MAGAZINE
ADOPT
SPRING 2019
Latest news on your adopted animal
LOOKING AFTER GOPAL meeT our awe-insPiring new Tiger
TIMTOM’S TALE
our oranguTan goes wild
PLUS
HIGH SOCIETY
liTTle chimP To Join The adulTs
The caT’s whiskers Pangolin PaTienTs our bear bodo born Free @ 35 keeP wildliFe in The wild
issue 12
WELCOME Thank you for adopting with Born Free. We hope you will enjoy the latest news and pictures of your adopted animal. If your animal lives in a sanctuary, you help provide the food, water, environmental enrichment and care they need, as well as the respect and privacy they deserve. Together, we give them as natural a life as possible. If your animal lives in the wild, you help to monitor and protect them. Together, we look after them and their family, and do everything we can to secure their future and tackle any challenges they face. Your generous support helps to make all this life-saving work possible. Thank you again for all you do and I hope you enjoy your animal adoption.
Cover story Gopal the tiger was born in the wild, but sadly he came into conflict with people. Targeted when he preyed on cattle and goats, he was at risk of being killed. But Born Free has given him a lifetime home at our sanctuary in India (p12). Cover photo © Wildlife SOS
Only nine months old when rescued from life as a pet, Timtom is gradually learning the skills needed for life in the wild. Today she is the most adventurous of the orphans at an orangutan rehabilitation camp in Borneo (p28).
© Oranguntan Foundation
President & Co-Founder
© G Roberts
Will Travers OBE
Our new redhead
CONTENTS 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 43 44 46 48
king the lion sinbad & achee the lions dolo the lion Cover story elsa’s pride gopal the tiger Cover story Jasper the tiger leopard family cheetah family Jaguar family elephant family madhavi the elephant giraffe family Timtom the orangutan Cover story mugaruka & chimanuka the gorillas chinoise & eve the chimps Cover story sara & afrika the chimps Pangi the pangolin Cover story springer the orca & her calves wolf family bodo the moon bear Cover story kyriakos the brown bear born Free is 35 Cover story conservation action
CONTRIBUTORS Maggie Balaskas Animal Rescue & Care Manager Samantha Goddard Campaigns Officer Dr Liz Greengrass Head of Conservation Manori Gunawardena Country Representative Sri Lanka Ashley Leiman Founder of the Orangutan Foundation Dr Cynthia Moss Founder of the Amboseli Trust for Elephants Simiyu Newton Research Officer Kenya Tim Oloo Country Manager Kenya
go wild with born Free!
born Free is an international wildlife charity. we work tirelessly to ensure all wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild, are treated with compassion and respect. we oppose the exploitation of wild animals in captivity and campaign to keep wildlife in the wild.
Prof Claudio Sillero Chief Scientist
Adopt is published in March and September each year.
Dr Nikki Tagg Conservation Programmes Manager
Editor: Celia Nicholls, celia@bornfree.org.uk Design: Claire Stanford, claire@bornfree.org.uk Born Free Foundation, Broadlands Business Campus, Langhurstwood Road, Horsham RH12 4QP. 01403 240170 info@bornfree.org.uk www.bornfree.org.uk Charity No:1070906 Printed on recycled paper 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 the captive population, plus sanctuary space is in short supply, so we keep these precious spaces for animals most needing rescue.
connect with us
Join our family on social media
E D Q
Facebook – bornfreefoundation Twitter – @bornfreefdn instagram – @bornfreefoundation
KING
Latest news on king the lion
KING’S STORY King was just a cub when taken from his mother to be kept as a pet. He was found, half-starved and lonely, in a dirty cage in an apartment near Paris. But with the help of our F30MA* and NHC** colleagues, today he enjoys life at Born Free’s sanctuary in South Africa.
* 30 Millions d’Amis Foundation ** Natuurhulpcentrum
04 king | SPRING 2019
Before Born Free
King is thriving, he has quickly settled into his new life at our Big Cat Sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, South Africa, since his arrival last July. This young lion, aged around 21 months old, is very mischievous and intrigued by his surroundings. Whenever he comes across insects or birds, or watches mammals (from monkeys to wild lions) he looks at them as if seeing them for the first time – completely fascinated and excited. Summer is ending here in South Africa and, on cooler days, King is often seen lying on his wooden deck. Our Animal Care Manager Glen Vena recently spotted him relaxing there and noticed something had caught his eye. King was staring down at the ground, looking at some mice running around in the grass below. “I thought King might have tried to pounce – but he just watched them very closely. The mice are wise and fast, so if King had jumped down, they would have scarpered before he had a chance to catch them!” As soon as it gets hot, King, like the other big cats at Shamwari, disappears into the coolest part of their natural enclosures. Here they can relax and doze in the shade. Temperatures reach as high as 40°C, but the cats are well adapted to cope with the heat and are instinctively very sensible when it comes to keeping cool and staying hydrated.
SHAMWARI RESERVE SOUTH AFRICA
Looking for mice!
EXOTIC PETS It is staggering that lion cubs are still finding their way into the pet trade in Europe. Tragically, millions of wild animals around the world, including lizards and monkeys, are kept as exotic pets, many illegally – like King. Born Free is working hard to tackle the illegal wildlife trade. Wild animals, whether wild-caught or bred in captivity, have complex needs and can greatly suffer when kept as pets.
“It’s amazing to see King enjoying his life,” said Glen. “I cannot stop thinking about where he started in life, in an apartment, malnourished and scared. We are so grateful for all of our supporters. It is fantastic today to see this magnificent, bold young lion.” MB Images © G Vena/BF Shamwari, F30MA, www.georgelogan.co.uk
SPRING 2019 | king 05
SINBAD & ACHEE Latest news on Sinbad & Achee the lions
THEIR STORY Sinbad, born in 2001, is half the size of a normal lion due to his poor early diet. Rescued from a squalid zoo in Romania in 2007, he shares his large enclosure with Achee the lioness. Rescued from a snowy Romanian car-park in 2004, she too is undersized due to an unsuitable early diet. Achee was introduced to Sinbad in June 2015. 06 SINBAD & ACHEE | SPRING 2019
Before Born Free
Achee and Sinbad both continue to thrive at our Big Cat Sanctuary in Shamwari Private Game Reserve, South Africa. Both continue to be in very good health, but whereas Achee is generally fairly calm and laid-back, Sinbad has been lively and full of energy. Achee and Sinbad have a fascinating relationship, they clearly have a close bond. Sinbad likes to think he is the boss, but it is quite clear that Achee, although smaller in size, is the more dominant of the two! It has been summer here in South Africa, but they are often seen playing during the cooler times of the day. They like to chase and pounce on each other, and frequently roll around on the grass. To demonstrate his presence, Sinbad routinely marks his territory by scratching or spraying the ground or trees, just like a lion would living in the wild. Our Animal Care Manager, Glen Vena, often observes this behaviour. “I saw Sinbad scent marking one morning while I was doing the daily checks. It’s possible he is doing this for Achee to pick up, or it could be to alert Jerry and Nelson to his presence. These neighbouring lions, both rescued from zoos, often show interest in Achee. But Sinbad shares a close bond with his beautiful companion and is very protective of her!”
SHAMWARI RESERVE SOUTH AFRICA This pair of lions are very popular with visitors to our sanctuary. We are grateful to their committed adoptive parents – some of you have adopted for many years. This invaluable long-term support ensures they are always provided with the best possible lifetime care. MB
CARING FOR CATS IN SOUTH AFRICA Shamwari is the biggest wildlife reserve in the Eastern Cape and home to a huge range of wild animals as well as two Born Free Big Cat Rescue and Education Centres. Here,12 rescued lions and three leopards receive lifetime care in expansive bush enclosures three to four acres in size, while visitors, students and local school children learn about Born Free and our work to care for individuals and protect populations in the wild.
Your lions love to play and chase SPRING 2019 | SINBAD & ACHEE 07
DOLO
COVER STORY
Latest news on dolo the lion Although Dolo is partly blind, he copes extremely well in his spacious enclosure at Ensessa Kotteh, using his senses of smell, hearing and touch – mainly his sensitive whiskers – to help navigate his enclosure. He can always sniff out his food and find his water points. Interestingly, every lion has a unique pattern of whiskers, rather like human fingerprints, and can be identified by their sequence. Safia, Dolo’s companion, has been at our rescue centre for eight years now and has transformed from a scared cub into an imposing lioness. When relaxing, Dolo tends to lie very close to her, just a few feet apart. Safia likes to watch the white collared pigeons as they come to bathe and drink 08 dolo | SPRING 2019
water in the enclosure. Occasionally, she will stalk and chase them, but they are much too fast and fly off as soon as they see her move. Bereket Girma, our Technical Manager, is very fond of Dolo. “He is one of my favourite lions. His strong bond with Safia is clear to see. He is getting older now, but remains fit and healthy.” Our ‘Italian brothers’ Andrea and Janu, rehomed from the Italian Embassy in Addis Ababa, seem even closer than Dolo and Safia. Always together, they chase, stalk, wrestle or lounge around snoozing the warm afternoons away. In the mornings they patrol their territory – scent marking bushes and scratching tree trunks. They then start a
DOLO’S STORY
ENSESSA KOTTEH RESCUE CENTRE ETHIOPIA
For four long years Dolo was kept on a one metre chain in a wooden shack Before Born Free in southern Ethiopia, near the Somali border. Emaciated and alone, his mane was rubbed off by the chain. But we rescued him with EWCA* in 2007 and now Dolo shares a spacious bush enclosure with Safia, a young rescued lioness. They both have recovered from their ordeals and receive expert care and great diets at our centre. *Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority
His companion Safia
roaring chorus, often sitting in the beautiful Acacia abyssinia trees in their enclosure. Their neighbour Major is doing much better now, after the sad loss of his brother General last year, and often joins in the roaring. We still refer to Rea and Girma as ‘the cubs’, but they are over two years old now and big and strong. Rea likes the privacy of the indigenous vegetation in their enclosure, while Girma is always exploring and sneaks up on his brother. They love to climb trees with a favourite spot on a big branch in an acacia, or on top of a big boulder – where they can see out over their enclosure.
CARING FOR CATS IN ETHIOPIA Ensessa Kotteh is the first facility of its kind in Ethiopia and is much-needed. Sadly there are many wild animals kept in terrible captive conditions and there is a thriving illegal trade in wild animals as pets. Our rescue centre is based on a 77 hectare site, just 23km from the capital city Addis Ababa. Here, Born Free cares for nine rescued lions and many other rescued, orphaned and injured animals including cheetahs, servals, caracals, hyenas, monkeys and birds. They live in spacious enclosures filled with indigenous trees and bushes, and dense undergrowth to explore.
Images © BF Ethiopia, S Taye
SPRING 2019 | dolo 09
ELSA’S PRIDE Latest news on Elsa’s Pride
THEIR STORY Elsa’s Pride is one of the oldest lion families in Meru. Born Free is working with Kenya Wildlife Service to protect them in this National Park in central Kenya. It was here that George and Joy Adamson returned Elsa the lioness to the wild, as featured in the book and film Born Free, and the pride is named in her honour. 10 ELSA’S PRIDE | SPRING 2019
With the help of your adoption, Born Free’s monitoring team in Meru is learning so much about the fascinating behaviour of Elsa’s pride and their group dynamics. In recent months the two alpha males, George and Boy, could no longer defend the pride due to old age – George lost all his canines through wear and tear and Boy only has two left. The pair has now been ousted by a lone male called Mfalme, which means ‘King’ in Swahili.
MERU NATIONAL PARK KENYA Mugwangho plains or drinking from the river. Elsa’s is one of the most formidable prides in Meru National Park, with the females playing a core role in hunting food for the group. Mfalme has a big job ahead to protect his new-found pride and fend off other male competitors! Will he manage and for how long? We will keep you posted. TO & SN
The pride currently has three male cubs under a year old. Worryingly, one of them went missing for two months, but thankfully he rejoined the pride last December. Mfalme is likely to be the father of these youngsters as he mingles and plays with them. Recently, he mated with the lioness Elsa, who is now expecting her first cubs this year! One of the three sub-adult males who had been pushed out of the pride by George in early 2017 was recently seen trying to rejoin the pride, but Mfalme would not welcome him back. Another, Kenmare, has since found a new pride dwelling around Kenmare airstrip. With consistent monitoring, we were able to track Kenmare, and found him together with his sister Liz, one of the adult females, who were born together in the pride in early 2015. Females are the most stable members of any pride and in most cases are related. Interestingly, the three adult females of Elsa’s Pride – Makena, Liz and Elsa – climb a tamarind tree along the river Rojawero as a hunting strategy. The tree acts as a watch tower for spotting prey across the
KENYA’S LIONS Kenya is home to about 2,000 wild lions with around 60 adults living in Meru. Covering an area of 540sq miles (870km2), Meru is one of Kenya’s best known national parks and about 200 miles (350km) north of Nairobi. With plenty of rainfall, the park has tall grass, abundant vegetation and lush swamps, plus a wide range of species including elephants, cheetah, rhino and hippo. SPRING 2019 | ELSA’S PRIDE 11
GOPAL
COVER STORY
Latest news on gopal the tiger
GOPAL’S STORY Wild-born Gopal came to live at our sanctuary having come into conflict with people after preying on cattle and goats. Sadly he had been injured and was at risk of being killed when captured by the Indian authorities. They considered it too risky to release him back to the wild. So in 2014, Born Free gave him a lifetime home. 12 goPal | SPRING 2019
Gopal has a very distinct character. The animal care team at our Bannerghatta Tiger Sanctuary, India, describe him as strong, majestic and secretive. Gopal is skilled at disappearing in his forest enclosure. In fact, he is a master of camouflage and often manages to vanish from sight. This is helped by the colour and markings of his coat – the reddish-orange, black stripes and white belly which blend into his shady forest habitat – and his skilled ability to move through his forest habitat without making a sound. Like the human fingerprint, the markings on a tiger’s coat are unique – no two tigers have the same coat pattern. Researchers studying populations in the wild often use tiger coat markings to identify different individuals. This can even be done remotely, using photographs from camera traps. Gopal is inquisitive and very aware of what’s going on in his surroundings. Even when hiding out of sight, the animal care team at Bannerghatta know Gopal is somewhere and will be keeping a watchful eye on them.
BANNERGHATTA TIGER SANCTUARY INDIA TIGER CRISIS Tigers are amazing predators, but sadly they face many threats. Tragically, as few as 4,000 survive in the wild and poachers kill them for their beautiful fur and to use their body parts for traditional Asian medicine. The largest tiger population is in India, but even here as few as 2,225 survive. Their forest homes are cut down for wood, dug up for mines and dams, and used for farming and human development. This can lead to conflict as tigers are pushed out of their territories. Born Free is working with local people to promote co-existence and protect wild tigers in India.
Weighing around 175 kg, Gopal is strong and well built. Sometimes, in the cooler temperatures of dusk or dawn, he climbs up on the large natural boulder in his enclosure, where he can lie and look out at his surroundings. If he sees any movement or hears any rustles in the undergrowth below, he swiftly jumps down to investigate. When the days are hot and humid, Gopal will often have a long, lazy snooze in his water pool, stretching his back and front legs out with only his head above the surface. Thank you for helping us care for this wonderful tiger! MB Images © Wildlife SOS, www.tigersintheforest.co.uk
SPRING 2019 | goPal 13
JASPER Latest news on Jasper the tiger
JASPER’S STORY Jasper was just a newborn Indochinese tiger cub when poachers stole him from his forest home in Cambodia in 1998, no doubt killing his mother. Destined for life in a tiger farm or zoo, fortunately he was confiscated – sickly and malnourished. With expert medical attention he made a full recovery and now lives in a large forested enclosure at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre. © Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre, Freeland
14 JASPER | SPRING 2019
PHNOM TAMAO WILDLIFE Now in his golden years, Jasper has been a little less energetic over the last six months, starting to enjoy a slower pace of life in his older age. But your tiger still has a healthy appetite and very much enjoys his food, eating around seven kilos of meat and bones every day. Jasper recently underwent a bit of a pedicure, to trim one of his claws which was growing in a strange direction and was at risk of becoming ingrown. Tigers’ claws can grow up to 10cm in length and are retractable, which helps keep them sharp and tread almost silently up to unsuspecting prey. As you can imagine, the cosmetic procedure was quite an undertaking for an animal as potentially dangerous as a tiger. The care team needed to carefully anaesthetise him to attend to the claw. While Jasper was asleep they made the most of the opportunity to check his other claws, teeth, and general condition. You will be happy to hear that Jasper passed this health check with flying colours, and recovered very quickly after the anaesthetic. He was up on his feet shortly after being woken.
RESCUE CENTRE CAMBODIA neighbours for a few months now and seem to enjoy each other’s company. Your adoption helps to fund Jasper’s care, ensuring he is provided with high quality, food, veterinary care, and the upkeep of his enclosure. Thank you! MB
CAMBODIA CONSERVATION Just 50 years ago there were 40,000 tigers across Asia, today over 90% have been wiped out and just 4,000 remain. There are as few as 350 of the Indochinese subspecies found in the mountainous terrains and remote forest hills of southern China, Burma (Myanmar), Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Human exploitation and loss of prey species are major problems, but wild tigers are now strictly protected in Cambodia with millions of acres of forests now kept safe.
Jasper has a new neighbour, a young female tiger, who was moved to the sanctuary from a zoo which was not providing her with adequate care. Jasper has been intrigued by his new neighbour, but seems unphased by her presence. The pair like to lie so they can see each other, although separated by a fence, and sometimes vocalise to greet each other. Jasper and the female have lived as SPRING 2019 | JASPER 15
LEOPARD FAMILY Latest news on The leopard Family
THEIR STORY Our stunning leopards live in spacious bush enclosures, full of shady shrubs and dense undergrowth. They include Sami, rescued when found as a cub in the Sudanese desert back in 2001. Plus mother and daughter Leda and Rhea who came from Limassol Zoo, Cyprus in 2009.
16 leoPard FamilY | SPRING 2019
TRIBUTE TO ALAM March 2001 - December 2018 We are heartbroken to report the sad passing of beautiful Alam, who died following a short illness after many contented years at our sanctuary. He was just two weeks old when found abandoned by soldiers in Sudan, together with his brother Sami and sister Nimira. The triplets arrived at Shamwari on 5th July 2001 and quickly settled into their spacious home. Alam was a much-loved member of our Leopard Family and is deeply missed, especially by Sami. Glen Vena, Animal Care Manager, said: “Farewell to my dear friend Alam. In times like these I become speechless. I truly believe Alam’s life here with us at Shamwari was good. I saw in his behaviour the coolest cat, calm and a real gentleman. I firmly believe our paths will meet again. I will still tell his story – in spirit Alam is still here.”
SHAMWARI RESERVE SOUTH AFRICA The past few months have brought some challenges to the Leopard Family, with the sad loss of Alam, and Rhea being unwell and needing vital surgery. Having shown some signs of illness, our vet Dr Johan Joubert anaesthetised Rhea to conduct a thorough examination. She was diagnosed as having two internal tumours and underwent surgery to have them removed. Happily, Rhea recovered incredibly well after the operation and a few days later was back to her old self – running, well actually sprinting, around. As with all wild species, there is always some risk when conducting surgery, and especially an older animal like Rhea. We are all delighted to see her making such a brilliant recovery. Sami seems to be coping with the loss of Alam, he appears relaxed and has been eating well. As always, he prefers to spend most of his time hiding, camouflaged amongst the indigenous plants. But his carers are pleased to see him making an appearance during the cooler parts of the day – lying up in a tree or on the platform in his enclosure. Like Sami, 28-year-old Leda often disappears amongst the dense vegetation in her enclosure and the team have to look closely to discover where she is. “Leda is an independent soul,” explains our Animal Care Manager Glen Vena. “She likes to do her own thing in her own time. She is doing so well and in very good health despite being in her senior years.” MB
Images © BF Shamwari, www.richardsymonds.co.uk
SPRING 2019 | leoPard FamilY 17
CHEETAH FAMILY
Latest news on The Cheetah Family
THEIR STORY
Before Born Free
Most members of our extended family were victims of the exotic pet trade and stolen from the wild as cubs. Many were rescued in Somaliland by our friends at Agro Action and were being illegally sold. Happily, at our centre they have recovered and, split into males and females, live in spacious, tree-filled enclosures with undergrowth to explore and plenty of room to run. 18 CHEETAH FAMILY | SPRING 2019
Your Cheetah Family have welcomed the warmer, drier weather over recent months. Even Tamu and Nura, who had been unphased by the continuous rain of last year’s wet season, are relishing the sunny days. It is joyful to watch the sisters running around their expansive enclosure. They love to chase each other in the cool mornings, then relax in the sun in the late afternoon. Brothers Namazzi and Dembe continue to get up to mischief. Recently, Namazzi was enjoying a deep, lazy afternoon nap in the shade but Dembe, wanting to play, decided to creep up slowly on his brother. Silently, staying low to the ground and hidden by the grass, he moved closer and closer until he reached perfect pouncing distance. Namazzi, taken completely by surprise, jumped upright just before Dembe landed on him – both ending up in a pile on the grass. From a distance they looked like a spotted ball of fur rolling around. Namazzi was far from impressed and chased Dembe for a bit, before resuming his position in the shade. Dembe, finally giving in, decided to join his brother – lying close to him while the both enjoyed an afternoon doze. The construction work to finish the Cheetah Family’s new enclosure is well underway again, after the pause during the rainy season. Final work and checks will take place in early spring and we hope the cheetahs can be moved before the summer. I will visit Ensessa Kotteh to review the new enclosure and help put plans in place for moving the cheetah into their new home. I will report back! The cheetahs are soon due to have their general health check, a routine assessment
ENSESSA KOTTEH RESCUE CENTRE ETHIOPIA to make sure they are as fit and healthy inside as they look on the outside. This is a good opportunity to check their eyes and teeth as well as do some blood tests to ensure everything is as it should be. We can let you know how they get on in the next Adopt update. MB
CHEETAHS UNDER THREAT
Once found on five continents, the species is now under threat due to conflict with humans, loss of habitat and prey, as well as loss of genetic diversity. Another major problem is the exotic pet trade, but cheetahs, like all wild animals, are very difficult to care for and never make good pets. Just over 7,000 African cheetahs are thought to remain in the wild in around 25 African countries. Less than 100 Asiatic cheetahs remain scattered in Iran. SPRING 2019 | CHEETAH FAMILY 19
JAGUAR FAMILY Latest news on The Jaguar Family
THEIR STORY The Jaguar Family lives in the Yungas, a band of forest in northwest Argentina. The world’s southernmost jaguars, their range has shrunk by 95% and they are critically endangered in Argentina. Since 2011, Jaguars in the Fringe has worked to secure their survival – targeting conflict through education and improved livestock practices to dissuade ranchers from killing these big cats. Born Free supports Dr Pablo Perovic as he protects jaguars in Calilegua and Baritu National Parks. 20 Jaguar FamilY |SPRING 2019
© Emilio White, www.tigersintheforest.co.uk
Ranchers let livestock loose in the vast forests of the Yungas in Argentina, to feed, but cattle are susceptible to predation, resulting in significant economic loss to these small-scale farmers. This results in negative attitudes toward jaguars and can lead to their illegal killing. To recover and thrive, jaguars need a conservation champion and good publicity. Enter Pablo Perovic, a Born Free Wildlife Hero, whose whole career has been devoted to the jaguars, his lifelong passion. In the last two years, Pablo’s team have expanded their work to Isla de Cañas, close to the border with Bolivia. Since then none of the ranchers affected by the project have reported predation by jaguars on livestock, and no retaliatory killing has been reported. Village teachers are incorporating jaguar conservation activities in their teaching plans, with plans afoot for small conservation projects with local children, such as planting native trees, water conservation, rubbish management and even nature radio programmes. The team keep tabs on the jaguars that live close to these communities using camera traps. The ultimate goal is that, by changing husbandry practices, there will be lower grazing pressure on the forests, leading to a recovery of the cats’ prey base, reducing their reliance on livestock for food. Pablo says: “We see positive changes in attitude, like a young kid that suddenly understands the relationship of jaguars with the environment and sympathises with the threats they face. Or a rancher happy because management practices have improved, making his life easier by avoiding conflict. These small changes contribute to a more harmonious co-existence, and we hope to protect jaguars for future generations.”
YUNGAS FOREST ARGENTINA The Yungas jaguars are linked to populations in southern Bolivia, and Jaguars in the Fringe is expanding its work across the border, with potential to increase numbers and improve protection. “Señor ‘Tigre’ (as Pablo is locally known), is highly respected, from ministerial corridors to the most remote of forest dwellings,” explains Professor Claudio Sillero, Born Free’s Chief Scientist. “The future of jaguars in north west Argentina is intricately linked to this man.”
MEET THE JAGUAR The largest cat in the Americas, this powerful cat featured in ancient Maya and Aztecs mythologies as a symbol of strength. They ambush prey, leaping into water or from a tree. Jaguars once roamed from Arizona to Patagonia’s Rio Colorado, but now occupy less than half this range. Argentine forests are cleared for soybean mono-culture and ‘tigres’ – as they are locally known – are hunted in retaliation for livestock losses. Under threat from both habitat loss and persecution, with the right support their range and numbers can increase again.
SPRING 2019 | Jaguar FamilY 21
ELEPHANT FAMILY Latest news on The elephant Family The Elephant Family has been enjoying the good times with plenty of vegetation to feed on following the extremely high rainfall of 2018 and the 2017 drought. Edwina’s story is remarkably successful. After she broke her leg 20 years ago, she struggled to keep up with the rest of the family during her recovery. But now, with
THEIR STORY The world famous EB Elephant Family were stars of the BBC’s Echo of the Elephants TV series. They flourished under the leadership of matriarch Echo until her death in 2009. Today, the family has dozens of members including Echo’s sisters, daughters, granddaughters and calves. One EB sub-group is led by Edwina, Echo’s granddaughter, born in 1982. © ATE
22 elePhanT FamilY | SPRING 2019
five daughters, one son, and five grandchildren at only 36 years old, she has effectively built her own family unit, with 12 members. Although she does socialise with current EB matriarch Enid (her aunt, and age-mate), she definitely doesn’t rely on Enid’s social and ecological strategies, preferring instead to do her own thing. She has an independent character. Although Edwina usually stays in the centre of Amboseli National Park, and is commonly
found near the research camp, in 2018 she was far more adventurous, being absent for much of the year from March to November, visiting only a couple of times. The good rains and lush food probably lured her away from the lesser quality resources found in the centre of the park. She probably took her family to Tanzania, and to the north of Amboseli, to a beautiful region called Selengei, where hundreds of elephants enjoyed the lush browse and plentiful herbs. Wherever they were, the elephants all returned happy! Your adoption helps support the Amboseli Elephant Research Project as we track the lives of wild elephants like Edwina. This helps us understand how individual relationships and social strategies develop into larger-level processes. These determine how elephants move across their vast ranges and what they need in order to thrive. Plentiful rains is only one of many things! CM
AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK KENYA
INCREDIBLE ELEPHANTS Elephants are the largest of all land animals and live in close-knit families. Two species exist in Africa and one in Asia. Sadly, elephants are exploited by people both in the wild and in captivity. Born Free fights captive exploitation and the appalling trade in ivory – poachers kill elephants for their tusks to supply ruthless dealers, and numbers are plummeting throughout Africa.
SPRING 2019 | elePhanT FamilY 23
MADHAVI Latest news on Madhavi the elephant
MADHAVI’S STORY Madhavi was just 18 months old when found alone in 2016. We don’t know what happened to her family, but she was far too young to survive on her own. Fortunately she was When rescued rescued by the Elephant Transit Home which cares for orphaned elephants and returns them to the wild when they are ready. 24 MADHAVI | SPRING 2019
© M Gunawardena
ELEPHANT When rescued at two years of age in 2016, Madhavi (seen at the back of this photo) was older than the infant calves normally taken in by the Elephant Transit Home (ETH) in Uda Walawe National Park, Sri Lanka. This has had an interesting impact, and from the outset she was cautious, always bringing up the rear in the queue to the herd’s feeding station. Following the successful return of the larger elephant calves back to the wild last year, including our previous adopted elephant Jubilee, Madhavi became the oldest member of the ETH herd. Sadly, human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka results in many elephant calves being rescued and brought to the ETH for rehabilitation. Young newcomers seek the reassuring guidance of older female calves and it is remarkable to watch relationships develop. Madhavi seems to take her responsibilities as the eldest very seriously. Elephant society in the wild is based on social cohesion and family bonds. This need to seek the companionship of other elephants is mirrored in the ETH herd. While none of the elephants are related, the older calves bond with the younger ones in setting the dayto-day routine of feeding and resting.
TRANSIT HOME SRI LANKA around her, the grouping slowly solidifying, before leading the way out of the feeding area. Thank you for helping care for this remarkable elephant. MG
ELEPHANT CONFLICT Elephants need large amounts of space, food and water to survive. There are fewer than 50,000 Asian elephants, less than a tenth of the African population. These elephants are under serious threat, mostly from impacts on their habitat from an expanding human population. Sri Lanka is a relatively small country with a high human population density and over 4,000 elephants. This can lead to conflict, with injury and death on both sides, as elephants can wander close to human settlements and raid crops. Born Free works to find solutions so that people and elephants can live together harmoniously.
But despite being the oldest, Madhavi waits until all the youngsters are fed before going for her milk. She is growing fast and the care team keep a careful eye on her progress. With the help of a special floor-level weighing platform, they report she has gained an incredible 200kg in the last six months. Before heading back out to the surrounding park following each feeding session, Madhavi waits for the smaller calves to mill closely SPRING 2018 | MADHAVI 25
GIRAFFE FAMILY Latest news on The Giraffe Family
We were delighted to receive this very special update from our colleague Dr Julian Fennessey at the Giraffe Conservation Foundation in Niger. As you will read, and with your support, he has thrilling news to share. “What an exciting six months it has been for West African giraffe and the west African country of Niger! The only West African giraffes that survive in the wild have been living alongside the communities in the Koure area – better known as the Giraffe Zone. To help the long-term survival of this rare subspecies, we decided it was time to establish their first new population and move some giraffe 800km to a new home. “This would be the first translocation of this giraffe subspecies. We selected and carefully caught eight giraffe – five females and three males. Each one was then temporarily held in a wooden boma to habituate and relax before the long trip.
Giraffes on the move Settling into their new home
26 GIRAFFE FAMILY | SPRING 2019
“The giraffe were moved in two groups to the Gadabedji Biosphere Reserve, where giraffe used to roam before they became extinct
there. The sight of the giraffes travelling through local towns and villages caught the attention of many. Seeing the giraffe released back into their former home, wandering off to feed on the abundance of food in and around the reserve, was an amazing sight. In the month since their release, we have seen them split apart and then come back together as a group. Individual personalities are coming through, and we have observed where they prefer to eat and drink. The excitement of the local Tuareg community, who are camel herders, has been amazing. They are so excited to have giraffe return to the area. “Three of the translocated giraffe now have solar-powered GPS satellite units to enable us to track them. This allows us to better understand their daily use of their new habitat, as well as track their seasonal movements. A big thanks to all Giraffe Family adopters for helping us and supporting these amazing creatures and the people who live with them in Niger.” NT & LG
KOURE PLATEAU AND NORTH DALLOL NIGER EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS The giraffes’ giant size helps them reach leaves on top of trees, too high for smaller animals. Giraffes might seem fragile, with spindly legs, but they are strong and fast. A well-placed kick could shatter the skull of a predatory lion, while a running giraffe can reach speeds of more than 35 miles (56km) per hour. Giraffes are under pressure, both in captivity where they are exploited in zoos and circuses, and in the wild. Wild giraffes have been extensively hunted for their meat, but today their main threat is loss of suitable habitat.
THEIR STORY Niger is home to a population of West African giraffes. Facing some tough challenges, this is the rarest subspecies of giraffes in the world. Just a few hundred individuals live in an 840km2 area close to the capital city Niamey. The giraffes are well adapted to a dry climate and sparse vegetation, but habitat loss and conflict with people can be a problem. Images © GCF
SPRING 2019 | GIRAFFE FAMILY 27
TIMTOM COVER STORY
Latest news on Timtom the orangutan
TIMTOM’S STORY Timtom was just a baby when taken from her mother and illegally kept as a pet. Infant orangutans would naturally stay with their mothers for up to eight years, so you can imagine how distressing this would have been. Fortunately Timtom was rescued by our colleagues at the Orangutan Foundation and now lives at Camp JL in Borneo. Here she is receiving expert care and is gradually being prepared for life back in the wild where she belongs. 28 TIMTOM | SPRING 2019
Images Š Orangutan Foundation
Timtom was only nine months old when she came to us at the Born Free-supported Orangutan Foundation in Indonesia Borneo. Today she is the most adventurous and naughty of all our young orangutans. She will climb a tree and once the assistant’s back is turned, will come down, then run away and roll on the ground – which then means she needs a wash in the river to remove soil and twigs. Your adoption helps fund Timtom’s care while she and our other young orangutans take part in our soft release programme. Your help ensures Timtom is healthy and cared for, as she gradually learns the skills she needs to survive in the wild. On average, the soft release orangutans are released back into the wild at around six to seven years old. This is similar to the age when they would begin to be independent in the wild. Timtom still has much to learn, but already knows wild food is good to eat, with the tiny maroon berries from the ubar tree being her favourite. She is also given supplementary fruit including papaya and pineapple. Every two months, Timtom and the other orangutans are given vitamin boosts and worming injections to keep them healthy. Timtom’s friends include Nyunyu, Mona and Adib. However, she is also happy to play alone. Last November she was bitten on her hand by another orangutan during a squabble. The Orangutan Foundation vet cleaned her wound with antiseptic to prevent infection. Luckily, it was superficial and with daily cleaning it healed well. This will hopefully have taught Timtom a valuable lesson about approaching other orangutans!
CAMP JL RELEASE CAMP LAMANDAU WILDLIFE RESERVE INDONESIA BORNEO By adopting Timtom, you are helping us to teach her what it means to be an orangutan. Eventually she and the others will be released back into the wild, and help re-establish a healthy and viable population of a critically endangered species. AL
Timtom patiently allows her injured finger to be cleaned
MEET THE FAMILY Asia’s only great ape, orangutans were once distributed widely across south east Asia, but today are confined to Borneo and Sumatra. In tropical rainforests, they spend 90% of their lives high in the canopy. Mainly eating fruit, they play a vital role in seed dispersal and are semi-solitary, with females and offspring having the closest bonds. All three species – the Sumatran, Bornean and Tapanuli – are critically endangered, under threat from deforestation, poaching and the pet trade. Born Free works to protect wild populations and fight captive exploitation. SPRING 2019 | TIMTOM 29
MUGARUKA & CHIMANUKA Latest news on Mugaruka & Chimanuka the gorillas
THEIR STORIES Mugaruka and Chimanuka are a magnificent pair of rare eastern lowland gorillas, living in the mountain rainforests of a vast 6,000km2 park, in the eastern DRC. Both are massive, powerful adult males, known as silverbacks. Mugaruka lost a hand in a poacher’s snare and – unable to defend a family – mostly lives alone. Chimanuka lives together with his large family, a harem of females and their offspring. Since 2000, Born Free has supported a team of brave rangers who risk their lives to keep these gorillas safe from poachers. 30 MUGARUKA & CHIMANUKA | SPRING 2019
Images © www.christophermichel.com, ICCN
Your adopted gorilla Mugaruka is now 31 years old. He likes to keep himself to himself. Apart from when new bamboo shoots are sprouting in the forest, he is often seen outside the park, foraging for food in neighbouring fields or tea plantations. This could put him at risk – gorillas can catch illnesses from people – but our colleagues at the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) keep a careful eye on him and their veterinary team carry out regular health checks.
KAHUZI BIEGA NATIONAL PARK DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO Chimanuka for leadership. We will be scaling up our observations in coming months to carefully monitor behaviours within the group. Your adoption will help fund these important tracking missions. Thank you! NT & LG
Local people are beginning to accept their new neighbour and tolerate his presence. They even help the tracking team keep an eye out for Mugaruka, reinforcing community spirit for his protection. Another benefit of feeding outside the park is that Mugaruka keeps a safe distance from other gorilla groups, and therefore avoids confrontation and possible injury. Meanwhile, the silverback Chimanuka is now aged 33 and still successfully leads his family. His group now numbers 20 individuals, since a younger blackback male joined them in 2018 from a neighbouring group. Chimanuka mostly keeps his family out of danger by taking them to feed in isolated parts of the park on seasonal fruits and bamboo shoots. He still had four encounters with other gorilla groups in 2018 but, happily, was able to keep hold of all his females without sustaining a single injury. The sub-adults in Chimanuka’s family are now growing into strong blackback males, and we wonder if they will eventually leave to join other groups or even try to challenge
Mugaruka forages in a tea plantation
MEET THE GORILLA One of our closest relatives, the gorilla is the biggest of the great apes. They are powerful and live in close-knit family groups. Sadly, they are under terrible threat – their forest homes are destroyed by logging companies, which opens up habitats to poachers. Gorillas are killed for meat or tourist curios and their infants sold as pets. Today, less than 3,800 eastern lowland gorillas remain, a 77% loss since 1994. SPRING 2019 | mugaruka & chimanuka 31
CHINOISE & EVE COVER STORY
Latest news on Chinoise & Eve the chimps
THEIR STORIES When Chinoise was just a few weeks old, her mother was killed by poachers and she was sold as a pet to a Chinese restaurant in Douala, Cameroon, in 2013. Luckily, the baby chimp was rescued by Limbe Wildlife Centre, supported by Born Free since 2004, who also care for Eve. One of the older animals, Eve, is part of a community of rescued chimps, and was rescued in 2005. 32 CHINOISE & EVE | SPRING 2019
Images © LWT
We were delighted to receive this report from Peggy Motsch at Limbe Wildlife Centre in Cameroon. “No other primate embodies the phrase ‘cheeky monkey’ quite like Chinoise. Still relatively young at seven years old, she is always ready to play. She really enjoys the new water pool in the chimpanzee nursery – not only to drink and cool down in, but to splash the other chimps whenever the opportunity strikes. We just know she’s laughing to herself every time she does it! “Chinoise still lives with female Ngambe and surrogate uncle, the mighty but disabled ape Ghaa. Due to health issues, old friend Mayos has returned to the nursery, giving Chinoise another chimp to mess around with. However, life will soon change for your cheeky girl. Now she is older and strong enough and has learnt about chimpanzee society from Ghaa, she will soon join the main island group. Her integration with these older chimps will be supervised by our experienced team and we’ll keep you updated! “When chimps are stolen from the wild and require sanctuary, it is important to create family groups to mimic how they would naturally live. Eve is a key member who helps hold the island group together. As a middleranking female (due to her strong relationship with dominant female Suzanne) she helps lead the group when necessary and settle disputes, but can also help out weaker members. Without Eve, newcomers would struggle to integrate. Eve’s role is integral to the group’s cohesion. “Thanks to Born Free’s support, recent renovations in the night house have made a
LIMBE WILDLIFE CENTRE CAMEROON big difference. Big hammocks are great for naptime, and all the chimps enjoy new ropes, platforms and climbing structures. Eve continues to thrive under the continued care of the team including Victor, our longest serving employee. With more than 30 years’ experience caring for chimps, he has seen Eve grow from a baby to the well-adjusted and confident chimpanzee she is today.” MB
Eve enjoys a shower!
CHIMPS UNDER THREAT Chimpanzees are our closest relatives and share up to 98% of DNA with humans. They are extremely intelligent, feel complex emotions and live together in close-knit family communities, with a defined hierarchy. Like all great apes, chimps are perceptive, inventive and able to assess and learn from situations. They solve complex problems, pass information from one generation to the next, and make useful tools. SPRING 2019 | CHINOISE & EVE 33
SARA & AFRIKA Latest news on sara & afrika the chimps
SARA’S STORY Sara was just a baby when her mother was killed by poachers. A wildlife trader in South Sudan wanted to sell her as a pet but, luckily, she was rescued with three other baby chimps and brought to Ngamba Island in 2012. Here, amidst 100 acres of rainforest, Sara has recovered and become part of a community of rescued chimps including the older female Afrika, rescued in 2007. 34 sara & aFrika | SprING 2019
Images Š CSWCT, M Balaskas
Sara has been her playful self over the past few months, living with 48 other rescued orphans. Although she has plenty of company, she spends most of her time with youngsters Eazy and Ruparelia, older chimp Afrika and her adopted mum Connie. Sara has come a long way since she arrived in 2012 – a sick, dehydrated infant covered in bald patches. Today she is a healthy chimp who likes to own everything she sees, every stick, sack or swing. When she doesn’t get what she wants, she will let them know. Luckily, those close to her don’t seem to mind and take her in their stride. Maggie Balaskas, our Animal Rescue and Care Manager, recently travelled to Uganda to visit the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust team and was delighted to spend a few days on Ngamba Island. “It was a true privilege to observe Sara and the other chimps – knowing the awful start they had in life and seeing them now. “It is difficult to appreciate the scale of their forest until you see it. I joined the team to conduct a perimeter check, travelling around the island in a boat. It was extensive – 95% of the island is forest and it’s beautiful. Watching the rescued chimps as they sat high in the canopy of the trees was so special. We were lucky to see Sara and other chimps near the island’s edge. They had come down to enjoy some scattered food – some even braving the water to collect a tasty piece of carrot. “The team who care for the chimps are incredible. Their knowledge and commitment to the chimps was formidable. It made me
NGAMBA ISLAND CHIMPANZEE SANCTUARY UGANDA feel very proud that Born Free is able to support Sara and the fantastic work of Ngamba Island. But this is only possible with your amazing support – thank you!”
Sara and Connie feed at the water’s edge
Sitting high in a tree
CHIMPS UNDER THREAT Chimps face many threats in the wild. Poachers capture them for the commercial bushmeat market and sell younger chimps as exotic pets. Today, as few as 175,000 remain in the wild. Chimps can also suffer particularly badly in captivity, whether in zoos, circuses, when used in adverts, films or even research laboratories. SPRING 2019 | SARA & AFRIKA 35
PANGI COVER STORY
Latest news on Pangi the pangolin
PANGI’S STORY pangi is a young pangolin looked after by Sangha pangolin project. She was found as a baby in 2014, When rescued but under the watchful eye of lodge owners Rod and Tamar Cassidy, has recovered well. Here in the tropical rainforests, home to gorillas and forest elephants, the Cassidys help wildlife in need and support community development. Š J Potgieger
36 PANGI | SpRING 2019
With the help of your adoption, the team at Sangha pangolin project has been incredibly busy rescuing orphans over the past few months. Owners Rod and Tamar Cassidy said: “Four new orphaned pangolins have needed our care and rehabilitation. One was a young whitebellied pangolin, given as a gift to someone in Bangui, our capital city and about a day’s drive away. Fortunately a chartered flight was due to come to our lodge a couple of days later and she arrived by plane, but despite our best care, she very sadly did not survive. “Interestingly, this is the second time this has happened recently – a young pangolin brought into the city having been taken from the wild. The first, little ‘Sangha’, came to us via a capable medical doctor. We plan to raise and care for her in our new rescue facility funded by Born Free, and release her into the forest in the next few months. “Your pangi, the black-bellied pangolin, is now four years old and spends her time in the forest. Every day she is followed by trackers until she goes to sleep in a hole in a tree. The next morning the trackers are there to see her come out and continue with her daily life. We have also taken in two other black-bellied pangolins. Some of you may remember Koki, an orphan with a shortened tail. She was brought in having been found in a tree in a field that villagers had burnt. Her tail was raw and obviously very painful, but she had managed to survive. We nursed her back to health and
SANGHA PANGOLIN PROJECT CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC returned her to the forest. Our Ba’aka team monitor her every day, observing her behaviour and recording her home range. “Our other black-bellied pangolin is a young male called Ndima, who arrived in very bad condition. He has since been nursed back to health and has now been released into the forest. With your support we are now expanding our pangolin care programme and, under the new title of the Sangha pangolin project, we will study the behaviour of wild pangolins in the forest and teach local people about the plight of the pangolin due to the illegal trade.” MB
PANGOLINS UNDER THREAT The illegal wildlife trade is a terrible threat and pangolins are the world’s most illegally-trafficked mammal. There are eight species of pangolin, four in Africa and four in Asia, and 100,000 are killed every year for meat – considered to be a delicacy, and scales – used in traditional medicine. Deforestation of their tropical forest homes is another big problem. Born Free campaigns to stop the trade in pangolins and attends important global meetings to discuss the problems pangolins face and encourage better ways to protect them. SPRING 2019 | PANGI 37
SPRINGER & HER CALVES Latest news on Springer & her calves
THEIR STORY In 2002, Springer was just two years old when her mother died and she became lost near Seattle, USA. Springer was identified by her unique calls and taken 250 miles, by boat, back to her wild family near Canada’s Vancouver Island. Here, Orcalab monitor wild orca, supported by Born Free since 1994. In 2013, Springer gave birth to her own baby, called Spirit, then in 2017 had a second calf. 38 SPRINGER & HER CALVES | SPRING 2019
Springer enjoys the rubbing beach Images © Cetacealab, Orcalab/Explore.org
2019 is a special time for orcas, as it marks 25 years of Born Free support for Orcalab. With your help, we are proud to support their ground-breaking work to study wild orcas. You’ll be fascinated by this insightful update from our long-term colleagues Dr paul Spong and Helena Symonds. “Without a doubt, the most exciting thing that happened for us last year was when your adopted orca Springer brought her two babies for a visit. This included a fabulous session at our main rubbing beach, and we were able to record this fascinating behaviour thanks to our surface and underwater video cameras. You can see her pictured here moving her body against the smooth pebbles in the shallow water. These orca rubbing beaches are a vitally important cultural tradition, unique to this community of whales. “Springer was still nursing her youngest calf, who we could clearly see swimming beside her in the video footage. It was great to witness and a wonderful start to our season! She and her babies then spent the rest of the year further north in British Columbia’s coastal waters. It is likely they ventured into southeast Alaskan waters as well. They were seen several times by colleagues who sent us details, including a hydrophone sound recording of their unique calls, which showed them to be accompanied by orcas from the R clan. “We delight in the knowledge that Springer and her growing family are thriving. It is remarkable how she survived the trauma of being lost as a baby, then found – fortunately managing to escape a fate in captivity. This is what happened to other wild-born orcas such as Morgan*, who was
HANSON ISLAND JOHNSON STRAIT CANADA captured in 2010, only to find herself surrounded by concrete walls with no escape possible. public attitudes about captivity have changed radically in recent years and serious initiatives are now underway to establish ocean sanctuaries for captive belugas and orcas, so there is hope. “We are even hopeful for Corky, who lives at SeaWorld San Diego, in USA, and is in her 50th year of captivity, having been captured from her wild family in British Columbia in 1969. We would like to see her return home and continue to campaign for her release, developing plans for a retirement home in Double Bay on Hanson Island. Good things are definitely happening for captives and, thanks in no small measure to you and Born Free, Springer has definitely led the way!”
*Morgan currently lives at Loro parque, Canary Islands
EXTRAORDINARY ORCA The orca or ‘killer whale’ is actually the largest member of the dolphin family and can be found in every ocean. An adult male can grow to nine metres long and weigh a colossal 10 tonnes. Orca are highly intelligent, sentient creatures with intricate social lives and defined culture, communicating with a complex language of calls. Only death or capture separates an orca from its family. SPRING 2019 | SPRINGER & HER CALVES 39
WOLF FAMILY Latest news on The Wolf Family
THEIR STORY The family is a population of rare Ethiopian wolves who live in the Ethiopian highlands. They consist of several family packs, each led by an alpha male and female. Their home is the Web Valley, in Ethiopia’s Bale Mountains, 3,500m above sea level, where temperatures may range from -15°C nights to 25°C days. 40 WOLF FAMILY | SpRING 2019
Images © Burrard-Lucas.com, E Bedin/EWCP
My colleague Eric Bedin, Field Director of the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme in Ethiopia, is hard at work protecting these rare wolves. He has sent this encouraging report: “Wolf friends, I am happy to share good news from the Web Valley. These plateaux are prime wolf real estate – lush green grassland. Criss-crossing the valley, the meandering Web river runs from south to north and, after hundreds of miles giving water to the people in the lowlands, ends its course in the Indian Ocean. Here, our team of Wolf Monitors closely study the lives of 10 packs.
BALE MOUNTAINS ETHIOPIA “Meanwhile, two Hangafo females gave birth in different dens a month apart. Interestingly, all pups are being fed by the whole family. This is unusual behaviour, since typically only dominant females rear pups. This fascinating work would not be possible without your support and we thank you warmly.” CS
“For a third year, breeding has been excellent. All but one of our core families has bred successfully, with more than 35 pups recorded. Breeding is usually synchronised across neighbouring females, which give birth in a very short window of time. But the Horgoba and Bowman packs have bucked the trend, with pups emerging from their dens last September, nearly two months before their neighbours. “Back in 2016, the Tarura pack was so successful it split into two packs – now called Tarura and Hangafo. The Taruras were then vaccinated against rabies in September 2017, and, thanks to this intervention, went unharmed during a short rabies outbreak. Due to high numbers, juveniles then dispersed looking for breeding opportunities. Alo Hussein, Head Wolf Monitor, tracked some to the Senkero grassland, where wolves had been absent for a while. Although they failed to breed, we hope wolves will soon recolonise this habitat. Born Free is rolling out oral vaccination campaigns to inoculate all wolf families in Bale, which will hopefully end fatal outbreaks of rabies.
WORLD’S RAREST DOG The slender, long-legged Ethiopian wolf with its distinctive red-tinged coat is a close relation of both grey wolves and coyotes. There are only about 500 Ethiopian wolves in the world, threatened by loss of habitat and the spread of lethal diseases carried by domestic dogs. Their last stronghold is high in Ethiopia’s Bale Mountains. Every single animal is important and they rely on Born Free and EWCP* to protect them. *Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme
SPRING 2019 | wolF FamilY 41
TRIBUTE TO GINNY
Rescued 2000 - passed away December 2018 We are extremely sad to report that your adopted moon bear Ginny recently died after a short illness. One of the oldest bears at Animals Asia’s bear sanctuary, in China, she was the fifth bear they ever rescued. With your support Ginny had a long and happy life, with grass to explore, trees to climb, nests to build, and a never-ending variety of enrichment items to keep her busy. Buried under two trees in the sanctuary’s Garden of Rest she is deeply missed. “Ginny was a beautiful soul, named after Born Free’s Co-Founder and Trustee Virginia McKenna OBE, my friend and mentor. I loved to watch her as she shuffled happily around. Thank you Ginny for the smiles you brought throughout your beautiful years. Rest in peace, from your family who love you.” Jill Robinson, Founder & CEO, Animals Asia 42 TRIBuTE TO gINNY | SPRING 2019
COVER STORY
ANIMALS ASIA’S BEAR SANCTUARY CHINA
BODO
Meet our new moon bear Bodo
While no one can ever replace our beloved Ginny, we are so happy to introduce our new adopted bear Bodo. He was less than two years old when rescued from a cruel bile farm in 2003, fortunately, he was too young to have been used for painful bile extraction. Unfortunately Bodo is missing his front right paw, probably as a result of being caught in a trap in the wild. However, he doesn’t let this disability stop him exploring Animals Asia’s bear sanctuary. Images © Animals Asia
Like all bears, he has a unique personality and is known as ‘the peacemaker’, often breaking up disagreements between other bears. But he is also mischievous, and gets on with everyone, especially a moon bear called Xuan Xuan. He is the first to introduce himself to new bears at the sanctuary. Bodo’s favourite activities include eating and taking a dip in the pool. MB
SPRING 2019 | BODO 43
KYRIAKOS
Latest news on kyriakos the brown bear
KYRIAKOS’S STORY Kyriakos was rescued as a fourmonth-old wild-born cub with his twin brother Manolis and now lives in a spacious forest enclosure. One of the biggest bears at the sanctuary, his favourite activities are eating and sleeping!
Before settling down to hibernate at the end of last year, Kyriakos had enjoyed a long, full summer and autumn. He was very active and spent a lot of his time in the forest and enjoying long baths in his pool. He also loved to wallow and keep cool in ponds full of mud. Using his strong paws and robust claws, he foraged for nuts and fruits in the forest and climbed trees. With the cold winter temperatures arriving later last year, Kyriakos didn’t hibernate until much later compared to the previous year. 44 kYriakos | SPRING 2019
Once the temperatures got colder, he gradually became less active and began to store food. He started to collect leaves and bring them into his den, in preparation for winter and his two month hibernation. Like other brown bears, during hibernation Kyriakos’ heart rate and body temperate reduces by a few degrees to preserve energy. After about two months of hibernating, Kyriakos woke up in early spring and is now back to his busy self. He is enjoying his enclosure, climbing and rolling around in the mud. Everyone knows Kyriakos is a great
ARCTUROS BEAR SANCTUARY GREECE
lover of food. Some of his favorite treats are fish, honey and bread. He has, of course, been doing plenty of eating since coming out of hibernation – to replace the body fat he lost during hibernation. It is fascinating to learn about brown bear behaviour from this remarkable individual. Thank you so much for helping to look after him and give this wonderful bear the best possible life at Arcturos. MB
CARING FOR BEARS Most of the rescued bears at Arcturos Bear Sanctuary, in Greece, are former dancing bears. Fortunately, this cruel and exploitative entertainment is now at an end in Greece – the first country in Europe to ban wild animals in circuses. The sanctuary now also helps return rescued bear cubs to the wild when possible. SPRING 2019 | KYRIAKOS 45
1
2
3
LION
AFRICAN ELEPHANT
GIRAFFE
9
10
11
4
CHIMPANZEE
12
BADGER
ETHIOPIAN WOLF
GORILLA
LEOPARD
17
18
19
20
ORANGUTAN
HEDGEHOG
VERVET
JAGUAR
25
26
27
28
DUGONG
HIPPO
33
34
GIANT TORTOISE
BASKING SHARK
BABOON
SERVAL
35
NOT FORGETTING US!
Keep Wildlife in the Wild
5
6
CHEETAH
TIGER
13
14
ASIAN ELEPHANT
POLAR BEAR
21
22
7
ORCA
15
GREEN TURTLE
23
8
BROWN BEAR
16
RHINO
24
MOON BEAR
DOLPHIN
HYENA
FOX
29
30
31
32
PANGOLIN
MARMOSET
HARE
GELADA
IT’S OUR 35TH ANNIVERSARY! To mark 35 years of working together for wild animals in need, here are just 35 of the dozens of species you’ve helped Born Free protect and rescue since 1984. We couldn’t do it without you!
Find out more at www. bornfree.org.uk
Charity No:1070906
THE WOLF ON THE ROOF Adopt an animal - Save a life Born Free adoptions have a big impact on conservation. With your help, we take action to save rare species like the Ethiopian wolf, Africa’s most endangered carnivore. Less than 500 of these wolves survive in the mountains and highlands of Ethiopia, known as the Roof of Africa. Found nowhere else in the world, these long-legged wolves are one of the planet’s rarest species, at risk from habitat loss and disease. With vivid red coats, Ethiopian wolves are physically distinct from their closest relative, the grey wolf. Living in family packs with an intricate social structure, they protect their territories from competitors. They are solitary foragers and expertly hunt rodents. Since 1995, Born Free and the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation programme have fought to save these wolves from extinction. Aided by your support, we help local people co-exist with the wolves, protect their unique Afroalpine home and fight deadly outbreaks of rabies.
© burrard-lucas.com
Every adoption counts! Six-year-old David Rieshøj Amos from Denmark is passionate about his adopted pack. Every wolf adopter helps to protect this endangered species. Thank you!