So now someone wants to introduce large African animals like lions, cheetahs and elephants to North America (i.e. the U.S.). Feeling it my duty to provide the interpretation of maximum cynicism, I can’t help but see this as example #2 of Environmentalists Screwing Over the Poor. All the gameparks and wildlife reserves dotting Africa were set up on the premise that the economic loss suffered by those who forwent farming on this land would be more than compensated by the payoff of ecotourism by First Worlders who would want to visit these unspoiled natural habitats. But if you can see lions, cheetahs and elephants in Texas, do you suppose that tourists in any great numbers will continue to want to visit Africa, the poorest region in the world?