Listing a Curse

A lot of things are never meant to last: and this can be for the better or worse. Case in point the flamingo populations of Lake Nakuru that used to number in the millions! What a spectacle they were: a sea of pink cast against the Yellow – backed Acacia (Acacia xanthophloea or Fever Tree) ridden scenery with countless buffalo roaming between.

Courtesy of www.amusingplanet.com

Now, due to untamable industrial effluence been let to run unabated into the lake 1 or the rising water levels which desalinates the water mass making it difficult for their food source, algae, to grow 2 3(experts and their uncertainties), they had all but gone! Though for the sake of accuracy, this is not a historically abnormality with their numbers having shown no long-term trend 4. Luckily, it remains a seeming sanctuary for a good Rhino population, yet thanks to man again, nothing like they used to be…

In this situation, a unified conviction from us to conserve something greatly intertwined with our heritage, or for those capitalists, the source of millions through tourist inflows, we can cause a significant resurgence.

Finding a way to liken this to wine, as I often do, results in “not all wines can or should be aged“, with man often playing the culprit, once more. A good number are made to be drunk within a few months to a year or so after production. Importantly, that is not to say they aren’t good quality: they are simply fresh, fruity and fun, and should be drunk as such… Think hot sunny weekends or light drink before a heavy meal. Kept too long they lose their charm and become dreadfully dull, which is an abysmal injustice.

Whether caused by low patron demand or inerudite beverage managers; hotels and restaurants need to find creative ways of moving stagnated stock, else the producer brands suffer when customers taste their wines, turning listings into curses.

Dropping prices may be a hard sell with margin targets; however, ever thought of hiking the price to position the wine correctly? How about offering “specialised” tastings or pairings as revelry afternoon pastimes to engage guests; or end of vintage themed extravaganzas? What of preparing dishes with it and factoring the cost into the pricing; or maybe selling it off by the glass; or perhaps having a special page for them… Something, anything, just ensure you make use of the wine while it’s still showing its best.

References

Mukhebe, M. O. n.d. Flamingoes Flee Lake Nakuru. Retrieved from http://www.safariweb.com/safarimate/flamingo.htm and Local Guides

Kaushik. 2012. Thousands of Pink Flamingoes at Lake Nakuru, Kenya. Retrieved from http://www.amusingplanet.com/2012/11/thousands-of-pink-flamingos-at-lake.html

3 Nature Kenya. 2013. Retrieved from http://www.naturekenya.org/sites/default/files/October-2013-Nature-Net.pdf

Owino, A. O., Bennun, L. A., Nasirwa O. and Oyugi, J. O. 2002. Trends in Waterbird Numbers in the Southern Rift Valley of Kenya, 1991 – 2000. Retrieved from http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1675/1524-4695%282002%29025%5B0191%3ATIWNIT%5D2.0.CO%3B2

Picture Source from www.amusingplanet.com

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