Africa is home to the world's most exotic animals - from cheetahs to mountain gorillas. But an exploding human population is pushing some species to the brink of extinction. Next time on To the Best of Our Knowledge, how wildlife managers are revolutionizing the science, and the art, of conservation.

SEGMENT 1:

Tony Rose is the executive director of the Biosynergy Institute in California. He talks with Judith Strasser about the "bush meat trade" that is, the hunting of rare and exotic animals for meat, which threatens the survival of the great apes. Also, Amy Vedder and Bill Weber, founders of the Mountain Gorilla Project in Rwanda tell Steve Paulson about their field work; their rocky relationship with gorilla champion Dian Fossey; and the development of ecotourism as part of a long-term conservation strategy.

SEGMENT 2:

Joyce Poole has worked with elephants for the last twenty years. Her memoir is called "Coming of Age with Elephants." She tells Steve Paulson that elephants are sensitive, intelligent, social animals and that killing them for sport is an outrage.

SEGMENT 3:

Gareth Patterson was a protege of the famous Adamson family who pioneered the pracice of returning lions to the wild. (Remember "Born Free") Patterson raised three orphaned cubs as a member of their pride. He tells Jim Fleming about his experiences, and the sad story of how one of his lions met its end. Patterson is the author of "Last of the Free" and "With My Soul amongst Lions."

Distribution dates:

• week of 12/22/96 - hour 2
• week of 11/16/97 - hour 2