AUTUMN 2022 ISSUE 7 • THE POSITIVE POWER OF THE PRIDE • WHO'S THE LION IN YOUR LIFE?! • MAKE YOUR OWN LION MASK 2022: YEAR OF THE LION Plus, all the latest Born Free news!
Glen Vena, Animal Care Manager at Born Free, Shamwari, South Africa
“I have been with Born Free for 22 years, caring for lions and leopards who have been rescued from appalling conditions and now live at our two rescue centres. Watching them as they settle into their new homes is just amazing, seeing their different personalities coming out, exploring, scent marking and roaring, claiming what is theirs.
Welcome to Hear the Roar!! In this issue, Born Free is celebrating our special Year of the Lion.
2 WWELCOMEELCOMECONTENTSCONTENTSSpecies Spotlight3 Born Free News4 Tarnya’s Corner5 The Positive Power Of The Pride6 Paws For Thought8 An Entire Species In Your Classroom10 Roar For Nature12 Quiz Time18 Wildlife Heroes14 Lion Of My Life16 Ambassador Column17 Make A Majestic Lion Mask19
Caring for them has become more than just a job, it has become personal. My mission is to stop the cruelty that affects wildlife, domestic animals and humans, creating safe environments that benefit all.
Thank you for helping us keep wildlife in the wild!”
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Famous for their unique laughing call which they use to communicate with one another.
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Four species of hyena live wild today: the spotted, brown, striped and the aardwolf. All hyena species face threats to their survival, including habitat loss and persecution. But hope is not lost! Born Free works hard to protect wild hyenas, working with local communities in Kenya to help them live peacefully alongside these predators, as well as rescuing and caring for orphaned and injured hyenas in Ethiopia.
They might look like dogs, but are more closely related to cats!
Spotted hyenas are found in savannahs across much of Africa.
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These amazing carnivores hunt for themselves, and also feast on prey animals killed by other predators (scavenge).
SSPECIESPECIESSPOTLIGHTSPOTLIGHT SPOTTED HYENA
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HELPING HYENAS
Highly sociable, they live in large groups known as clans. Clans are usually led by an alpha female.
Hyenas are very important to their ecosystems, helping keep their habitat clean.
2022 has been incredibly busy for Born Free’s Rescue andCare Team! Four lions who used to perform in a circus,a lion cub dumped in a cardboard box and four servalskept illegally as pets, are now living peacefully at theirpermanent sanctuary homes.
When you reach secondary school, you could learn all about wildlife and conservation through a new GCSE qualification. Exciting!
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BORN FREE NEWS A BIG WIN FOR ANIMALS ELEPHANTSINZOOS
NATURE GCSE!
Mirror
© Brad Louwrens
In May 2022, Born Free published a report called A Legacy of Shame, highlighting that these intelligent animals don’t cope well in captivity and calling for the 49 elephants living in UK zoos to be the last, with the best possible lifetime care.
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DID YOU KNOW:
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Our Rescue and Care Coordinator, Tarnya, helps care for all sorts of UK wildlife.
“This male stoat was hit by a car. Thankfully a passing motorist took him to a local vet. X-rays showed he had a fractured pelvis, but the vet advised that with cage-rest, his pelvis would heal.”
he was fully recovered, the stoat was taken back to his home territory and released.” We do love a happy ending! OF IS CALLED OR
STOATS
A CARAVAN, PACK
GANG.
STOATS ARE OFTEN MISTAKEN FOR WEASELS. TO TELL THEM APART, LOOK AT THEIR TAILS - STOAT TAILS BUSHY BLACK TIP.
HAVE A
A GROUP
STOATS ARE INCREDIBLE LITTLE PREDATORS.RUNNING UP TO 20MPH THEY CATCH PREY,INCLUDING BIRDS, SMALL RODENTS AND EVENRABBITS, WHICH ARE TEN TIMES THEIR SIZE!
The injured stoat was cared for by our friends at Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue in Surrey, which has been supported by Born “OnceFree.
WHAT IS A PRIDE?
It is a group of lions, usually made up of related female lions, their cubs and one or two adult male lions who have joined the pride. Each lion has a vital role to play in its pride.
LEARNING THE ROPES
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Cubs spend their time playing, pouncing on each other and learning important skills they need to survive. They could grow up to be a master hunter, or leader of a pride. Part of the next generation, each cub is vital for the survival of these majestic animals.
Lions have incredibly interesting and social lives. In fact, they’re the only truly sociable cat species in the world and they live in groups called prides, which can be made up of up to 40 lions.
Female lions, or lionesses, hunt most of the food and help guard the pride’s territory. There is no dominant lioness, they all work together and help look after all the cubs, like a nursery, with aunts, cousins, daughters and sisters all pitching in!
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LEADING THE WAY
HELP THE LIONESS FIND HER CUBS
When cubs are first born,females hide them when theygo hunting to protect themfrom predators, and even otherlions. Help the lioness get backto where she hid her cubs.
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PROTECTING THE PRIDE
A male lion’s main role is defending the pride and their territory. Dominant males can be kicked out of the pride if they are defeated in a violent clash with another male. The pride is then taken over by the victorious lion. Young males eventually leave to find their own pride – if they are strong enough!
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Lions are perhaps the most formidable predator on the savannah, much of their success is down to working together, as a pride. Every individual lion is important and has its own special place within the family.
Lions living in captivity have very different lives to wild lions.
Wild lions eat a range of different prey, feeding on the whole carcass, including bones. Lion skulls are perfectly adapted to help them consume their natural prey. Unbelievably, the skulls of some captive big cats have changed shape however, due to the food they eat! Their food is often softer and easier to eat than food they would find in the wild. If a captive lion was released to the wild, they may struggle to catch and eat their natural prey.
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Food for thought
Space to move
McArthur/BFJoanne©Image
A wild pride’s home range can be 1,000 square km or more, and lions travel up to 15km a day. A captive lion’s enclosure however is often smaller than an Olympic-sized swimming pool! Captive lions are therefore frequently overweight, with weak bones due to lack of space and exercise.
Do you think they should be kept in zoos and safari parks?
Disruption to the pride
In captivity, lions are forced to live close together, often only insmall groups and males cannot choose to leave to find theirown pride. Throughout their lives, both males and females aremoved by people between different zoos around the world,leaving their family behind them.
“We have seen so many big cats arriving at our rescue centres, scared, lost,confused and afraid… But in weeks we see them transform into mighty catsthat are vocal, walking with pride, their roars echoing across the valleys.”
DID YOU KNOW?
• If you see a captive lion in distress, tell us at Born Free by visiting www.bornfree.org.uk/raise-the-red-flag
Captive lions often show signs of boredom and stress by repeatedly pacing up and down their enclosure’s fence.
Animal Care Manager, Glen, works with many lions rescued from poorcaptive conditions:
You can help captive lions:
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• Pledge never to visit an attraction that keeps lions, or other wild animals in captivity and tell your family and friends why.
If you would like to get thewhole school involved why notpick a species that might fitinto your school hall, like theEthiopian wolf, with only 500individuals left on Earth.
Going further:
Choose a Critically Endangered species from the list below, and see how many individuals are left on Earth. What else can you find out about them? JAVAN RHINOCEROS 18 BURMESE18VAQUITAindividualsindividualsROOFEDTURTLE10leftinthewildADDAXasfewas30leftinthewildMADAGASCARPOCHARDasfewas20leftinthewild Then it’s time to fill your class with your chosen animal, by drawing or painting them, one picture for each individual left on WhenEarth.you have finished, display your artwork, along with an explanation, so other pupils, teachers and parents can see how few of these animals remain and to encourage them to protect wildlife. *All numbers according to IUCN Red List August 2022 SOME SPECIES ARE SO CLOSE TO EXTINCTION THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL ANIMAL LEFT COULD FIT INTO YOUR CLASSROOM (IF THEY SQUEEZED!). ADDAX Like this activity? Find lots more free, fun activities and lessons on Born Free’s online Education pages: www.bornfree.org.uk/education
Eleven-year-old eco-warrior Holly completed fitness and reading challenges, as well as a ‘name the tiger’ competition at her school, to raise money for tigers.
of presents for his 8th birthday, Benjamin asked for money to help orangutans. His friends and family all pitched in and raised an amazing £350! “I have adopted pangolins and gorillas and this year raised £350 for orangutans! I love fundraising and even if I was offered a really cool job I’d say no, and I would protect animals instead!”
Holly
FOR RROANATURERA
Benjamin
*In fact, current estimates suggest that their may be as few as 4,000 wild tigers left.
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“Since I learned there are only about 5,000* tigers left in the wild, I became determined to save them. I’ve raised over £600 for a Tiger Ambassador to keep tigers safe and help their population grow in India.”Instead
Emily, aged 8, really went the distance, and climbed to the top of Mount Snowden, in the gusting wind and torrential rain, to raise over £300 for pangolins. “Not many people even know what pangolins are. I am so upset about how they are treated so inhumanely. Pangolins are a gentle, nonaggressive mammal. I want people to know what they are going through and what we can do to help stop it.”
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With our support, Oak Lodge School ran a ‘Living With Tigers’ week. Classes created beautiful artwork, learnt songs and even performed a play about the challenges of living alongside tigers. The school loved finding out more about tigers, and how to protect them.
have you been up to for wildlife? Send your stories and pictures to education@bornfree.org.uk (Please ask your parent or guardian first).
Emily
Oak Lodge School
What
For fundraising ideas visit: www.bornfree.org.uk/education-fundraising
HOW CAN YOUNG PEOPLE HELP WILDLIFE?
It is a wonderful thing to want to do. Perhaps find a group that works on projects you sympathise with. Above all, never give up. The animals need you.
WHY ARE LIONS SO IMPORTANTTO YOU BOTH?
Lions have always been very special to us,as it was working with the lions when wemade the film Born Free, that opened oureyes to the importance of the individualanimal. Each one is different. Just like us.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WILDLIFEMEMORY WITH BILL?
2022 is a year of action for lions, in honour of Bill Travers, our charity’s fearless Co-Founder and lionheart, who would have been 100 years old this year.
Bill was an extraordinary person. During the 2nd World War he was a Major in the 9th Gurkhas. He never really talked about those days, but I know he never forgot them. He was a loving family man and happiest when we were all at home – a home we found in 1957 and where I still live today.
It is hard to choose one special memory. But it hasto be walking on the plains in the early morning in1964, with the lioness we would be working withthat day (while filming Born Free). The three of us insilence, and in harmony with nature.
We caught up with Born Free Co-Founder Virginia McKenna OBE - who told us a little more about her late husband.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT BILL?
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Please note: These photos were taken a long time ago. Today, Virginia, and all of us here at Born Free, agree that hands on or close contact with wild animals, in this or any other way, is not in their best interests.
Find out more about Pole Pole’s story in the next issue of Hear the Roar!! DID YOU KNOW? ELEPHANTS CAN LIVE FOR70 YEARS OR MORE! georgelogan.co.ukMail,DailyPictures,CoumbiaofCourtesy©Images
Born Free was founded by Bill and Virginia, with their son Will, after the tragic death of a young elephant called Pole Pole (pronounced Pole-ee Pole-ee). She was taken from her wild herd aged two, and lived a miserable life in a zoo, where she died aged just 17 years old, much younger than she would have likely lived in the wild.
Bill, Virginia and Will decided they must do something, and dedicated their lives to speaking out for wild animals, like Pole Pole, ever since.
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Maybe a family member, a teacher, or a special friend? We would love to hear all about them and why they are the ‘Lion of your Life’.
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• Make sure you have a parent’s, guardian’s or teacher’s permission to send in your nominations to Please include a full name, age and postal address with your entry First names of those that sent their nominations in, and nominees, will appear alongside entries we share, unless requested otherwise
WHO IS THE ‘LION OF YOUR LIFE’?
Send your nominations education@bornfree.org.ukto by 31st October 2022. Terms and Conditions
• We will only use personal data for the purposes of this nomination and in accordance with our Privacy Policy. details visit: www.bornfree.org.uk/ privacy-policy
For
us •
Write a short paragraph between 100-200words, explaining why your nominatedperson is so important to you. They could befeatured in our next issue of Hear the Roar!!
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HOW TO NOMINATE THE ‘LION OF YOUR LIFE’
Lions are strong, loyal and dependable. They care forothers in their pride, and work together as a team.
IS THERE SOMEONE IN YOUR LIFE WHO’S ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU AND YOU CAN RELY ON?
That is why I am supporting Born Free Forever, and you can too! Their amazing exhibition of bronze lion’s sculptures is travelling the UK in 2022. At the exhibition and online you can find out about the many lions they have rescued, from zoos, circuses and ‘pets’ and the amazing work they do to help wild lions. It’s so important we help raise awareness and raise funds to protect these iconic cats before they are gone forever.
10-year-old Thea is Born Free’s youngest Junior Ambassador, but that doesn’t stop her! She has raised hundreds of pounds to keep wildlife in the wild, completing the Mini Great North Run, aged just six and running her own fundraisers with friends. And Thea has a few thoughts to share with you all…
No one can do everything but everyone can do something, so let’s all work together and roar for lions.
What if I told you lion numbers have decreased by 90% in the last 60 years? Shocked? Me too. Trophy hunting and habitat loss are just two of the many reasons for this dramatic decline.
AMBASSADORCOLUMN Find out www.bornfree.org.uk/born-free-forevermore
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What do you think when you hear the word lion? Kings of the African plains? Majestic hunters? Incredible manes? Large thriving prides?
Could you imagine a world without lions? I couldn’t but one thing is for sure, it would be a very sad place to live. With only 20,000 left in the wild we must all help Born Free before it’s too late.
HINT: ALL QUIZ ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND IN THIS MAGAZINE HOW LONG CAN WILD ELEPHANTS LIVE FOR?1 A. Up to 20 years B. Up to 45 years C. More than 70 years QuiztimeQuiztime A GROUP OF LIONS IS CALLED A... 2 A. …Proud B. …Pride C. …Prowl HOW MANY RHINOCEROSJAVANARETHERELEFTINTHEWILD?5 A. 1,800 B. 180 C. 18 STOATS CAN CATCH PREY THAT IS... 3 A. …twice their size B. …three times their size C. …ten times their size WHY DO SPOTTED HYENAS ‘LAUGH’? 6 A. To withcommunicateeachother B. To show they are happyC. They heard a good joke ONE OF THE REASONS SCIENTISTS THINK ZEBRASHAVE STRIPES IS... 4 A. ...to make horses jealousB. …to dazzle and confuse predators C. …so they can recogniseeach other 18 Lions catch and eat a variety of large herbivores, including zebra. Scientists think one of the reasons zebras have bold stripes is to help to dazzle and confuse predators, giving them a greater chance of escaping. Their stripes may confuse lions, but how many zebra can you spot?
4. Once dried, cut out the handprints and ears and stick them to the back of the circle, around the edge, the colour facing outwards.
2. Paint your whole circle. Use any colours you like, but we suggest yellow or orange fur, and a black or brown nose.
You will need: • Cardboard, cut into a circle (about
Try and use reused materials wherever you can – for example an empty cereal box.
1. Cut out a large U-shape in the centre of your card circle. You might need an adult to help you.
used to be widespread across both Africa and Asia. Sadly, there is now only one remaining population of Asiatic lions living in the Gir Forest in India. 19 QUIZ ANSWERS 1.CUpto70years,2.BPride,3.C…tentimestheirsize,4.B…todazzle andconfusepredators,5.C18,6.ATocommunicatewitheachother. Totalnumberofzebra=42.
Lions
across) • Plain paper • Paint • Paint brushes • Scissors • Glue • Lolly stick • String (optional) DID YOU KNOW?
3. On plain paper, paint two ears and create a lion’s mane using lots of handprints.
5. Stick a lolly stick to the back of the card circle to create a handle. Feeling extra creative? Use some string to create whiskers. 20cm
Born Free is an international wildlife charity devoted to wild animal welfare and Compassionate Conservation. Born Free works to end captive exploitation and Keep Wildlife in the Wild, where it belongs! Printed on recycled paper The views expressed in Hear the Roar!! are not necessarily those of Born Free. Born Free Foundation, 2nd Floor, Frazer House, 14 Carfax, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1ER www.bornfree.org.uk +44 (0) 1403 240170 General enquiries: info@bornfree.org.uk Education enquiries: education@bornfree.org.uk AND GO GREEN WITH OUR ONLINE MAGAZINE! View, download and share our paper-free electronic version at: www.bornfree.org.uk/publications Learning about climate change this term? THEN JOIN BORN FREE’S GREAT DEBATE. Delve deeper into the issue of climatechange and decide whether we needto work with nature to reduce, or evenadapt, to its impact. Your students will decide. Download our scheme ofwork for FREE from www.bornfree.org.uk/great-debate Registered Charity No: 1070906
