ISSUE 15 | AUTUMN 2020
CONTENTS
The Elephant Family
Timtom the orangutan
Kyriakos the brown bear
The Ethiopian Wolf Family
The Pangolin Family
Bodo the moon bear
Mugaruka and Chimanuka the gorillas
The Jaguar Family
King the lion
Sara the chimp
The Rhino Family
Madhavi the Asian elephant
Chinoise the chimp
Elsa’s Pride
The Cheetah Family
Springer the orca
Gopal the tiger
The Leopard Family
The Giraffe Family
Wild gifts
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WELCOME These have been challenging times but, can I assure you, it has remained Born Free’s priority to ensure the safety and well-being of your adopted animal. Thanks to your ongoing support, and the work of our wonderful partners in the field, there is much good news to report. Whether you help care for an individual animal at a sanctuary, protect a wild family or herd – or even support an entire population, your help is genuinely life-changing. Read on for a fascinating update and stunning image of your adopted animal, and others.
Highlights include the birth of endangered wolf pups, two new rescued cheetahs and two new leopards, and a vitally important increase in lions in Kenya. We also welcome a whole new adoption. Greetings rhino adopters! Be well, stay safe and thank you again for your life-affirming support. Together, we are a positive change in the world. . Will Travers OBE Executive President & Co-Founder
WE@bornfreefoundation ARE BORN FREE
bornfreefoundation
Born Free has been protecting 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 when possible, or guaranteeing them lifetime care at our sanctuaries.
@bornfreefdn
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.
THE
ELEPHANT FAMILY
Keep up to date with all our animals at:
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THE ELEPHANT FAMILY AUTUMN 2020
LATEST NEWS
AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
The EBs are usually resident around our camp, but have been travelling. We didn’t see them at all from January until July. This isn’t surprising – Kenya had a second year of heavy rainfall, with lush food and plenty of water all over the ecosystem.
KENYA
It’s good when elephants wander – it means they feel safe to use different resources. Like humans, elephants need a balanced diet and can’t get that from the salttolerant plants at the heart of the Amboseli basin. Moving around also spreads the benefits of these super-sized herbivores – they promote grass growth by disturbing bushy vegetation and disperse seeds. When the EBs finally did come back, they didn’t disappoint, with six new calves! Edwina’s daughter Elif returned with her firstborn calf, a male. In great shape, he is very confident, approaching our research car and exploring the world. Edwina’s section of the family returned two weeks after her Aunt Enid’s section, a common pattern. Although they share similar strategies about where to move, Edwina is an independent soul and, with so many daughters, leads a successful family of her own. They retain friendly bonds with the rest of the EBs but are becoming their own unit. As Edwina and her calves and grandchildren thrive, it’s proof she’s making good choices. Dr Vicki Fishlock Resident Scientist, Amboseli Trust for Elephants
THEIR STORY Home: Wild in Amboseli, a 150 square mile park at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro
ISSUE AFRICAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION
Family: Dozens of members including a sub-group led by Edwina, granddaughter of Echo, the matriarch star of BBC’s Echo of the Elephants
© ATE
Background: Amboseli is renowned for its 1,300 elephant population, studied by Amboseli Trust for Elephants since 1973
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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KYRIAKOS
ARCTUROS BEAR SANCTUARY GREECE
LATEST NEWS Kyriakos towers over all the other bears at Arcturos, including twin brother Manolis. Active and inquisitive, his favourite activities include splashing in his pool, digging holes and wallowing in the water. As a lover of food, a great deal of Kyriakos’ day is spend foraging – which is natural behaviour for bear. He digs for roots and insects and seeks out the best berries and grass shoots. In the summer, there was a huge variety growing for him to choose from.
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES You provide Kyriakos with: • Food • Expert veterinary care when needed
Kyriakos is a curious bear, intrigued by everything going on. He closely watches the deer and other wild animals roaming freely around the sanctuary. He is fascinated by Manolis, who lives in the enclosure next door, especially if he unearths something delicious. The brothers are happier living in their own space, but still enjoy each other’s company, foraging or dozing close to one another on either side of the fence. Kyriakos’ favourite treat is watermelon. His care team conceal them inside his enclosure, leaving him to discover the hidden delights. He is less active during warmer days and, taking a break from foraging, finds somewhere cool to lie – the shade of a tree, or his pond. A special thank you for helping fund Kyriakos’ lifetime care during this challenging time. Nikos Kanellopoulos Director, Arcturos
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KYRIAKOS THE BROWN BEAR AUTUMN 2020
KYRIAKOS’ STORY Home: 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
ISSUE BROWN BEAR RESCUE
© Arcturos
Europe has around 15,400 wild brown bears (excluding Russia), with some 350 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.
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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 Rescued: Since 2013, more than 90 pangolins have been cared for and released, then monitored by local Baaka trackers
ISSUE PANGOLINS UNDER THREAT 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.
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THE PANGOLIN FAMILY AUTUMN 2020
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES You helped to: • Provide expert care and food • S upport a team of trackers with wages and all-weather clothing • Provide veterinary treatment and medication.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
THE PANGOLIN FAMILY LATEST NEWS We have been incredibly busy with the most dramatic rescue. In May, eco-guards seized two pangolins from local hunters. One, sadly, did not survive but the other, a male white-bellied pangolin called Pengue, was brought to us in a critical condition. With a deep head wound, his prognosis was poor – we weren’t sure he would make it through the night. Our team worked tirelessly to treat Pengue. With intensive care, his wound began to heal but we were worried about neurological damage. Would he regain his co-ordination and ability to feed himself? Although he ate the ants and termites we collected each day, he still needed hand feeding. We would never release an animal to the wild until it can live independently. Miraculously, after a great deal of care, Pengue has made an extraordinary recovery. Our 98th rescued pangolin, he has been soft released into the nearby forest and, while still a bit wobbly, can climb independently and feed well on his own. We can’t believe how far he has come! We’ll monitor his progress in coming months, but this success story was only possible with your support. Meanwhile, Koki, the orphaned female black-bellied pangolin with a shortened tail, continues to do well. Living wild in the forest, she is monitored by our team as she scales high branches in search for ants. Tamar Cassidy Co-Founder Sangha Pangolin Project
BORNFREE.ORG.UK AUTUMN 2020
© Sangha Pangolin Project, Maja Gudehus
SANGHA PANGOLIN PROJECT
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MUGARUKA & CHIMANUKA MUGARUKA & CHIMANUKA’S STORY Home today: Living wild in the mountain rainforests of a 2,300 square miles 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 Background: Since 2000, Born Free has supported a team of rangers who protect gorillas from poachers
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 fewer than 3,800 eastern lowland gorillas remain, a 77% loss in 25 years.
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MUGARUKA & CHIMANUKA AUTUMN 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.
KAHUZI-BIEGA NATIONAL PARK DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
LATEST NEWS Mugaruka was once a mighty leader, protecting a harem of 17 females. But, with his disability, he was unable to compete with his powerful cousin, Chimanuka, and in recent years has mostly lived alone. However, Mugaruka doesn’t give up. He keeps trying to win back a companion and clashed with Chimanuka yet again in June. Unfortunately, he didn’t succeed and ended up with injured ribs. But, these gorillas – the biggest of all ape species – are hardy and Mugaruka has bounced back to good health. Chimanuka was supported in the dispute by his son Uhuru, a young blackback male – waiting to become a silverback. Uhuru never leaves his father’s side and, together with another blackback Numbi, is one of the family’s protectors. Meanwhile, sub-adult Meteo is more submissive, depending on the dominant males. He too lost his hand, probably from a snare injury, which no doubt makes him vulnerable. Mwindja, mother to baby Ushiriki, is another key family member. Especially maternal, she recently adopted a young male, Karibu, after his mother Bashige left to join another family. As you can see, despite the challenges of COVID-19, we have continued to monitor the gorillas and learn about their fascinating, complex society. Our thanks to all adopters! Bya’ombe De-Dieu Balongelwa Park Director Kahuzi-Biega National Park
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KING’S STORY Home today: Lifetime care in a spacious bush enclosure at Born Free’s sanctuary in South Africa Background: Kept as an illegal pet in France, rescued in 2017 aged four months and cared for by our Natuurhulpcentrum Rescue Centre in Belgium Arrived at Shamwari: July 2018 Age today: Three years
LATEST NEWS We have something wonderful to report, your adopted lion now has a companion! Since arriving at our Shamwari sanctuary, King has come on leaps and bounds and grown so much. But, until now, he has lived alone. Lions are a social species, naturally living with a family pride. Last year, when we rescued four more cubs from the pet trade in France, we wondered if one of the young lionesses would make a suitable companion. Known as the Lions of Lyon, they lived next door to King and he had watched them in fascination. In August, we temporarily subdivided King’s enclosure with a fence and moved in Thea, the youngest of the four. The pair could interact and become familiar with each other, but still have their own space. Within a week, the lions spent most of their time nuzzling against either side of the fence, sitting only metres apart. After a month, we made the decision to properly introduce them. King moved through the sliding gate in the dividing fence to greet Thea in her side of the enclosure. Her initial reaction was to give him a gentle swipe on the nose but, she quickly warmed to him. Since then, they have been inseparable, spending their time playing together in the bottom half of the enclosure and climbing on their jungle gym. Fantastic news! Glen Vena Animal Care Manager Shamwari/Born Free
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KING THE LION AUTUMN 2020
SHAMWARI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE SOUTH AFRICA
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES You provide King with: • Food • Expert care • Vitamin supplements • Any veterinary treatment needed.
BORN FREE IN ACTION • W e rescue individual animals, return them to the wild if possible, or give them lifetime care in our sanctuaries • W e tackle the illegal wildlife trade, stop poachers and prosecute dealers • W e lobby UK and European parliaments for stricter wild pet legislation.
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THE RHINO FAMILY LATEST NEWS Rhinos have a lifespan of up to 50 years and, with your help, we are doing everything we can to ensure they reach old age in Meru! Both black and white rhinos are well on the road to recovery at the rhino sanctuary.
NEW!
Meru now forms an important stronghold for rhinos in Kenya. With around 650 black and 400 white rhinos, our country has the world’s largest population after South Africa and Namibia. You help Born Free provide vital equipment for Meru sanctuary’s rangers, who vigilantly guard rhinos day and night, patrolling the vast protected area to deter would-be poachers and prevent illegal activity. Born Free has so far equipped half of the sanctuary’s 30 security blocks with water storage tanks, solar panels and batteries. This gear is essential for both the effectiveness and well-being of the rangers, as they bravely put themselves on the line every day. They are now able to charge their walkie-talkies and mobile phones – this is vital to report any rhino incidents and ensure quick intervention, as well as allowing them to keep in contact with their families back home. We are happy to report Meru is currently experiencing a rhino baby boom. In the last year, nine new calves have been born – two black and seven white. Your generous donations have been a vital part of this success, thank you! Newton Simiyu Research Officer Pride of Meru Born Free Kenya
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THE RHINO FAMILY AUTUMN 2020
ISSUE RHINO CONSERVATION There are five species of rhinos, under threat from poaching and habitat loss. In the last 10 years, over 9,000 rhinos have been killed illegally for their horn – used for traditional medicine and high-end gifts. Today, as few as 27,000 remain.
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES • Rhino conservation has been so successful the sanctuary’s electric fence has been extended • You help fund vital equipment for rhino rangers.
MERU NATIONAL PARK KENYA
THEIR STORY Home today: Rhino sanctuary, Meru National Park, Kenya Family: A large and healthy population of black and white rhino, protected by rangers Background: After a poaching epidemic in the 1980s, Born Free is helping Kenya Wildlife Service restore Meru’s wildlife to its former abundance
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CHINOISE
LIMBE WILDLIFE CENTRE CAMEROON
LATEST NEWS The rainy season has arrived and Chinoise is having fun playing outside in the puddles in her new enclosure with the mainland group. She recently left the nursery to join the older orphans in their enriched and stimulating environment. We introduced her gradually to the others until she was accepted and integrated, starting with dominant female Papaya who immediately became Chinoise’s guardian. Chinoise really benefitted from her protection during the introduction process, not least with some of the males who enjoyed teasing her. Luckily, Chinoise is a strong female who knew the right balance between standing up for herself and showing submission. Chinoise is now thriving with the 11 other rescued chimps. She walks on two legs across the grass, clambers on the climbing frames and rushes to forage when food is scattered. She has brought a new positive energy to the group and is a great addition, ready to play with everyone! However, when there’s heavy rain, she prefers just to cuddle up to Papaya. During the COVID-19 crisis, we boosted the immunity of all our chimpanzees, providing vitamins, green tea and protein-rich food such as nuts every day. Thanks to Born Free, we have renovated the chimps’ night-time den which Chinoise enjoys, especially the new hammocks! Peggy Motsch Manager Limbe Wildlife Centre
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CHINOISE THE CHIMPANZEE AUTUMN 2020
© LWT
Keep up to date with all our animals at:
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ISSUE CHIMPANZEE CONSERVATION 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.
CHINOISE’S 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 Rescued: January 2014, aged nine months Age today: seven years BORNFREE.ORG.UK AUTUMN 2020
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THE CHEETAH LATEST NEWS We are delighted to welcome cubs Pollyanna and Coro to The Cheetah Family. Thought to be siblings, the male and female cubs were confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade by Somali State authorities. Thankfully, we managed to collect them from a police station, a challenging 865-mile round-trip just before Ethiopia went into lockdown in March. Around three months old when they were rescued, both cubs were undernourished and walking with a limp – a result of old leg fractures. After a great deal of care from our dedicated animal care team and vet, they have made a good recovery. Coro and Pollyanna – named in memory of our Patron Pollyanna Pickering – appear to have a close bond and are never apart, playing together and grooming each other. Other members of The Cheetah Family are enjoying new environmental enrichment – strong cardboard tubes stuffed with small pieces of meat and straw and hung in the enclosures. The cheetah need to use their paws to knock out the contents to reach each tasty, meaty prize. Unfortunately, there is also some sad news to report with the recent loss of female Arapea after a short kidneyrelated illness. After nearly 10 years flourishing in our care, she is sorely missed. Maggie Balaskas Animal Rescue & Care Manager Born Free
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THE CHEETAH FAMILY AUTUMN 2020
ENSESSA KOTTEH RESCUE & EDUCATION CENTRE ETHIOPIA
THEIR STORY Home today: Safe, spacious and natural enclosures at Born Free’s Ensessa Kotteh Rescue & Education Centre in Ethiopia Background: Nearly all of The Cheetah Family are victims of the illegal pet trade and were stolen from the wild as cubs Arrived at Ensessa Kotteh: From 2011 to 2020 Age today: From five to 10 years
FAMILY
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES • Food • Vitamin supplements
• Expert care • Veterinary treatment.
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BANNERGHATTA TIGER SANCTUARY INDIA
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES • Food • Vitamin supplements • Any veterinary treatment needed.
GOPAL’S STORY Home today: Lifetime care in a spacious forest enclosure in Born Free’s Bannerghatta tiger sanctuary in India © Wildlife SOS
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 Arrived at sanctuary: 2014
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GOPAL THE TIGER AUTUMN 2020
Age today: Nine years
Gopal is healthy and active with a great appetite. His favourite meal is beef, as well as chicken and a treat of hard-boiled eggs. Vitamin supplements ensure he gets all the nutrients he needs to keep healthy. Gopal’s carers hide food in his enclosure but, with his sensitive sense of smell, he soon seeks it out. Gopal spends most his time in his day kraal, enjoying open grass spaces, dense layers of foliage, large trees and boulders. He also has a water pool to bathe and cool off, and there are plenty of nooks and crannies to provide shade from sun and rain. From a hiding place, Gopal keeps a good eye on his surroundings, watching any birds or rodents that venture into his enclosure. Sometimes he tries to stalk the birds, getting as close as he can before pouncing – but they are too quick for him! Routine vet checks ensure Gopal keeps well, with booster vaccinations and parasite treatments to help prevent worms and ticks. Environmental enrichment is also a vital tool and the team encourages Gopal to use his natural instincts and behaviours. This includes cardboard boxes filled with meat hung in trees, as well as meat and blood ice lollies. We are very thankful to you for keeping him so happy and healthy. Maggie Balaskas Animal Rescue & Care Manager Born Free
BORN FREE IN ACTION We work with communities in central India to promote co-existence and protect wild tigers. Initiatives include women empowerment schemes mobile health and education units, and tiger ambassadors – voluntary groups who educate their communities about conservation.
GOPA
LATEST NEWS
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THE
GIRAFFE FAMILY
LATEST NEWS
This year has been complicated, with south west Niger affected by an unfavourable local political situation, and COVID-19 restricting our activities. However, we are working around the difficulties and adapting our work to keep supporting the West African giraffe as much as possible! A local masters student is helping investigate community knowledge and attitudes towards giraffes. In the rainy season beginning in June, giraffe migrate east to the Kouré Plateau in search of food, so it’s important to understand people’s attitudes. We will compare observations with those from Gadabeji Biosphere Reserve (GBR), where a new population of giraffe was recently established.
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THE GIRAFFE FAMILY AUTUMN 2020
We monitor the giraffe particularly in the rainy season. They are often observed close to main roads and we want to help avoid road accidents. In GBR, monitoring continues by local rangers and community ecoguards to help ensure giraffe safety and understand behaviour. All eight giraffe are in good health and have adapted well. Mating has also been observed. Giraffe gestation is 15 months, so we will report back. A big thanks to all our adopters. Dr Julian Fennessey Co-Director & Co-Founder Giraffe Conservation Foundation
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
© GCF
NIGER
IN MEMORY OF KADRI ABDOU Born Free is devastated by the tragic loss of giraffe champion Kadri Abdou, killed by terrorist action in Niger in August. Kadri dedicated his life to the conservation of West African giraffe. He was killed with six French humanitarian workers and their Nigerien driver.
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CAMP JL RELEASE CAMP, LAMANDAU WILDLIFE RESERVE
© Orangutan Foundation
INDONESIA, BORNEO
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, threatened by deforestation, poaching and the pet trade. Born Free campaigns to protect wild populations and fights captive exploitation.
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TIMTOM AUTUMN 2020
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, Indonesia, Borneo Age today: Five years
LATEST NEWS There are three critically endangered species of orangutan: Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli, and young orphan Timtom is Bornean. In her forest camp, she is busy practising vital new skills for an independent future in the wild. After over four years within Orangutan Foundation’s soft release programme, Timtom continues to learn and play in equal measure. Of the five orphans at Camp JL, she is one of the most active – as comfortable rolling in the sand as climbing trees. Timtom is very independent, often exploring alone. One of her favourite games is to use a fallen tree branch to dig into the sand, then throwing the sand into the air, covering herself and anyone else nearby! But, she also enjoys interacting with the other young orangutans – Mona, Adib, Nyunyu and Boy. They endlessly chase each other, leaping from tree to tree. Three-monthly deworming and multivitamin supplements from our vet ensures Timtom stays healthy. Most orphan orangutans are released back into the wild by seven years, when they would naturally begin to be independent. But, Timtom must first be proficient in making nests, foraging for food and climbing in the canopy. By adopting, you give her a helping hand on her journey back to the forest, but also support wider conservation efforts for orangutans in Borneo – thank you!
Ashley Leiman Director Orangutan Foundation
© BF / A Gekoski
YOU CAN HELP To report captive orangutan exploitation in shows and circuses, visit www.bornfree.org.uk/raise-the-red-flag BORNFREE.ORG.UK AUTUMN 2020
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THE ETHIOPIAN WOL FAMIL
BALE MOUNTAINS ETHIOPIA
LATEST NEWS Our team closely follows over 20 packs in the Bale Mountains, in Ethiopia’s south eastern highlands, but some occupy a special place in our hearts. One of these is the Tarura Pack. We know their history, in Web Valley’s green plains, in intimate detail. In late 2010, only three wolf packs remained in Web Valley. They were the survivors of devastating rabies and canine distemper outbreaks. Tarura, led by a young female, established territory at the valley’s western edge. Known as TAR02, she has persisted as dominant female. She is easily recognised by a red tag on her right ear, acquired when she was captured for vaccination. She has survived three more disease outbreaks and raised litters every year. Last December, 11-year-old TAR02 gave birth to a litter of four. Today, Tarura is the valley’s largest pack. So much so, one female was observed exploring Fincha Habera waterfall, looking for territory of her own. Is a new pack underway? Meanwhile, in northern Ethiopia, Addis Tesfa (New Hope in Amharic), is a wolf family recolonising Delanta’s rolling hills. It’s been over three years since the last wolf was spotted there, so we were delighted to discover a healthy pair with six playful puppies. We are keeping a close eye and are in contact with local shepherds and farmers. With your support, our work to resolve any conflict continues. Eric Bedin Field Co-ordinator Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme
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THE ETHIOPIAN WOLF FAMILY AUTUMN 2020
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.
THEIR STORY Home today: Living wild in the plateaux of the Afroalpine highlands, 3,500m above sea level
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Family: Several close-knit packs, each led by an alpha male and female. Background: Slender, long-legged and red-tinged, these wolves are closely related to grey wolves, but hunt alone, preying mainly on molerats and grass rats. BORNFREE.ORG.UK AUTUMN 2020
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ANIMALS ASIA’S BEAR SANCTUARY
© Animals Asia
CHINA
BORN FREE IN ACTION
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES
• We help Animals Asia stop bear farm exploitation and rescue bears
You provide Bodo with: • Food • Enrichment • Veterinary care.
• We helped Animals Asia build a new bear sanctuary in Vietnam.
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BODO THE MOON BEAR AUTUMN 2020
BODO
LATEST NEWS Bodo has been busy of late! Earlier this year, his group of eight bears began the process of being integrated with seven bears from a different house. They lived side by side for months, getting used to each other’s sight and smell. Bodo is so amicable, he was top of the ‘friendly list’, the first to meet new bears. One by one, each individual was introduced and he found an immediate friend in younger male Wang Cai. However, a small female called Pixie was less impressed, giving Bodo a swipe and scratching his ear. Bodo didn’t let this stop him though! He was successfully introduced to the rest of the group and is now special friends with Wang Cai’s sister, Holly. Unfortunately, during this time, Bodo lost a couple of his old-time friends George and Monkey. Both were elderly and their deaths weren’t unexpected. We are just thankful they had so many happy years at the sanctuary. Now fully integrated into the new larger group, Bodo enjoys his day-to-day routine – foraging for food, taking dips in the pool and resting atop wooden platforms or in a pit he dug into the side of a mound. But, your adopted bear has been putting on a bit of extra weight and, when weighed at his regular health check, came in at a whopping 223kg! He is now on a diet and is being encouraged to keep active.
BODO’S STORY
Maggie Balaskas Animal Rescue & Care Manager Born Free Foundation
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
ISSUE BEAR FARMS Just 25,000 moon bears survive in wild, but thousands, caught from the wild, are kept in bear bile farms in China and Vietnam. Live bears are milked for bile, an ingredient used in traditional Asian medicine.
Age today: 18 BORNFREE.ORG.UK AUTUMN 2020
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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 Argentina’s Pampas, but now occupy less than half their historic range.
THEIR STORY Home today: 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
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THE JAGUAR FAMILY AUTUMN 2020
Background: With Born Free’s help, Jaguars in the Fringe works to reduce threats, stop poaching and encourage expansion of the jaguars’ range
ARGENTINA
THE JAGUAR FAMILY LATEST NEWS The Jaguars in the Fringe team have been hard at work tracking jaguars in the area between Baritú National Park in Argentina and Bolivia’s Tariquia National Reserve. Camera traps at strategic points monitor jaguars and their prey species – our thanks to all field assistants and sponsors for making this possible, including Born Free adopters. It is fascinating to scour the footage. This is a biodiverse area and we watch peccary rummaging for food, a jaguarundi wild cat and her kittens, a graceful brocket deer and her fawn, and a female tapir and her calf. But, as you can imagine, our eyes are peeled for the elusive jaguar. We are rewarded by the occasional glimpse, usually of a solitary individual, running past the camera perhaps on a hunt, or sniffing the ground or scentmarking a tree in a more leisurely manner. It is vital we know where the jaguars are as much of our work focuses around engaging communities in conservation. We recently organised a Jaguar Cultural Festival in Yungas Forest with local people enjoying a variety of social and educational activities. Life-sized jaguar sculptures were displayed and we painted children with jaguar faces. This work is so important. Local cattle herder Don Estrada had lost several cattle to jaguars. But, we are now working together to avoid predation, including better fencing. He has not suffered any attack in the last three years, which is excellent news. © Richard Hurrell
YUNGAS FOREST
Dr Flavia Caruso Jaguars in the Fringe
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SARA
NGAMBA ISLAND CHIMPANZEE SANCTUARY UGANDA
LATEST NEWS
Sara is boisterous and likes playing games with her fellow orphans. But, chimp society is hierarchical and Sara can be mischievous, provoking low-ranking chimps so they get told off by more senior individuals. While feeding, Sara positions herself close to where the fruit is scattered to gather as much as possible. She then scampers off to the forest to avoid her meal being stolen by a higherranking chimp. Sara sometimes tries to pinch food from little Eazy, but the care team ensure the youngster doesn’t miss out.
Meanwhile, older orphan Afrika couldn’t be more different. Low-ranking, she often grooms Billi, her adoptive mum. She never fights if someone steals her food, but Billi is usually on hand to share her portion. At night, Afrika prefers to sleep alongside the juvenile chimps, rather than the other adults. Maggie Balaskas Animal Rescue & Care Manager Born Free
Sara seems to grow even more confident and cheeky as she gets older. She deliberately starts a quarrel over something small, such as one chimp grooming another, or choosing food she wants. In chimpanzee communities, fighting helps a chimp increase their rank. So, whilst Sara’s behaviour can be unsettling, it’s not unusual or unexpected. The group’s dynamics evolve as each chimp matures and their character develops.
Home today: Lifetime care amidst 100 acres of rainforest on Ngamba Island in Lake Victoria Background: Sara was rescued in South Sudan and was due to be sold as a pet Rescued: 2012, aged four years Age today: 12 years
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SARA THE CHIMPANZEE AUTUMN 2020
BORN FREE IN ACTION • We monitor wild chimpanzee populations and help people and apes co-exist • We campaign against the illegal trade in ape bushmeat and live infants • We help enforce legislation and prosecute wildlife traffickers • We help rescue orphans from trade and fund their care in sanctuaries.
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SARA’S STORY
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WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES You provide Sara with: • Food • Daily care • Any veterinary treatment needed. BORNFREE.ORG.UK AUTUMN 2020
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LATEST NEWS Exciting news to report – Madhavi and 19 other senior herd members have been moved into a soft release area. In this area, they can forage and begin to fend for themselves, before they are set free. Madhavi was older than most calves when rescued and is wary of human presence. But, this is a good thing as her journey to the wild continues. Although shy, she has integrated well to the Elephant Transit Home (ETH) herd, making some close associations. Kinship and social learning are the cornerstone of elephant society and survival in the wild. ETH keeps all rescued calves together to form these important bonds and skills in anticipation of release.
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES You provide Madhavi with: • Daily monitoring • Supplementary feeding • Any veterinary treatment needed.
Madhavi and the other elephants moved into the soft release area in March to begin transitioning to full freedom within 50 hectares of scrublands, lake and grasslands. Madhavi sticks to the middle of the herd as they roam in the new space and encounter and even graze alongside resident wild elephant herds. With the advent of monsoon rains this winter, they will soon be allowed complete freedom in Udawalawe National Park. Meanwhile, the adventurous orphans are being monitored, with staff providing supplementary feeding while they get used to their new surroundings. Manori Gunawardena Country Representative Sri Lanka
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MADHAVI THE ELEPHANT AUTUMN 2020
ISSUE ASIAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION Found in 13 countries in south east Asia, just 35,000 survive. They are threatened by habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict.
ELEPHANT TRANSIT HOME SRI LANKA
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MADHAVI’S STORY Home today: Lives in a soft release area near the Elephant Transit Home (ETH), which cares for orphan elephants and returns them to the wild when they are ready Background: Madhavi was 18 months old when found alone, she was too young to survive on her own Arrived at ETH: 2016 Age today: Six years
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ELSA’S PRIDE AUTUMN 2020
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 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.
LATEST NEWS It has been an interesting few months for Elsa’s Pride. Thanks to your support, our team keeps a close eye on them, learning more about pride dynamics – which is vital for our conservation efforts. You might remember that dominant male, Mfalme, was recently ousted from Elsa’s Pride by Solio and Mang’erete who formed a coalition. We wondered if he would try to take back his territory from these younger males, but he remains with another pride called Mulika. Meanwhile, Solio and Mang’erete’s coalition has caused fission and fusion within the 14 members of Elsa’s Pride. We never see them all together. Older lioness Makena stays with two younger females, known as the Mururi Girls. All three have been seen mating with Solio and Mang’erete. There are no new cubs to report as yet – pregnancy lasts nearly four months – but we’ll keep you posted. Two other older females, Elsa and Liz, have moved away with their four cubs. It is exciting to see how they manage to elude the new males. We also monitor the pride’s two
LIONS IN MERU Lion numbers are officially up 25% to 2,489 in Kenya, 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.
sub-males who have been pushed out by Solio and Mang’erete. Currently nomads, they are trying to establish a pride within Meru National Park’s rhino sanctuary. You can see why our team is so fascinated by the behaviour of Elsa’s Pride! Newton Simiyu Research Officer Born Free Kenya
MERU NATIONAL PARK KENYA
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES You help Born Free: • Track, survey and protect Meru’s lion population • Reduce threats to lions and their habitat.
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SPRINGER LATEST NEWS
Springer was sighted briefly on British Columbia’s north coast on 25th June, along with other northern resident orcas. Just six days later, Springer and a crowd of orcas streamed through Blackney Pass in front of OrcaLab. We did not immediately see her, but as the whales turned into Johnstone Strait, we thought we heard her distinctive call – ‘weeawu’! Our hopes were raised and, later in the Strait, her presence along with her two babies, Spirit and Storm, was confirmed. Our thoughts raced back 18 years when Springer was reunited with her family after she was found languishing hundreds of miles away. Born Free played a key role in bringing her back. It is so satisfying to realise that, without those efforts, Springer would have been lost to her orca community.
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SPRINGER THE ORCA AUTUMN 2020
Throughout the rest of July, Springer travelled in and out of the area. You can see her here in front of Nimpkish Hotel in Alert Bay, in a wonderful photo by Jared Towers. Meanwhile, we installed a new remote camera at Strider rubbing beach. Our reward was to watch Springer and her family enjoy a massage on smooth pebbles – so close and so amazing! You can join us for more such scenes via explore.org/livecams/orcas/orcalab-base We unreservedly thank you for your continued support. Be well and stay safe! Helena Symonds and Dr Paul Spong Co-Founders OrcaLab
HANSON ISLAND CANADA WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES You help: • Support OrcaLab and protect their local orca community •O ur campaigns against orca captivity.
SPRINGER’S STORY Home: Living wild, monitored by OrcaLab which has studied orca since 1970 and is supported by Born Free
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Family: 20-year-old Springer gave birth to Spirit in 2013 and Storm in 2017
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© J Towers
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.
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THE LEOPARD FAMILY
SHAMWARI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE SOUTH AFRICA
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES You provide The Leopard Family with: • Food • Expert care • Vitamin supplements • Any veterinary treatment needed.
LATEST NEWS Elderly Sami is still going strong despite a difficult start in life, with an appetite so good we have had to put him on a bit of a diet. Extra enrichment keeps him active, including a new structure to hang meat up high – he’s surprisingly agile for an old boy! We are excited to report two new leopards at our big cat sanctuary. Zeiss and Mowgli – a rare melanistic leopard – were rescued from a closed zoo in South Africa in March. Shamwari’s vet Dr Johan Joubert and I made a seven-hour, 855-mile emergency dash before a COVID-19 lockdown to bring them to our sanctuary. They are both timid and nervous of people. While they gain confidence, we use camera traps to monitor their progress. The images from these traps have given us spectacular insight into how playful they are – exploring, rolling around, climbing and enjoying meals. We also hear them calling, even if we don’t spot them. They will take time to trust people and learn we’re the good guys! We are heartbroken to report the passing of our much-loved old female Leda, who died after a short illness in March. Although greatly missed, it’s a huge comfort to know she enjoyed 11 years at our sanctuary. Her daughter Rhea continues to do well. She likes her privacy and, hiding in the thicket, keeps an eye on King the lion, her nosy next door neighbour! Glen Vena Animal Care Manager Shamwari/Born Free
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THE LEOPARD FAMILY AUTUMN 2020
THEIR STORY Home today: Lifetime care in spacious enclosures at Born Free’s 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. Rhea came from a zoo in Cyprus in 2009 Age today: Sami is 19 and Rhea is thought to be 23
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Br a n d n e w
ANIMAL PRINT MERCHANDISE RANGE
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DONT MISS OUT ON OUR CHRISTMAS CARDS AND CALENDAR Our 2021 calendar, featuring wild animals in our care, is raising funds for our rescue & care work. And don’t miss our bear and lion-themed Christmas cards!
Images above are a visual representation of the merchandise and are not the actual products.
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BROWN BEAR ORPHANS
The Brown Bear Orphans are brown bear cubs who have been rescued by the Orphan Bear Rescue Centre in Russia. They are all being rehabilitated in preparation for their release back to the wild – where they belong. Help every bear cub return to the wild.
Find out more at bornfree.org.uk/adopt-a-brown-bear
Born Free Foundation, Broadlands Business Campus, Langhurstwood Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 4QP, UK
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