ISSUE 14 | SPRING 2020
CONTENTS CONNECT WITH US
Timtom the orangutan
Springer the orca
King the lion
The Leopard Family
The Giraffe Family
Mugaruka & Chimanuka the gorillas
Bodo the moon bear
Kyriakos the brown bear
The Jaguar Family
Elsa’s Pride
Sara the chimp
The Pangolin Family
The Ethiopian Wolf Family
Madhavi the Asian elephant
Gopal the tiger
The Cheetah Family
The Elephant Family
Chinoise the chimp
Join our family on social media bornfreefoundation @bornfreefdn @bornfreefoundation bornfreefoundation
WELCOME It’s a great pleasure to welcome you to your new-look Adopt. I hope you enjoy the latest on the individual animal or family you help look after. But that’s not all you achieve…
Your generous support helps make this life-changing work possible. I hope you enjoy being part of our global movement of people who care about wildlife.
This mini magazine gives a far bigger picture. You’ll see the wider impact of the work you help fund. This includes scores more animals rescued, not least lion cubs, plus new facilities built such as a home for orphan cheetah. Rare species are in recovery, with a wild gorilla birth and expectant elephants!
Thank you for being a part of the Born Free Family.
Will Travers OBE Executive President
WE ARE BORN FREE We have been working to protect wild animals since 1984. Working alongside local communities, we manage or fund conservation and animal welfare projects in more than 20 countries worldwide.
We also rescue vulnerable wild animals from appalling captive conditions – releasing them back into the wild, or giving them lifetime care at our sanctuaries.
None of our rescued animals in permanent care are allowed to breed; we vasectomise males or spay/give hormone implants to females. We do not want to add to captive populations, plus sanctuary space is in short supply, so we keep these precious spaces for animals most needing rescue.
LAMANDAU WILDLIFE RESERVE INDONESIA BORNEO
LATEST NEWS
The assistant caring for her was amazed that she instantly tried to climb, despite her traumatic start to life. Today, Timtom weighs a healthy 12kg and has long, beautiful hair. With four other orangutans in the soft release programme, she is learning the skills necessary for life in the wild. Timtom moves from tree to tree at the canopy level of the rainforest – looking for fruit as a wild orangutan would. She is happy to play alone, as long as the other orangutans are nearby. But she still seeks human attention, and rushes down to run after the assistants, a game she clearly enjoys. Recently, an adult orangutan trying to steal food accidentally injured Timtom’s leg. The vet gave her an antibiotic injection and the wound is expected to heal with no problems. The dry season has resulted in forest fires and orangutans going into community lands to look for food. The Orangutan Foundation has rescued 10 individuals, including mothers and infants.
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TIMTOM THE ORANGUTAN SPRING 2020
Thanks to your support, wild orangutans in need, as well as Timtom, have a future in the wild. Ashley Leiman Director, Orangutan Foundation
TIMTOM’S STORY Rescued: January 2016, aged nine months Background: Taken from her wild mother as a baby and kept illegally as a pet Home today: Gradually preparing for life in the wild at Camp JL Release Camp, in Lamandau Wildlife Reserve Age today: Four years
ISSUE PROTECTING ASIA’S ONLY APE
Once found across south east Asia, today orangutans are confined to Borneo and Sumatra’s rainforests. All three species – Sumatran, Bornean and Tapanuli – are critically endangered, threated by deforestation, poaching and the pet trade. Born Free campaigns to protect wild populations and fights captive exploitation.
© Orangutan Foundation
Timtom was just nine months old when she arrived at Camp JL but, even at that young age, she was extremely confident.
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KING THE LION SPRING 2020
LATEST NEWS King is very playful. When Born Free first met him in Belgium he was fascinated by water – climbing into his drinking bowl, or splashing around in his pool. This hasn’t changed! King still likes a good wallow in his water trough and small pool here at Shamwari. He even tries to push his trough over, but luckily it’s fixed, so can’t be moved.
© C Radloff/Shamwari
King recently had a small wound on his tail – he must have scratched it during his playful antics, possibly when investigating something under the dense scrub in his enclosure. Luckily, it was only a minor scratch and quickly healed. King has perfected his climbing skills and loves his platform. After a good spell of play, he will lie on its highest part and inspect what’s going on around him. He’s so inquisitive and is especially interested in his new neighbours – the Lions of Lyon. He moves to get a better view of the four youngsters and watches them in fascination. King has found his voice and is becoming very vocal.
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES You provide King with: • Food and expert care • Enclosure maintenance • Vitamin supplements • Any veterinary treatment needed.
SHAMWARI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE SOUTH AFRICA
His roar is quite impressive and he is already starting to sound like a mature male lion. Glen Vena Animal Care Manager, Shamwari
KING’S STORY Home today: Lifetime care in spacious bush enclosure at Born Free’s sanctuary in South Africa Background: Kept illegally as a pet in France, rescued in 2017 aged four months and cared for by our colleagues at Natuurhulpcentrum rescue centre in Belgium Arrived at Shamwari: July 2018 Age today: two years
ISSUE WILD PETS From lions to lizards, millions of wild animals around the world are kept as pets, many illegally like King. Wild animals, whether wild-caught or bred in captivity, have complex needs that cannot be met when kept as pets.
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THE GIRAFFE FAMILY LATEST NEWS The first satellite population of West African giraffe, established in late 2018, has now been happily living in their new home, the Gadabeji Biosphere Reserve, for 15 months. This is the first stage of efforts to re-introduce them back into their former range. Recently, new monitoring methods such as Cybertracker have been introduced. These tools help our team remotely check on giraffe and help local rangers and community guards collect basic information. In the Giraffe Zone near Niamey, data from recent surveys co-ordinated with local partners has now been fully analysed, bringing the total number of individuals observed in Niger in 2019 to 458 individuals. These numbers are lower than
In Niger, West African giraffe historically moved during dry and cold seasons and, through data obtained from the 15 giraffe newly GPS satellite tagged in Niger in 2018, we are observing similar patterns in habitat use and movements. All of this is setting the scene for an exciting year ahead, and we thank all our supporters for making it happen. Dr Julian Fennessey Co-Director & Co-Founder Giraffe Conservation Foundation
You help Born Free: • Monitor, protect and survey the giraffes • Protect habitat and resolve conflict with people • Develop community education projects.
THE GIRAFFE FAMILY SPRING 2020
NIGER
previously recorded, but this is because our improved survey design and implementation has allowed us to come to a more accurate estimate on numbers than ever before. It also means that, in years to come, we’ll be able to better track changes in the population.
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES
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GIRAFFE ZONE AND GADABEDJI BIOSPHERE RESERVE
THEIR STORY Home: Niger is the last home of the West African giraffe. They live in two areas of the country – the Giraffe Zone and the Gadabedji Biosphere Reserve Family: Around 450 giraffes in two populations Background: West African giraffe are the world’s rarest sub-species. On the brink of extinction in the 1990s, their numbers are now increasing. They are classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature
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© GCF
bornfree.org.uk
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BODO
ANIMALS ASIA’S BEAR SANCTUARY CHINA
LATEST NEWS
Bodo weighs 185kg, which puts him on the larger spectrum for a male moon bear! Despite losing his right foreleg, it does not affect his ability to play. Bodo’s appetite is good and he recently spent over an hour peeling then eating a pomelo fruit that dropped from a tree in his enclosure. After feeding, he likes to rest in a hammock. Eat. Sleep. Eat. Repeat!
You’ll be happy to hear that Bodo has been very healthy, apart from a little bit of hair loss down his neck. He’s been snuggling down in the soft straw used as bedding. By adopting Bodo, you help to provide him with the best possible care and an enriched life. You also help keep his enclosure maintained – to ensure it is a safe, secure and clean space for him to enjoy.
Bodo gets along with other bears and Monkey is especially fond of him. She sticks with Bodo and they forage together and rest in the same den basket. She even acts as Bodo’s bodyguard and sometimes doesn’t let other bears come too close. Even George, one of Bodo’s best friends, gets chased away.
Maggie Balaskas Animal Rescue & Care Manager, Born Free
BODO’S STORY
Arrived at sanctuary: 2003 Background: Rescued from a bear bile farm, he was missing his right front paw, thought to have been caught in a trap in the wild Home today: Lifetime care in a bamboo forest enclosure at Animals Asia’s Bear Sanctuary in China Age today: 18
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BODO THE MOON BEAR SPRING 2020
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES You provide Bodo with: • Food • Enrichment • Veterinary care.
ISSUE BEAR FARMS Just 25,000 moon bears remain in the wild but thousands, wild caught, are kept in farms in China and Vietnam. Live bears are milked for bile, used in traditional Asian medicine. Born Free takes action with Animals Asia to end this cruelty.
© Animals Asia
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THE JAGUA FAMILY
YUNGAS FOREST ARGENTINA
LATEST NEWS Much of my work focuses on the impact communities living close to wild jaguars have on wildlife, including any conflict. But I was delighted when my colleagues recently reported seeing a mother jaguar with her cub. The female was so relaxed! She lay on the earth road, her tail flicking, while her young cub explored. They caught sight of our team, and the cub ran back behind mum for reassurance. They stared at our camera for a few seconds, before disappearing into the forest, their beautiful spotted coats instantly blending into the shadowy trees. What a thrill! It reminds us why our work is so important. Although some local people consider the species a deity and symbol of royalty, bravery, power, beauty and magic, others see it as a nuisance and threat to their lives and livestock. For many rural people, jaguar conservation is only worthwhile if the benefits of its presence outweigh the conflicts it creates. Understanding people’s attitudes is crucial to nurture co-existence and we interviewed 810 people living in and around 10 protected areas. We found positive attitudes were associated with economic benefits. Nature-based tourism could offer economic alternatives compatible with jaguar conservation. This could also increase appreciation of these magnificent animals, thus fostering positive attitudes towards conservation and promoting co-existence. Dr Flavia Caruso Jaguars in the Fringe
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THE JAGUAR FAMILY SPRING 2020
THEIR STORY Home: Wild in a band of forest along the eastern slope of the Andes, in north west Argentina Family: There are thought to be no more than 250 adult jaguars in Argentina, with up to 150 living in the Yungas Background: With Born Free’s help, Jaguars in the Fringe works to reduce threats, stop poaching and encourage expansion of the jaguars’ range
ISSUE JAGUAR CONSERVATION
Found only in the Americas, jaguars featured in ancient Maya and Aztec mythologies as a symbol of strength. They used to range from south west USA to South America’s tip, but now occupy less than half their historic range.
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WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES
LATEST NEWS
You provide Sara with: • Food • Daily care • Any veterinary treatment needed.
Sara is now a sub-adult and her ranking in the community continues to improve. She feeds close to the island perimeter with the high-ranking individuals – chimp society is very hierarchical. For the past few months Sara has been in good health and recently passed her annual check-up with flying colours. Sara has always been a plucky individual. Recently the chimps were in the feeding area for their mid-morning snack when Sara heard her adopted little brother Eazy scream out. Older chimp Robbie had stolen a big piece of watermelon from him and Eazy started to fight back. Sara went to help him, which wasn’t a wise move against a big male, but fortunately Kalema joined in and quickly settled the squabble. When all had calmed down, Sara stayed to reassure Eazy. Meanwhile, lower-ranking Afrika feeds far away from other chimps to avoid competition. She still has a strong bond with surrogate mother Billi and they share a nest in the trees. Billi recently spent several days deep in the forest. The carergivers started to look for her, but Afrika ran in front and led them to where Bill was nesting. Maggie Balaskas Animal Rescue & Care Manager, Born Free
ISSUE CHIMPANZEE CONSERVATION
© CSWCT
Chimps face many threats in the wild. Poachers kill families for bushmeat and sell their traumatised infants as pets. Today as few as 175,000 remain. Born Free protects chimps in the wild and campaigns against the illegal pet trade.
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SARA THE CHIMPANZEE SPRING 2020
NGAMBA ISLAND CHIMPANZEE SANCTUARY UGANDA
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SARA’S STORY Home today: Lifetime care amidst 100 acres of rainforest on Ngamba Island on Lake Victoria Background: Sara was rescued in South Sudan. She was due to be sold as a pet Rescued: 2012, aged four years Age today: 12 years
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THEIR STORY Home: Living wild in the plateaus of the afroalpine highlands, 3,500m above sea level Family: Several close-knit packs, each led by an alpha male and female Background: Slender, longlegged and red-tinged, these wolves are closely related to grey wolves, but hunt alone, preying mainly on mole and grass rats
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THE ETHIOPIAN WOLF FAMILY SPRING 2020
ETHIOPIA
LATEST NEWS The wolves in the Tarura territory are at the core of the Web Valley, whose open grasslands offer the best conditions for Ethiopian wolves to thrive. There are now five adult wolves in this family, and they can be spotted early on their morning patrols along the Web river. With the breeding season in full swing, all pack members are busier than ever. In December, the team spotted four black puppies near the den’s entrance, dug in between rocks in a south-facing hill slope sheltered by artemisia bushes. Over the past month the alpha female has moved her litter three times – she does that to confuse potential predators. Puppies are now changing colour to a more adult-like coat and also becoming very playful. When mother goes out foraging, a babysitter is left behind to keep an eye on the increasingly adventurous pups who are roaming further away from the burrow. If they hear an alarm call, they all scramble back into the den. A younger adult female left this pack in the early breeding season looking for opportunities elsewhere, as only alpha females breed. Because she has a yellow eartag, we can identify and follow her. She has been spotted by the Fincha Habera waterfall downstream along the Web, accompanied by a male. She might be pregnant... We will tell you more in our next update! Dr Jorgelina Marino Senior Director Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme
© burrard-lucas.com
BALE MOUNTAINS
ISSUE ETHIOPIAN WOLF CONSERVATION There are only about 500 Ethiopian wolves in the world, threatened by loss of habitat and diseases spread by domestic dogs. Born Free helps the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme protect and monitor them.
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BANNERGHATTA TIGER SANCTUARY
© Wildlife SOS
INDIA
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GOPAL THE TIGER SPRING 2020
GOPA
LATEST NEWS Safe in our sanctuary, Gopal lives amongst open spaces, large dense trees and thick grassy areas, with a water pool surrounded by bushes where he likes to hide and sleep. During the heat of the day, Gopal prefers to lay low under large shrubs, between the crevasse of big boulders, or in a large cave-like hole, hidden amongst vegetation. But, he often comes out after eating to lie in the open. With a huge appetite, he eats 20kg of high quality meat every other day. Your adoption funds Gopal’s full health check every six months, plus routine general checks and blood tests to check organ function. Parasite medication stops any worms, fleas or ticks, plus supplements are important to help keep him healthy. The care team provide enrichment to encourage Gopal to be physically and mentally active, and use behaviours seen in the wild. This includes cardboard boxes filled with hay and cow dung to be investigated, or meat and blood ice lollies tied in different places – which might sound horrible, but Gopal really enjoys them! The team also hides pumpkins and hessian sacks filled with meat. Once Gopal has found the tasty treats, he will take his prize to enjoy in one of his many hiding places. Maggie Balaskas Animal Rescue & Care Manager Born Free
GOPAL’S STORY Home today: Lifetime care in a spacious forest enclosure in Born Free’s Bannerghatta tiger sanctuary in India Background: Gopal was born in the wild but was captured by the authorities after he came into conflict with people by preying on cattle and goats
ISSUE TIGER CONSERVATION Just 4,000 tigers survive in the wild, a 96% loss in 100 years. They face many threats, including habitat loss, rural development and human-wildlife conflict. Born Free works in India and Thailand to protect wild tigers.
Arrived at sanctuary: 2014 Age today: Nine years BORNFREE.ORG.UK SPRING 2020
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AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK KENYA
Keep up to date with all our animals at...
© ATE
bornfree.org.uk
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THE ELEPHANT FAMILY SPRING 2020
THEIR STORY
Home: Wild in Amboseli, a 150 square mile park at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro Family: Dozens of members including a sub-group led by Edwina, granddaughter of Echo, the matriarch star of BBC’s Echo of the Elephants Background: Amboseli is renowned for its 1,300 elephant population, studied by Amboseli Trust for Elephants since 1973
LATEST NEWS Edwina and family are doing well. During dry times, she took them away for a few months to find food, either south to Tanzania or up to Selengei conservancy in the northern part of the ecosystem. Happily, Ewok has recently returned to the family. Since his mum Emily Kate died in 2017, drought conditions have prevailed and the EB family has been scattered. Focused on their own survival, they didn’t have time for a grieving little male. But, now he is back, mostly with Edwina’s aunt Enid’s section of the family but also hanging out with Edwina. It’s so nice to see him playing with other calves after the good rains of last December. But there’s sad news too, in the passing of Edwina’s big sister Erica. Her orphans, Elodie (born 2013) and Errol (born 2010), however, are playmates for Ewok. Elephants need strong bonds for their well-being. 2020 could be a big year for Edwina as she and her daughters Elaine and Europa are likely pregnant. With six calves and many years still to reproduce, Edwina is definitely successful. 2020 is also our 48th anniversary. We are incredibly proud to still be learning about the elephants’ lives. Adopting The Elephant Family helps in so many ways, we simply could not do it without you. Thank you. Dr Vicki Fishlock Resident Scientist, Amboseli Trust for Elephants
ISSUE AFRICAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION Found in 37 African countries, elephants play a crucial ecological role, but 90% have been lost in the past century. Killed for tusks or coming into conflict with people, today just 415,000 remain. Born Free fights the ivory trade and funds wildlife rangers.
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SPRINGER
SPRINGERS’S STORY
Home: Living wild, monitored by OrcaLab which has studied orca since 1970 and is supported by Born Free Family: 20-year-old Springer gave birth to Spirit in 2013 and Storm in 2017
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SPRINGER THE ORCA SPRING 2020
Background: In 2002, Springer’s mother died and she became lost near Seattle, USA. Identified by her unique calls, she was taken 250 miles by boat back to her wild family, the A4 pod, near OrcaLab
LATEST NEWS Springer has a strong association to our area. This is where her mother brought her in her first year, where she was returned to after becoming lost a year later, and where she formed a strong bond with her great aunt Yakat who visited the Johnstone Strait area each year until her death in January 2013. However, now Springer has had babies of her own, her visits have become less frequent. Given the size and complexity of British Columbia’s coast, it’s not surprising we haven’t seen Springer much recently. Our coast on the Pacific Ocean’s eastern shore is a vast and intricate maze of islands, inlets and passages. At certain times of the year, the entire Northern Resident orca community is able to disappear.
© J Towers
This is particularly true in winter, when orca families disperse widely until spring migrations of salmon encourage them to congregate. Springer, her babies and her extended family, the A4 pod, are no exception. Springer returned for 2019’s salmon season, then moved back to the north coast. Helena Symonds & Dr Paul Spong Co-Founders OrcaLab
HANSON ISLAND CANADA
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES You help Born Free: • Support OrcaLab and protect their local orca community.
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© F Fortuna/BF
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THE LEOPARD FAMILY SPRING 2020
THEIR STORY Home today: Lifetime care in spacious enclosures at our sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, in South Africa Background: Sami was rescued when he was found as a cub in the Sudanese desert in 2001. Mother Leda and daughter Rhea came from a zoo in Cyprus in 2009 Age today: Sami is 17, Leda is thought to be 30 and Rhea 22
ISSUE LEOPARD CONSERVATION
There are thought to be just 100,000 leopards living in the wild. They are under threat due to human pressures and habitat loss and are therefore classed as Vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
LATEST NEWS It’s been especially hot here in South Africa recently so, to help Sami and our other big cats chill out, our care team made some frosty treats. It might not sound appetising, but our ice lollies are a concoction of raw meat and offal all frozen up in a block. As well as helping keep the cats cool and hydrated, the lollies are a great form of enrichment. Sami found his ice surprise delicious! After playing with his lolly with his big paws, he discovered it contained tasty meat, got all focused and started licking it voraciously. Although advanced in years, Leda and Rhea are still feisty. I remember when they arrived here and gradually discovered their wild natures. They shared a cramped cage at the zoo but, after a few weeks at Shamwari, started to squabble. This was not a surprise, leopards are naturally solitary animals, living and hunting alone. In the wild, a mother leopard chases her youngsters away when around two years old.
Leda and Rhea were given separate, adjoined, enclosures and became calm and relaxed, mostly ignoring each other. But, I’ve noticed a change in their behaviour recently. They seem to keep each other company, often lying so they can see each other through the fence, and sleeping side by side. Glen Vena Animal Care Manager, Shamwari
SHAMWARI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE SOUTH AFRICA
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MUGARUKA & CHIMANUKA LATEST NEWS To avoid interactions with other gorillas, Mugaruka chooses to remain in Tshivanga. He peacefully feeds to his heart’s content in the tea plantations, under the protection of ecoguards and is tolerated by local people. Meanwhile, Chimanuka and his family left their usual territory a few months ago. But, he recently brought them back into the sector of the park which welcomes tourists. We are happy to see his family has grown, with a new baby. Kahuzi-Biega has several gorilla families habituated to human presence – which is good for tourism and research. Thanks to your support, we closely monitor 13 groups with 165 individuals, in the high altitude area, with a focus on Chimanuka and Mugaruka. We check on health
and record any new additions, while our veterinarian looks out for illness and responds to any emergencies. But no incidents have been recorded, apart from a fight between Bonane, one of Chimanuka’s grown-up sons, and an unidentified silverback. In the coming months we plan to recruit members of the local community as gorilla trackers to help strengthen our monitoring work. This extra help will allow us to identify seasonal fruits and plant species eaten by the gorillas, and keep a closer eye on their health. We will report back soon. Kizito Kakule Research and Monitoring Programme Officer, Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature
ISSUE GORILLAS UNDER THREAT Gorillas’ forest homes are destroyed by logging and mining, which opens habitat to poachers. Gorillas are killed for meat and curios, their infants sold as pets. Today less than 3,800 eastern lowland gorillas remain, a 77% loss in 25 years.
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MUGARUKA AND CHIMANUKA THE GORILLAS SPRING 2020
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES You help: • Monitor and protect the gorillas and their habitat • Provide any necessary veterinary treatment • Employ local people to help track gorilla families.
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KAHUZI BIEGA NATIONAL PARK DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
MUGARUKA & CHIMANUKA’S STORY
Home: Living wild in the mountain rainforests of a 2,300 mile square park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo Family: Mugaruka lost a hand in a snare and – unable to defend a family – lives alone. Chimanuka has a harem of females and offspring © M Davidson
Background: Since 2000, Born Free has supported a team of rangers who protect gorillas from poachers
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KYRIAKOS LATEST NEWS
Kyriakos is currently our biggest bear and, in his large forested mountain area close to his brother Manolis, he spends a lot of time playing with large branches and digging holes in the ground. His weight is ideal for a bear of his age, but he never stops eating! His favourite treats are nuts, fish and peaches. Brown bears in Europe prepare for their winter sleep at the end of each year. They usually dig a den in the earth or snow, or find an existing den or cave in the forest. Bears at Arcturos hibernate as well and, if they don’t create their own den, our care team help them. Kyriakos seems to prefer these artificial dens, and collected the leaves, grass and straw the caretakers provided to make a perfect den for his winter sleep.
KYRIAKOS’ STORY Home today: Lifetime care in a spacious beech forest enclosure Background: Rescued from Kastoria in northern Greece as a four-month-old wild-born cub, with his twin brother Manolis, when their mother was killed Arrived at sanctuary: 2004 Age today: 16
Arcturos has also been caring for two orphan male bear cubs, Bradley and Cooper. They are living in a forested area, far from visitors, and are being taught under a special handsoff protocol how to survive independently in the wild. We hope they will soon be ready for release. When the time is right for them to go wild, radio collars will monitor their movements. Nikos Grammenopoulos Director Arcturos
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KYRIAKOS THE BROWN BEAR SPRING 2020
ISSUE BROWN BEAR RESCUE
Europe has around 17,000 wild brown bears with some 500 in Greece. Most of Arcturos’ rescued bears are former dancing bears. Luckily, this has now ended in Greece. The sanctuary also returns rescued bear cubs to the wild whenever possible.
You provide Kyriakos with: • Food and daily care • Expert veterinary care when needed.
ARCTUROS BEAR SANCTUARY GREECE
© Arcturos
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES
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MERU NATIONAL PARK KENYA
LATEST NEWS Frequently sighted in Meru, Elsa’s Pride is adventurous, with an unusual penchant for climbing trees. They spend a lot of their time around Elsa’s Kopje in the heart of the park – once the original campsite of conservationists George and Joy Adamson, where they taught the famous lioness Elsa to be free and wild. The pride is large, with approximately 14 individuals and three females – Elsa, Makena and Liz. A few months ago, two younger males, Solio and Mang’erete, formed a coalition and ousted Mfalme to take over Elsa’s Pride. Solio has mated with Elsa, Makena and Liz, which we hope will result in a new generation of cubs. More recently, Mfalme – who joined Mulika Pride – moved into Rojawero plains, on the periphery of Elsa’s Pride’s range. At the same time, GPS fixes from Solio’s satellite collar showed he and Mang’erete had moved in the opposite direction towards Kindani plains. We suspect Mfalme is trying to redeem his territory and win back his original pride. Meanwhile, thanks to your support, we helped Kenya Wildlife Service’s vet team rescue Mururi Boy 2 – an Elsa’s Pride sub-male. A wire snare had caught on his hind leg. Luckily, the wound was minor and did not take long to heal. Newton Simiyu Research Officer, Born Free Kenya
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ELSA’S PRIDE SPRING 2020
LIONS IN MERU Kenya is home to some 2,000 wild lions, with 60-80 adults living in Meru’s 340 square miles of national park. With an uninterrupted ecosystem, reliable water sources and abundant prey, Meru is prime lion territory.
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bornfree.org.uk
THEIR STORY
Home: Wild in Meru, Kenya, 220 miles north east of Nairobi Family: Three adult females, plus cubs, led by males Solio and Mang’erete
© M Bal
Background: One of Meru’s oldest lion families, named after the lioness star of Born Free, returned to the wild in Meru by George and Joy Adamson in 1958
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SANGHA PANGOLIN PROJECT CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
THEIR STORY
Home: The forests of Central African Republic, close to the Sangha river Background: Orphaned and injured pangolins, rescued and treated within a small hospital funded by Born Free
© Sangha Pangolin Project
Rescued: Since 2013, more than 90 pangolins have been cared for and released, then monitored by local Ba’aka trackers
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THE PANGOLIN FAMILY SPRING 2020
LATEST NEWS Despite the recent rainy season, the team has been hard at work monitoring Koki, the black-bellied pangolin. Rescued in 2017, her name is short for ‘kokolo’, which means pangolin in local language Ba’aka. Koki was successfully rehabilitated after losing part of her tail in a forest fire. She now lives in the nearby forest and is an excellent climber despite her half-tail, which also makes her easy to recognise. The trackers follow her movements, paying attention to her feeding behaviour and making sure she’s doing well. They leave the forest only when Koki has chosen her new sleeping place for the night. The team now has a better understanding of black-bellied
pangolin ecology and behaviour, which helps us better protect them locally and support conservation efforts in other range countries. Last year, the team treated six other pangolins, white- and black-bellied, five of whom were successfully released, but one sadly did not make it. There is no domestic protection for the white-bellied and black-bellied species in Central African Republic, but we hope legislation changes will soon reflect the urgency of the situation there. Meanwhile, the team is busy raising awareness in the local community and conducting ecological research, which will inform conservation planning. Maggie Balaskas Animal Rescue & Care Manager Born Free
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES
ISSUE PANGOLINS UNDER THREAT
• Provide expert care and food
Pangolins are the world’s most illegally-traded mammal and all eight species are killed for meat – considered a delicacy, and scales – used in traditional medicine.
You help to:
• Support a team of trackers with wages and all-weather clothing • Buy a camera to record individuals • Build a house for volunteers to stay.
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MADHAVI LATEST NEWS At the Elephant Transit Home, the nearby reservoir is full. The rains were early last year, producing a bounty of green grass and water. It turned out to be a busy year, with 71 elephant calves now receiving care. Sadly, ever-increasing conflict with humans over space leaves many elephant calves orphaned, resulting in an influx of young babies to the facility. Madhavi, who has always been quite shy in making new friends, has finally found a companion. Now an expert at living at the facility, she has taken charge of a young calf, Lorna, who is less than a year old. Lorna follows Madhavi to the milk feed several times a day, trying out the green fodder and grass, and keeps close to Madhavi for comfort. Until now, Madhavi had remained aloof while moving with the herd. But now she is teaching Lorna the ways of an elephant – which grass to eat, how to pick out fodder trees, how to move with the herd. As always, Madhavi is the last to the milk feeding stand. Lorna patiently waits with her and then follows her out to the grazing ground with the rest of the herd. Manori Gunawardena Country Representative Sri Lanka
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MADHAVI THE ASIAN ELEPHANT SPRING 2020
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES You provide Madhavi with: • Daily milk feeds and care • Any veterinary treatment needed.
ELEPHANT TRANSIT HOME SRI LANKA
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MADHAVI’S STORY
Home today: Lives at the Elephant Transit Home, in Sri Lanka, which cares for orphan elephants and returns them to the wild Family: Madhavi was 18 months old when she was found alone, too young to survive on her own Arrived at ETH: 2016 Age today: Five years
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BORN FREE IN ACTION • We investigate and expose the illegal pet trade • We help apprehend and prosecute dealers • We campaign for tighter regulations • We provide lifetime care for rescued animals.
THEIR STORY
Home today: Safe, spacious and natural enclosures at Born Free’s Ensessa Kotteh Rescue and Education Centre in Ethiopia Family: Nearly all of The Cheetah Family are victims of the illegal pet trade and were stolen from wild as cubs Arrived at Ensessa Kotteh: From 2011 to 2015
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THE CHEETAH FAMILY SPRING 2020
Age today: From five to nine years
ENSESSA KOTTEH RESCUE, CONSERVATION & EDUCATION CENTRE ETHIOPIA
THE CHEETAH FAMILY LATEST NEWS The Cheetah Family is keeping active in their new enclosures. During the rainy season, the grass grew long and, combined with the cheetahs’ spotted coats, provided excellent camouflage. Hissy Spitty especially seemed to enjoy the seclusion because it gave her the perfect opportunity to practice her stalking skills on others. Arapea seemed to get the brunt of her pouncing! With additional space now available, we took the step to allow males and females to live together. Most of the family had been living as neighbours but, after a lot of positive interactions, we decided they would be even happier sharing – making sure there is no breeding (see p3). The introductions were gradual and calm – even feisty Hissy Spitty behaved! Dembe greeted Miremba with a welcoming purr as she rolled around next to him. They now spend a lot of time together, snoozing close by and purring. It’s lovely to see them all so settled and developing new bonds. Meanwhile, sisters Tamu and Nura remain close, living as neighbours to the others. Hailu has always preferred his own space, but likes to be able to watch the others. Maggie Balaskas Animal Rescue & Care Manager, Born Free
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CHINOISE THE CHIMPANZEE SPRING 2020
LATEST NEWS
LIMBE WILDLIFE CENTRE
It’s been an exciting few months. In November, Chinoise’s time at Limbe’s chimpanzee nursery came to an end and she was transferred to the mainland group. Her first friend was Akwa Jean then, little by little, she was introduced to other older chimps.
CAMEROON
Chinoise was finally introduced to Jack, the dominant male. He asserted his dominance, but she found the right balance between standing her ground and being submissive. Jack took a liking to her and they have been close ever since. This is very important as Chinoise will benefit from his protection and it will help her integration into the group. Chinoise now enjoys the outdoor enclosure, with full access to an array of food. She plays with her new friends, runs about, climbs around, and socialises with everyone. There are four individuals left for her to meet but we are certain that, under Jack’s protection, all will go well.
CHINOISE STORY Home today: Lifetime care with a rescued chimp community in an expansive enclosure filled with climbing structures and stimulating enrichment Background: Wild-born, her mother was killed by poachers when she was just weeks old and she was sold as a pet to a Chinese restaurant
Maggie Balaskas Animal Rescue & Care Manager, Born Free
Rescued: January 2014, aged nine months
BORN FREE IN ACTION • We protect and monitor wild populations and restore their habitat
Age today: Seven years
• We help apprehend and prosecute dealers
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• We fight captive exploitation.
© LWT
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Help protect Meru’s rhinos You can help the Born Free-supported Rhino Sanctuary, which protects and monitors wild rhinos in Meru National Park, Kenya.
Find out more at www.bornfree.org.uk/adopt-a-rhino
Born Free Foundation, Broadlands Business Campus, Langhurstwood Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 4QP, UK
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