date and no, it was not embargoed until April 1. It was real enough.

Further investigation (Google) revealed Brian Daly of Hastings has petitioned the Ministry for Environment to create a sanctuary which will “provide an ecological back up environment for the threatened Himalayan snow leopard and provide an important tourism initiative where people can view them more easily than in their native environment”.

Not sure who Mr Daly is or who he represents — other than himself — but how long has this idea of a snow leopard sanctuary been festering and what prompted him to suddenly say it out loud? It’s like one of those thoughts you didn’t mean to actually say, but once it’s out there it’s hard to take it back.

Snow leopards in New Zealand? Well, we’ve got wallabies . . . and people, none of which are endemic, as well as a host of introduced species that are doing quite well here.

But, by giving them freedom in New Zealand’s remote places, would people really be able to view them “easily”?

A native of Central and South Asia, the snow leopard is listed as “vulnerable” on a scale that ranges from “extinct” to “shoot on sight”. I suppose “vulnerable” is up toward the former and is based on a limited population. Their natural enemy is a human with a gun and a market for skins and body parts. Such predators are not necessarily confined to Asia but would be attracted to wherever leopards happen to be.

And how would Asian governments feel about us having “their” snow leopard in our high places?

But it still seems such a random thought to import snow leopards and allow them to roam free in South Island’s high places.

Personally, with wild cats, poachers with guns and possible foreign government intrusion, I fear for Southland’s Yeti population.

Recently, Marie and I were part of an audience in the Whanganui War Memorial Centre Concert Chamber to hear the NZ String Quartet and pianist Diane Walsh.

It was a privilege to be present at this celebration of the 50th anniversary of Chamber Music Wanganui and to hear such talented musicians. This was worldclass entertainment and they were a few metres away! This was music at its most accessible.

The programme was in three parts, in which the string quartet first played the four movements of Beethoven’s String Quartet in E minor Opus 59 No 2 ‘Rasumovsky’, then Diane Walsh played Debussy’s Images Book One (three movements) and, after an intermission, the players combined and gave us Piano Quintet in A minor, op 84 by Elgar.

There was music, such beautiful music, yes, but there was also performance. We got to see how the players felt about what they were giving us. Each player, as well as each instrument, displayed personality. Watching the quartet was like seeing two anchors — first violin and viola — while second violin and cello acted out the music with their faces and expressive movements of the head, thrusting, pecking at something just in front of them, their bows stabbing the air in unison.

Their synchronicity was impressive — very tight, as we would say of a band — and, of course, there is no obvious conductor.

Then, as each of the more vigorous movements ended, all players showed the emotion of the piece, winding it up with shoulders, head and bow.

Diane Walsh, American pianist of renown, showed us her flawless technique and love of the Debussy pieces with an impeccable performance. The music flowed like water as her fingers barely touched the keys, an impressive cascade of complimentary notes and gorgeous images. She played the long, three movements from memory.

When the five got together for the Elgar quintet, it was a show of many parts, each working with the other, so each instrument shone while still being a part of the whole. Is that the music, or the performers?

The entire evening was one I was pleased to be a part of.

Others obviously agreed because we made such a racket after they had finished that Diane agreed to return to the stage and play an encore — an interesting and enjoyable ragtime piece, so different from what we had been hearing.

Thank you Chamber Music Wanganui and their sponsor, Cleveland Funeral Homes, for a wonderful evening.