Born Free - Wildlife Times - Autumn 2018

The magazine for people who are wild about animals

WILDLIFE TIMES

Magazine

AUTUMN 2018

ELEPHANTS IN CRISIS These giganTic gardeners need your helP Today

“MOST PITEOUS HOWL” virginia’s french zoo hearTbreaK

YOU DID IT! King comes home ThanKs To your helP

PLUS

• Turning vision inTo realiTy • Kids and caTs worK iT ouT • agaTha’s new fox family • who lives nexT door To you?

KEEP WILDLIFE IN THE WILD

WELCOME

King is home safe!

From Will Travers OBE

wow! a huge born free welcome to the tens of thousands of readers old friends and new - receiving this bumper edition of Wildlife Times. as always with born free, it’s individuals that count. like King - follow the amazing story of a little lion with a big name from france, via belgium and the uK, to his ancestral home in africa (p14). individual people matter too - dr liz greengrass’s harrowing article from the frontline makes for scary reading (p18). meet the caring conservationists who refuse to see ivory poaching as a set of statistics but thousands of individual tragedies. with your support, our Elephants in Crisis appeal will protect elephants and their families in the wild – where they belong (p4). we never forget each wild animal in captivity who suffers in silence for our so-called ‘entertainment’. my mother virginia goes to a miserable french zoo, first visited by my late father, bill, over 24 years ago (p22). our ceo, howard Jones, explains his personal journey to born free, what inspires him and his vision for a kinder world (p26).

President will@bornfree.org.uk @willtravers

© g Roberts Richard Peirce

Cuddle Me Kill Me By Richard Peirce £11.99 a startling account of south africa’s appalling captive lion and hunting industry. with foreword by will Travers and sold in aid of born free – visit give.bornfree.org.uk/shop

Cudd le Me

A true account off South Africa’ lion breeding s captiv ve and canned c hunting indus ustry

COVER STORY

Magazine reader survey: The results

Killl Me

Thanks everyone who took part – such positive feedback! Visit www.bornfree.org.uk/survey-feedback Paart of proceeds P

will go to

Please save the giants The world’s elephants are in crisis.

Every year, tens of thousands are killed for their tusks. It is horrific, but one dies in Africa every 25 minutes. The ivory is illegally bought and sold by criminals around the world. Fuelled by human greed, the deadly trade causes terrible suffering. Please help protect these immense, intelligent animals (p4).

Cover photo © www.garyrobertsphotography.com

© www.georgelogan.co.uk

© C Radloff/Shamwari

you see! it really is all about individuals. virginia and i are so proud to count on each one of you as members of the born free family, doing what families do best – sticking together for wild animals in need.

CONTENTS

FREE digital copy For your free e-edition of Wildlife Times visit www.bornfree.org.uk/wlt - you won’t believe your eyes! Then forward on for family and friends to enjoy.

In this issue of Wildlife Times 4 Conservation cover story elephant emergency – save africa’s giants

26 My Vision new Howard Jones shares his dreams 28 Education

14 Rescue & Care cover story Home thanks to you! King’s epic journey 18 The Big Picture cover story Caught in the crossfire - four-page special

22 Captivity cover story Virginia McKenna visits Mont Faron zoo

30 Over to you Your letters, photos, poems and more!

32 Born Free Enterprise

34 Wildlife heroes cover story Meet ele champ Motuma adula Ragasa 36 You can adopt King

16 Bo loves

22 Fed up in France

© S gamel

© D Tiveau/CiFOR

her bananas

© OPC

10 Fighting badger crime

T gray

11 Wild News a round-up of Born Free news

18 Caught in the crossfire The Born Free Foundation 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!

26 My vision for wildlife

Wildlife Times is published quarterly by the Born Free Foundation each year iSSn 1351_9212 Managing editor: Will Travers, will@bornfree.org.uk editor: Celia nicholls, celia@bornfree.org.uk Designed by: Claire Stanford, claire@bornfree.org.uk Born Free Foundation, Broadlands Business Campus, Langhurstwood Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 4QP. 01403 240170 info@bornfree.org.uk www.bornfree.org.uk © www.georgelogan.co.uk

The Born Free Foundation is a Registered Charity no. 1070906 Printed by 4 Print Ltd, Tel 020 8941 0144 This publication is printed on Satimatt green supplied by ebbs Tel: 020 8893 1144 The views expressed in Wildlife Times are not necessarily those of Born Free. if you have any comments or issues you would like

to raise, please write to the Managing editor at the address above.

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KEEP ME SAFE Dr Mark Jones introduces a remarkable species and explains how you can help protect them.

i

n spite of their immense size and strength, elephants are highly intelligent, sensitive and family-oriented. They communicate over huge distances, protect each other in the face of danger, care for their sick and wounded, and even mourn their dead. Known as a ‘keystone species’, elephants modify their savannah and forest homes and provide opportunities for countless other species to thrive (p6).

Yet because of the threats posed by us humans, elephant populations are in serious decline. Numbering perhaps five million a century ago, today as few as 420,000 African elephants and less than 30,000 Asian elephants remain. Their future is in jeopardy and they urgently need your help.

Poaching for their ivory tusks remains the biggest single threat to wild elephants, and the African continent runs red with their blood.

Africa’s elephant decline 1918 - 5 million 1979 - 1.3 million 1989 - 600,000 2018 - 420,000

92% lost in the past century

4 coNsERVATIoN | auTuMn 2018

CONSERVATION

One African elephant is killed for ivory every 25 minutes.

You can help Your gift today will help fight the brutal ivory trade. Visit www.bornfree.org.uk/crisis to donate or call 01403 240170.

DEADLY TRADE in spite of a 1989 moratorium on international trade in ‘new’ ivory, hardwon with the help of Born Free, domestic markets have continued to thrive, supplied by increasingly sophisticated criminal networks. it is horrific, but upwards of 20,000 elephants die at the hands of well-equipped poachers each year. That’s one killed every 25 minutes!

The poachers show no mercy, gunning down whole families of elephants, poisoning water sources, and leaving orphaned calves to starve.

loving family animals

ivory trafficking is a truly global problem.

You’ll be shocked to hear that, in recent years, the uK has become the biggest source of ‘antique’ ivory. This legal trade stimulates demand and provides opportunities for traffickers to launder ivory from recently killed elephants into lucrative black markets.

Born Free has been campaigning to end the ivory trade for nearly 30 years, and the world finally seems to be listening.

The united States introduced severe restrictions in 2016. China closed down its ivory carving factories and outlets at the end of 2017, and the uK has introduced its ivory Bill to Parliament claiming it will be among the world’s toughest (p13). Hong Kong and Taiwan are also introducing trade bans. Shutting down the ivory trade will go a long way towards securing a future for elephants.

Your support will help Born Free remain at the forefront of this global effort.

Your generous support will also protect elephants by training and equipping rangers, establishing ‘wildlife corridors’ to allow safe migration between protected areas, and helping communities live peacefully alongside these huge mammals (p6). We also need your help to prevent elephants being cruelly taken from the wild to live miserable, lonely lives in zoos.

Dr Mark Jones Head of Policy & Veterinarian markj@bornfree.org.uk

Targeted by poachers Killed for their ivory

sold for profit

it’s not too late to save africa’s elephants. With you by our side we won’t stop fighting until the ivory trade is at an end and elephants are no longer exploited. Together let’s ensure a secure future for these exceptional, wise giants.

Photos © georgelogan.co.uk, margotraggettphotography.com, Ian Redmond, LAGA.

auTuMn 2018 | coNsERVATIoN 5

JUMBO GARDENERS Not just creatures of wonder, elephants help shape healthy ecosystems.

Emily Neil explains why every single one of them counts.

T

he world’s largest land mammal and a ‘keystone species’, elephants play a critical role in the natural world. These vast vegetarians disperse seeds over huge distances through their dung – an important fertiliser. They knock down trees, allowing smaller animals to browse and other plants to thrive, and dig for water in the dry season. Known as ‘ecosystem engineers’ or ‘gardeners of the forest’, elephants are vital to maintain their savannah and forest homes.

A world without elephants is unimaginable. Yet populations have suffered devastating declines due to human behaviour (p4). Ivory poaching is their biggest threat, but habitat loss and

expanding human populations also take huge tolls. Forced to compete over shrinking land, dangerous conflict between people and elephants is increasing, and can even be deadly.

Born Free promotes ‘compassionate conservation’ – safeguarding wild populations should not come at the expense of individual welfare. We help humans and wildlife coexist in peace.

Elephants are extraordinary – perceptive and sentient, but can present significant challenges for people living alongside them. For example, elephants have giant appetites and can make light work of a crop field. Consequences are devastating especially for small farmers, who may lose their entire livelihoods

Elephants maintain their savannah and forest homes, allowing other animals and plants to thrive.

6 coNsERVATIoN | auTuMn 2018

overnight. Elephants can also injure or - tragically - kill people, which may lead to retaliatory killings.

Born Free has protected wild elephants and promoted human-elephant coexistence since 1992, when we began supporting Dr Cynthia Moss and the Amboseli Elephant Research Project in Kenya. At the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro – Africa’s tallest mountain, this is the world’s longest-running study of African elephants and continues, with our help, to this day. This work has transformed our understanding of these female-led, close-knit families. Kenya is where the Born Free story began and here, in our charity’s heartland,

CONSERVATION our elephant conservation work is ongoing. It recently included providing fuel and technical support for Kenya Wildlife Service’s aerial elephant census.

Born Free also has flagship projects protecting savannah elephants in Babile Elephant Sanctuary, Ethiopia, and forest elephants in Banyang-Mbo, Cameroon. Poaching, human-elephant conflict, and political instability are significant challenges, with conflict particularly severe at Babile where agricultural expansion and an influx of humans lead to ever-increasing contact.

We protect humans and elephants at both sites – strengthening law enforcement, working with local government, and piloting chilli-pepper fencing to deter elephants and halt crop foraging (p34).

Meanwhile in Asia, elephants also face pressure from habitat loss, conflict and poaching for ivory. But these hazards are augmented by a gruesome new threat: demand for their skin, used for jewellery and traditional medicines. Only male Asian elephants have tusks, so females and young are not targeted by ivory poachers. The trade in skin,

however, does not discriminate. “It’s open season on entire herds,” says Born Free Associate Director Gabriel Fava. “The horror of this trade is second to none.” See www.bornfree.org.uk/blog There is much work to be done, but Born Free will never stop fighting to secure a safe future for elephants. With your support, we will try to help people and elephants coexist in peace.

You can help Your gift today will protect wild elephants and oppose Asia’s horrific skin trade. Visit www.bornfree.org.uk/ crisis to donate or call 01403 240170.

Ele info

6

tonnes

weight of male (80 people!)

height of male

2m

1.8m

length of tusks (front teeth)

world’s biggest ears

100,000 muscles in trunk

225 litres Emily Neil Field Conservation Assistant emilyn@bornfree.org.uk

4m

75% of time spent feeding

70 years

water drunk a day

life-span

22 months

100kg

pregnancy

newborn calf

Photo © georgelogan.co.uk

auTuMn 2018 | coNsERVATIoN 7

ELEPHANTS

IN CRISIS A world without elephants is simply unimaginable

‘One African elephant killed every 25 minutes’ Less than half a million remain Targeted by poachers Slaughtered for their ivory Born Free urgently need funds for our lifesaving work in Cameroon, Ethiopia and Kenya.

FIND OUT MORE & DONATE www.bornfree.org.uk/crisis

Charity No:1070906

© www.margotraggettphotography.com

CONSERVATION

MY

FRONTLINE

VIEW

CULTURE COUNTS

Since the extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago, the rate of species’ die-off has gone off the scale. This is now mainly due to human activities altering the harmony of nature. To combat this, different conservation models such as ‘fortress’, ‘communitybased’ and ‘co-management’ have been developed. Science has taken a central role, with the wisdom of indigenous african practices often ignored - yet these can provide innovative solutions. For centuries, rituals and practices limiting access to natural resources have governed african societies. Thus conservation was deeply-rooted - no one dared go against any taboo or law. among ghana’s Dangomba community, mahogany trees were believed to have spirits and could not be destroyed. Similarly in Kenya, the wild fig tree is sacred to the Kikuyu community and not cut down. african culture restricts access to sacred sites, creating sanctuaries for wildlife species. in the usambara Mountains in Tanzania, traditional medicinal plants are protected thanks to respect for burial sites. The Kaya forests at the Kenyan coast are maintained by the Mijikenda people to protect graves - one of the last remnants of a once extensive lowland forest.

I stood beside the body of an

Some animals have a cultural safety net thanks to their totemic status. among Kenya’s abaluhya killing a monitor lizard is taboo, while in Meru an owl can ‘curse’ someone so it is forbidden to kill one. in the Luo community wild animals, including snakes, peacefully visiting a home can safely depart, while any man who killed a leopard goes through purification rituals. The Maasai have believed eating wild animals would stop cows producing milk. Many african cultures revere the elephant, giving them strong cultural significance. elephants symbolise power, wisdom, longevity, loyalty, cooperative spirit and more. in ghana’s ashanti culture, they believe that elephants are human chiefs from the past. Traditional conservation systems cherish land resources and, despite some practices eroding with time, many communities still attach great value to these customs. including such measures in formal strategies may further encourage local people to protect wildlife.

I wrote #IvoryStinks!

elephant, killed for his tusks just a month after China closed its ivory markets (p5). Evidently it will take

time for the news to filter down to

poachers. ‘Big Tembo’ was a tusker

in his mid-40s, who I’d first seen as a baby in the early 1980s - one of

Mount Elgon’s world-famous salt-

mining ‘underground elephants’. He should have been roaming the

forests, dispersing seeds, fertilising soils and fathering the next

generation of troglodyte tuskers.

Standing sadly by his rotting remains

Every elephant matters - as does

every gorilla, lion or other animal - to their family, wider social circle and

ecosystem. But name an animal and

the human world cares what happens to an Elsa, Pole Pole, Cecil or Digit.

Scientists giving their study animals

names and telling their life stories is a powerful conservation tool. An

individual’s story can affect the fate of a species, its habitat, and the

biosphere on which we all depend.

May Big Tembo be the last Elgon

The wisdom of indigenous African practises can provide innovative conservation solutions.

elephant to die in this way.

© i Redmond

© www.georgelogan.co.uk

David Manoa Head of Conservation Programmes Born Free Kenya manoa@bornfree.or.ke

Born Free promotes compassion conservation – every animal counts!

We protect threatened species in their natural habitat | We oppose the global wildlife trade and ‘sport’ hunting | We reduce conflict so people and wild animals can coexist

Ian Redmond oBE Senior Wildlife Consultant ian@bornfree.org.uk auTuMn 2018 | coNsERVATIoN 9

CONSERVATION

ON YOUR DOORSTEP

FIGHTING CRIME

Dominic Dyer British Wildlife Advocate dominicdyer@aol.com

fight against wildlife criminals. Over the past 18 months, over 20 police forces have participated, with hundreds of officers gaining valuable insights into the maltreatment of badgers and other species. “Education and training play a major role in the modern-day fight against wildlife crime,” said former police wildlife crime officer Craig Fellowes.

These courses generate significant media coverage, helping drive greater public awareness and political pressure for

For decades, Born Free has played a key role in the fight against international wildlife crime including trade and trafficking, which threatens so many endangered species - from elephant and rhinos, to leopards and pangolins.

However, our work to tackle crime is just as crucial in Britain, where species including hares, bats, birds of prey and seals are targeted by criminals.

Wildlife crime can include illegal hunting, ‘coursing’ with dogs, poaching and theft.

To address such cruelty, Born Free recently helped produce a groundbreaking British Wildlife Crime Report with colleagues at Wildlife and Countryside Link – a coalition of 48 organisations devoted to Britain’s wildlife, countryside and marine environment.

Launched in Parliament, the report highlighted to MPs the extent of illegal persecution of native species and pushed for greater government action.

more police resources to tackle wildlife crime and longer sentences for criminals. in July, Born Free and other members of Link met with Home Office Minister, Victoria atkins MP, to discuss these crucial issues. The fight against wildlife crime is critically important to protect the future of wild species. With your support, Born Free will continue to be a leading voice in this debate, both at home and abroad.

Tackling crime such as killing hares for ‘sport’

We also work closely with the Badger Trust and naturewatch Foundation to support a rolling programme of training courses for police officers across england and Wales, on the frontline in the

© www.georgelogan.co.uk

© L Kee

© K Macelwee

COnSeRVaTiOn NEWs IN BRIEF

Can chimps and people coexist?

Help stop the hippo cull

Helping pastoralists, saving lions

Of course they can! But chopping down their forest homes can lead to conflict.

Born Free is now helping highlythreatened chimpanzees to live safely and sustainably alongside rural farmers in Bulindi, uganda.

zambia has announced plans to allow trophy-hunting tourists to kill at least 1,250 hippos in the world-famous Luangwa River Valley. We can’t let this happen, take action to stop the cull at bornfree.org.uk/ zambia-hippo-cull

We’re replacing the weakened wooden posts in our predator-proof bomas with recycled plastic. These reinforced enclosures protect livestock in Kenya and help to prevent retaliatory killings. So now they’re lion anD termite proof!

10 coNsERVATIoN | auTuMn 2018

JUST 800 OF US REMAIN

WILD NEWS The latest news on born free animals, projects and people.

first new great ape found since 1929

© A Walmsley

only just discovered, the newest species of ape is also the rarest. and now the critically-endangered Tapanuli orangutan faces a new threat in sumatra’s forests – the construction of a dam. help us stop this at www.bornfree.org.uk/take-action

PROTECTING MIGRANTS

WHO LIVES NEXT DOOR?

© Fox Project

Forget dogs and cats – nearly 5,000 dangerous wild animals are being kept at private properties across the country.

Find out where with our interactive map at www.bornfree.org.uk/dwamap

Born Free is now an official partner of a vital un treaty. We played a key role in getting the Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species to officially ‘list’ giraffes, lions, leopards and chimps.

“We’re doing everything we can to promote compassionate conservation,” explained Dr Mark Jones (p4).

AGATHA’S NEW FAMILY agatha was just a few weeks old when rescued and taken to our friends at The Fox Project in Kent. Here the lonely orphan was introduced to a new ‘family’ - Cuckoo, Dawn, Spyder and ivy. great news – the cubs have now been rehabilitated back to the wild.

RHINO RESCUE

© V Cheruiyot/BFK

in a dramatic rescue operation, Born Free has helped the Kenya Wildlife Service give emergency aid to an endangered white rhino. Discovered with a wounded leg by the roadside in Meru national Park, the large male was darted by vet Dr Dominic Mijele from a helicopter. after treatment the rhino is thankfully on the road to recovery. auTuMn 2018 | NEWS 11

IN AID OF BORN FREE

WILD NEWS

LOVE & PROTECTION

WELL DONE WALES! After decades of our campaigning we warmly welcome the news that Wales is to ban wild animals in circuses within a year. Such ‘entertainment’ is cruel and old-fashioned, and Born Free calls on England to swiftly introduce its own ban.

James, Gary and Rula

KICKSTARTER SUCCESS

ROARING SUCCESS

A crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the Remembering Great Apes photographic book has been a huge success. To be launched in London in October, the new book features glorious images donated by top wildlife photographers and will raise vital funds to help Born Free protect apes (p32).

We teamed up with brilliant composer James Olsen for his new children’s opera One of Our Lions is Missing, which combines performance with conservation for UK schools. “This engaging opera allows young people to express themselves and to better understand animals,” said our delighted Co-Founder Virginia McKenna.

NINE-DAY WONDER Our Zambia Primate Project has completed its most successful rescue mission yet. In just nine days the amazing Born Freefunded team rescued ten vervets and baboons – all half-starved and kept alone, many on short chains.

Once recovered the monkeys will be returned to the wild in troops.

SPINY BUT TINY Born Free’s own rescuer Tarnya Knight has got her hands full again. “I picked up this little lady when found on summer solstice.

Kyra needs round the clock milk feeds.” Tarnya is currently caring for 18 rescued hoglets (p17).

12 NEWS | AUTUMN 2018

World’s smallest hedgehog Kyra

MUSICAL MAESTRO A sensational evening of classical music, with acclaimed pianist Panos Karan, was held at London’s elegant Cadogan Hall in June. Famed for his delicate touch, Panos performed the glorious Chopin Etudes and spoke about his work to bring music to deprived and suffering audiences around the world through his own charity Keys of Change.

© N Wray

Loyal Born Free friend for nearly 30 years, the UK’s best-selling pencil artist Gary Hodges held an exhibition at the Nature in Art museum in Gloucester. At a private view hosted by Coronation Street actress Rula Lenska, an auction of Gary’s embellished prints was conducted by TV auctioneer and Born Free Patron James Lewis.

mum stands guard

Making headlines

HASN’T SHE GROWN!

MAMMOTH BATTLE

an i Paper article about wildlife rangers’ life or death struggle featured born free’s dr mark Jones.

antique carved from an elephant’s tusk

will Travers warned The Daily Express of the horrific impact if botswana decides to lift its elephant hunting ban.

CHRISTIAN THE LION His incredible reunion with his former owners was a YouTube sensation. But did you know our Co-Founder, Bill Travers MBe, was directing from behind the camera? in a short new film series, Virginia McKenna OBe remembers the young lion who lived in her garden, and was returned to the wild in Kenya http://bit.ly/TheStoryOfChristian

a born free Daily Mail big cat nap fulllength feature launched our 2018 ‘sleepy pet’ fundraiser for big cats.

our stunning new website continues to develop and expand. you’ll be inspired today! visit www.bornfree.org.uk

Which animal is on the blogspot?

Wild stories - new article section

© g Logan

© g Logan

BORN FREE ONLINE

born free’s dangerous wild pets exclusive in the Daily Mirror sparked a myriad of uK radio and Tv interviews by dr chris draper.

© M Raggett

after our lengthy campaign, the government is to ‘ban’ the uK’s ivory trade. Current law allows sale of antiques and we’ve been the world’s largest exporter of ‘legal’ ivory. Born Free must now ensure the Bill doesn’t contain lethal loopholes and our President Will Travers gave vital evidence at a Parliamentary committee meeting on this crucial issue.

will Travers talked about filming in Kenya and all things born free on Tv’s Scotland Tonight.

© L St John

© E Wamba/BFK

Meru national Park only has a handful of endangered grevy’s zebra, so we were thrilled when our Kenya team reported a new birth in the previous Wildlife Times.

The foal is doing well, watched over by her parents. Born Free is keeping a careful eye out too these are the rarest of all zebras, so each one really counts.

A few press highlights

Who is your wildlife hero?

Take action to protect wildlife

Where we work – world map auTuMn 2018 | NEWs 13

RESCUE & CARE

HOME THANKS TO YOU! With a leap, King bounds out of his crate and into his new life in Africa. Maggie Balaskas reports on one lion’s incredible journey to his ancestral homeland.

D

o you remember King? Last October this little lion cub was discovered in an apartment on the outskirts of Paris, France. Kept illegally as a pet, in terrible conditions, he was terrified and extremely malnourished.

Fortunately, the four-month-old was taken in and cared for by our good friends at natuurhulpcentrum rescue centre, in Belgium. a perfect short-term solution, but he needed a lifetime home.

We knew just the place. Born Free wanted to take King to our big cat sanctuary at Shamwari Reserve, South africa, home to rescued lions and leopards. So we asked you for help and you responded in your thousands - thank you! after months of planning and paperwork, we were finally ready to take King - now a playful, long-legged youngster - on his 14 REscUE & cARE | auTuMn 2018

life-changing journey. On July 5th 2018, the team and i were up with the birds to meet him at natuurhulpcentrum. Feeling slightly apprehensive but prepared for the journey ahead, i watched as an unphased King bravely stepped into his travel crate.

Final checks were made and he was ready to embark on his incredible journey, accompanied by our team of experts including ‘big cat man’ Tony Wiles, who has supported our rescues since 1995. after an intense two days travelling by road, train and plane - keeping a careful eye on King at every stage - we landed in Port elizabeth, South africa. i breathed a sigh of relief as we began the final drive to Shamwari, arriving in darkness. next day, as we prepared to release King into his spacious new enclosure at Born Free’s Jean Byrd Centre, i wondered how he would react to his new environment…

the smells, sights and sounds never experienced before. With the team in place, i hopped up onto the top of his crate and, when the signal was given, lifted the door. Within seconds, King bounded out, running a few feet into his enclosure in the bright winter sunshine.

He stopped, lifted his head and gazed around, sniffing the air and for a moment looked confused. He lifted his paws high as he felt grass under his young feet for the very first time. it was incredibly poignant. What a huge, unforgettable privilege to be the one to release King into his new world. Such a feeling of relief to see him so relaxed, despite his journey and new surroundings. Minutes later, neighbouring lion brothers Jora and Black, rescued from a Bulgarian circus, began a roaring chorus – as if welcoming King. Truly a special moment. The young King was finally home.

Terrified when rescued

recovering thanks to natuurhulpcentrum

“I am sure there are a lot of smiling faces today!

Thanks to everyone whose hearts were touched by his story, young King has now taken his first steps on African soil, and begun his happy new life. May it be a long and peaceful one.” virginia mcKenna obe, born free co-founder

none of this would have been possible without your generous support. Thank you to each and every one of you who helped to give this gorgeous young lion the new start in life he deserves.

Find out more Visit www.bornfree.org.uk/king to watch a film of King’s journey, and see the back page to adopt this irresistible youngster.

crated up and ready to go flown by Kenya airways

Millions more “It’s staggering lion cubs are still finding their way into the pet trade in Europe. This situation urgently needs addressing,” said Born Free’s Dr Chris Draper (p16). “By introducing the world to King, we can draw attention to this important issue.”

Millions of wild animals around the world are kept as exotic pets, many illegally. Born Free opposes this trade.

Wild animals, whether wild-caught or bred in captivity, have complex needs and can greatly suffer as pets.

a cub needs her mother, not a human’s touch

driven to shamwari

he relaxes in his new home

Maggie Balaskas animal Rescue & Care Manager maggie@bornfree.org.uk Photos © C Radloff/Shamwari, EL Jansson, F30MA, Natuurhulpcentrum, F Fortuna/BFF, G Vena, Perfect Cat UA

auTuMn 2018 | REscUE & cARE 15

MY

RECENT RESCUE

VIEW BO AND BELLA

Every time I encounter a wild animal suffering in captivity, the same

thought arises: what can I do to get

them out of that situation? Of course, we would dearly love to rescue each

and every animal in need, but rescues are complex, lengthy and, in many

cases, simply impossible. The animal may be legally owned, or unwell and unfit to move, there may be no

sanctuary space available – there are many obstacles.

But when circumstances permit us to undertake a rescue, we do this not

only for the sake of the individual, but to draw attention to the plight of all others in a similar situation. By

offering a better life to one wild

animal kept as a pet or in a circus or zoo, we turn the spotlight onto the

exotic pet trade or the circus or zoo industries, and hopefully prevent

more animals suffering in the future.

It’s a heartbreaking reality that we

cannot move every animal in need to

a better situation. But, as King’s story has shown (p14), every rescue helps

many more than just one animal in need.

Like countless other primates in Guinea-Bissau, these young chimpanzees were captured from the wild and condemned to lives as ‘exotic pets’, their mothers killed by hunters.

There are just a few hundred criticallyendangered western chimpanzees remaining in this West African country, and they are declining across their range.

and Bella arrived safely in Nairobi, having enjoyed mangoes and bananas on their 11-hour journey across Africa. Both are doing well and have already had remarkable improvements in health. They will soon be released from quarantine and live out their days with 36 other rescued chimpanzees in beautiful 250acre natural enclosures.

Bo and Bella were rescued from the black market, but weren’t yet out of the woods. Guinea-Bissau lacks rescue facilities for great apes, and authorities were unable to locate a sanctuary in West Africa, so these intelligent, social animals were kept in poor conditions.

Bo lived in a small cage near an ice factory, Bella was kept tied to a tree.

Both had poor diets with no interaction.

Why so much effort to rescue ‘just two’ chimpanzees? As Joana points out, “Now Guinea-Bissau authorities know it’s possible to transport wild animals to sanctuaries.” Thus the rescue will inform future relocations and may be a catalyst to improve the lives of other captive chimpanzees. Authorities are even considering opening a rescue centre in-country. In this way, the rescue of ‘only’ two chimpanzees will likely help countless others. EN

But a brighter future beckoned.

Researcher Maria Joana Da Silva and partners*, with the assistance of Born Free, undertook a massive effort to relocate the chimps to Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Kenya. The difficult process took two years to complete, but it was all worth it. Bo

You can help Help rescue other chimps - adopt our very own orphan Sara at www.bornfree.org.uk/adopt or call 01403 240170. Just £3 per mth incl gift pack + cuddly toy. *Cardiff University & CIBIO-InBIO, University of Porto

Bo had a traumatic start to life

© D Damiaens NHC

She arrives at Sweetwaters

Dr Chris Draper Head of Animal Welfare & Captivity chris@bornfree.org.uk 16 RESCUE & CARE | AUTUMN 2018

And enjoys bananas in quarantine Photos © H Foito

Born Free rescues individual animals from appalling conditions

We rehabilitate each one, giving expert, loving care | We release individuals to the wild whenever possible | We give lifetime care in world-class spacious sanctuaries

RESCUE & CARE

FACE TO FACE Have you always loved animals?

For as long as I can remember. I was brought up in a house with rescued cats, dogs, birds, rabbits and sheep.

When did you first get into rescue?

One of my earliest memories was helping my mother pick up frogs, toads and newts stuck at the kerbside as they migrated towards the pond opposite our home.

Why do UK animals need help?

Thousands of UK mammals and birds are injured or killed every year through vehicle collisions, poisonous chemicals, entanglement in fencing and waste, and hunting. Born Free supports rescue centres across the country that take in injured and orphaned wildlife.

Do you work with other rescue facilities?

Yes, mainly Folly Wildlife Rescue and The Fox Project in Kent. These wonderful centres have the expertise and facilities to care for animals I’m unable to. I wouldn’t be able to operate without

Celia Nicholls talks to Tarnya Knight, Born Free’s Programmes Support Coordinator and our very own wildlife rescuer.

Born Free’s support, my volunteer driver Paul Hayes and my father Eric who cares for all the ducklings.

How do you stay motivated?

Knowing I am giving an animal a second chance is enough.

Is it hard to balance rescue with your office work?

Sometimes there are not enough hours in the day! Thankfully, when I need to get a rescued animal to a centre for specialist care Born Free allows me to go during office hours.

Can readers help?

There are many ways! From providing fresh water and food for their garden visitors, making gardens more wildlifefriendly, to volunteering at a local wildlife rescue centre.

Been a busy year so far?

Manageable at the moment. However, last winter I overwintered 40 hedgehogs, which is a lot when you have a fulltime job as well. Since January I’ve rescued 173 animals including hedgehogs, roe deer, tawny owls, three duck families, goslings and even a mouse.

This tiny hedgehog needed syringe-feeding night and day

RESCUE & CARE nEwS in bRiEf

What am I?

Miraculous Simon

Mountain monkey

Taken in by Born Free’s own rescuer Tarnya Knight, this diminutive orphan was so young her eyes were still closed.

Thanks to expert care from our Folly Wildlife Rescue friends, Teasel the weasel recovered and is now thriving.

Last year we helped care for a wild adult lion in Meru Park, Kenya. Close to death, Simon was injured defending his pride from younger males. Now fully recovered, he has been seen courting a lioness.

Could cubs be on their way?

Aradha the gelada has a loving home at Ensessa Kotteh, since arriving at our rescue centre tied to a cart. Naturally found only in Ethiopia’s highlands, our rescued geladas learn how to clamber thanks to our new climbing wall.

AUTUMN 2018 | RESCUE & CARE 17

“The embarrassment of being abducted and held to ransom aside, my presence might put whole villages at risk.”

CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE Born Free’s fight to save threatened wildlife in Cameroon encounters the brutal chaos of a region spiralling into civil war. Dr Liz Greengrass reports.

T

he chief sits on his veranda. It’s eleven in the morning but, despite the time, he presents us with a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and enthusiastically opens it. I observe the American flag wrapped around its neck with suspicion; it is neither Cabernet nor Sauvignon; it is an undescribed alcoholic beverage the colour of Ribena. We are here to ask his permission to expand Born Free’s Elephant Guardian Programme to his village, which lies above the northern boundary of Korup National Park.

“What did the District Officer say?” he asks. “These are dangerous times.”

“The DO says we should stay in Nguti and call for the community to meet us in the town,” my field assistant quickly answers. “Then it is better you don’t come to my village,” says the chief. “You have to understand you could be abducted.

If they catch you, they will rape you,” he adds to me. “If there is trouble, the army will come and burn my village down.”

18 THE biG PiCTURE | AUTUMN 2018

It is difficult to accurately assess the risk; people are really scared; it colours their perspective, but he has a point. The embarrassment of being abducted and held to ransom aside, my presence might put whole villages at risk. A bit later when my motorbike taxi driver shows me to the latrine, he’s dismissive. “You see the chief is on the government side.” He whispers accusingly, as if the government side is the wrong side to be on.

Before Cameroonian independence in 1961, the northwest and southwest regions were part of an English Protectorate that had been taken from the Germans during the First World War. The rest of Cameroon (eight further regions) was governed by the French.

The English-speaking regions were given a choice; become independent, join La Republique or join neighbouring Nigeria.

At that time, this forested Protectorate had few resources to support itself, except for the banana and oil palm

estates that were insidiously destroying the lowland forest below Mount Cameroon, and would later spread to cover its foothills, so self-governance seemed out of the question. Despite sharing a common language, no one liked the Ibo in eastern Nigeria, so La Republique it was; the populace voted for unity. Far from the power centre of Yaounde, however, in this English-speaking outback there was little sense of unity; the perception more resembled an economic crack, a growing divide like a fault-line marginalising these two regions from the rest.

In 2016, growing frustrated with central government’s policy of sending French-only speaking teachers and lawyers to the English-speaking regions to govern the schools and courts, the English-speaking teachers and lawyers staged a strike. The schools and courts shut down and the children (of which there are many) stayed at home. For a

THE BIG PICTURE

Dr Liz Greengrass Head of Conservation liz@bornfree.org.uk

whole year, La Republique did what it did best - ignore its English regions. A whole year passed and the children began to forget what life was like before, when they went to school. Village primary schools, a bastion of pride in any village, stood empty. But the English regions did not ignore the silence from Yaounde. The momentum to secede and self-govern in a state called Ambazonia gathered. In the hinterland, in the marginalised communities deep inside the bush, villages flew the blue and white Ambazonia flag. If they didn’t have a flag they flew a generic blue and white striped plastic bag instead. At this point Yaounde woke up to the fact that a rebellion was brewing and insisted the schools re-open. In the villages, supporters of the Ambazonia cause used intimidation to keep them shut. Within the major towns, the military were deployed around school perimeters to ensure student safety, but after a series of fires started under their watch, suspicions grew. At the very least, the

sight of military personnel armed to the teeth so upset the children, parents kept them away. Towards the end of 2017, the violence grew more potent. As the military and special police rounded up suspects, they were picked off like flies.

‘Black-legs’ they call them - those that willingly provide the police with a list of names of people purporting to be fighting the Ambazonia cause. Now, at every roadblock, identification cards get checked against that list. In Buea, detainees were kept in the stadium, before many, allegedly, disappeared.

Rumours spread of mass graves on the foothills of Mount Cameroon. Lucky detainees returned, often in far poorer shape; one young man was reportedly found dumped on a back road; his arms had been bound so tight for so long, the surgeons are unlikely to save them. The small conservative backwater towns and villages deal with black-legs by public floggings, but in these communities where

everyone takes issue with his neighbour (it’s a way of life) there is real fear. There is no innocent until proven guilty, only a list of names and the chance to settle old scores.

In January, a group of key separatist leaders, including Julius Ayuk Tabe, were arrested in Abuja, Nigeria, as they sought asylum. Against international law, Nigeria deported them back to Cameroon where it remains unclear what happened to them next. A leadership vacuum, coupled with the stubbornness of La Republique to enter into dialogue, has led to desperation; the fight has progressed into something less clear-cut than an Anglo-Franco thing; the Anglophones are now fighting among themselves. The youth have organised themselves into Ambazonia armies and are causing significant division within communities.

They sabotage local businesses with French connections, and intimidate anyone perceived as sympathetic to the AUTUMN 2018 | THE biG PiCTURE 19

One old chief was overnighting in a village, on his way back to Korup National Park, when he was woken in the early hours, shot twice in one leg, butchered with a machete in the other and told that he would bleed to death. He did, four days later. The perpetrators threatened his relatives, so it took them that long to reach a hospital. By some accounts this chief was as crooked as they come, but his son was a senior ranking officer in a battalion that was fighting separatists and that was enough to sign his death warrant.

Since the end of 2017, an estimated 45,000 refugees have fled to Nigeria.

Up-country and in the bush, the military has dealt with dissidence by razing whole villages to the ground.

We pass the village of Wone en route to Nguti. It is empty of all civilians, eerily silent. Three soldiers stand vigilant in the

newly-tarred road, and then move towards a man who has just appeared from the bush. They shout and he drops his bag and raises his hands in surrender.

We pass a tank and a machine gun mounted up onto the back of a pick-up; further on, the burnt out carcass of a truck. We keep moving to the next village and flag down a passing pedestrian. He hesitates, he is jittery. When he eventually generates the courage to approach, he speaks in whispers. The gun battle is continuing off the road further inside the bush. The military has torched a whole village. Several soldiers have been killed.

When we reach our destination, Nguti, a week after a gendarme was murdered at point blank range at a road block, it is semi-deserted and a curfew has been instigated. By evening, the same eerie silence hangs over it, as it does at Wone.

Over the next two weeks Nguti slowly comes to life, as people return but the curfew remains in place. Fish is no longer grilled on street corners at dusk. The main drag has been emptied of colourful motorbike taxis and brash motorbike taxi drivers. High-energy Nigerian music no longer spills out onto the street and all the bars remain closed. The district officer, a dashing Francophone gentleman who speaks perfect English, requests that I don’t travel to the villages to conduct my work. “Perhaps you can conduct your meetings, here?” he suggests helpfully. I consider the effort involved in mobilising whole village

committees to Nguti, and dismiss it immediately. Communication (an intermittent network coverage, as well as an inability of villagers to pass on information) aside, there is the vast expense involved in transporting large numbers of people by motorbike taxi, then feeding them (difficult when there is little food to be had in town) and then compensating them for their inconvenience with the ubiquitous ‘daily rate’. At the same time, I daren’t go against the administration and any notion of their duty of care towards me. It would be, well, quite impolite.

The next week-and-a-half are torturously boring. My field assistants are too reticent to survey the rain-forested hills that surround the town for primates; apparently our own Ambazonia army contingent are camped out somewhere up there. It’s hard to separate fact from fiction. I move my flight home forward and then wait out my time. The town is quiet but there is a feeling of for how long? There is a danger of sitting too long in a country that is falling apart.

The shooting starts at six am. I assume that a motorbike taxi has simply made a wrong turn down the high street, unaware that the curfew’s in place until seven, but the shooting continues and then it gets worse. The shots are very close and all around us but the guest house is on a hill over the town so it’s difficult to gauge. The other guests are clearly unnerved. They run into their

D Tiveau/CIFOR

Working on elephant conservation in villages around Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary 20 THE biG PiCTURE | AUTUMN 2018

© L Greengrass/BFF

French. They extort - demand protection money, nail death threats to the doors of government appointed chiefs, and abduct higher-ranking government officials. The line is thin between fighting a cause and indulging in criminality; one morphs into the other. Echoing Uganda’s infamous Lord’s Resistance Army (but without the cult figurehead of Joseph Kony) and camping out deep inside the bush, they have their own rules, codes and cults. Rumour has it these men are protected by Nigerian magic and bullets cannot pierce their bodies.

Field team surveying for elephants in Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary

© L Greengrass/BFF

THE BIG PICTURE

rooms and lock their doors. A man to my left is talking on his mobile phone. A woman to my right hears him talking and then frantically runs to his door and bangs on it. When he opens it she breathlessly advises that he only communicates via text message – two soldiers are now stationed outside.

I fall back to sleep for a while before a volley of shots from an AK47 and two deafening bangs of some heavier artillery wakes me up again and I drag myself out of bed to take a shower and throw on some clothes. I look at my food supply some overripe bananas in a cloud of fruit flies and a packet of oat biscuits - I’m in for a hungry day. The gun battle continues until nine o’clock, by which time the manager of the guest house, has convinced me to leave the town for good. My driver, who is based on the coast almost 200km away, assures me he’s on his way. My optimism takes a dive an hour later, however, when we next reconvene and he suggests it will take him another two hours to depart. I speak to the District Officer later that morning. “Where are you?” he asks. “Were you scared?” he adds, as if the precariousness of his own position was his least concern. Later, an army helicopter flies in, whether to transport the DO or the corpses out, it remains unknown, but later attempts to contact him fail.

By eleven, the man to my left has had enough. He packs his bags and walks the half kilometre to the main tar road, where the world is carrying on as normal.

The rest of us stay inside the guesthouse.

At four, Nguti is a ghost town. The army hasn’t burnt it down, as many feared.

Surprisingly, there is no army presence at

all. Residents are slowly and silently fleeing on foot, a suitcase in one hand, a small child in another, and only a long, hot tarred road ahead of them to look forward to. Even the faces of the children are set stoically. It is a heart-breaking sight, a summation of the human impact of conflict etched on every face. We leave the town with a pick-up filled with a newly-formed diaspora.

A year ago, we set up an Elephant Guardian Programme, a modest little project to safeguard the remaining forest elephant population around the BanyangMbo Wildlife Sanctuary and Korup National Park after decades of poaching had seen their numbers plummet. It is a simple transaction: we ask the villages, which were former hotspots of poaching, to support our efforts to protect elephants and in return we help the primary schools or safeguard farmers’ fields with ‘chilli fencing’.

“It is a heart-breaking sight, a summation of the human impact of conflict etched on every face.”

It’s a fledgling project but one that shows promise. In one village we introduced fencing doused with chilli which elephants hate, which successfully stopped raiding in the dry season. The impact of that intervention, however, was far greater than just helping the two farmers that had been repeatedly raided by elephants.

In February, three poachers arrived in the village to access the sanctuary to kill elephants. In the old days, this was permitted but not now; the youth rallied, they confiscated the elephant gun, called the wildlife authority and assisted in the arrest of two of the poachers. As good as this seems, it is also worrying. In the two years since I have returned to the Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary, after a ten-year hiatus, this was the first report of elephant poaching around the sanctuary.

What impact will political instability and civil unrest have on the elephant population?

By the time I arrived in Nguti at the start of March, there were no eco-guards posted at the sanctuary or at the neighbouring national park; individual eco-guards were being ear-marked for

reprisals by Ambazonia armies that were settling scores. On the 13th March, it was the commander of the gendarmerie who was targeted. A poacher, he’d arrested the year before, offered to supply him with bushmeat. They arranged to meet early in the morning outside the gendarmerie but it was a trap. The poacher and his Ambazonia army friends hid all night in a house opposite, and when the commander exited the building, they ambushed and assassinated him. The commander had served many years in the town; he’d received his transfer papers; he was due to leave any day.

The gang then turned their attention onto the conservator of Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary. They chased him down the road and back to his office, where he locked the door and climbed into the roof space through a ceiling panel. The pursuit was short-lived – the outlaws were themselves being hunted down and wouldn’t survive another hour – but it was a miracle that he escaped. We are continually frustrated by the weak management of these protected areas and the industrial-scale illegal trade in bushmeat generated from them, but we forget the risk involved in protecting these areas, in countries where law enforcement is rarely respected, where anarchy reigns.

On my way to the coast from Nguti, there is no talk of what has occurred in Nguti on the national news. There never is. This is an unreported war that has barely made international headlines. The local news is filled with mundane stories including an interview with someone from the Ministry of Handicrafts. All is, therefore, well in the insular power-base of Yaounde.

It is only when I reach Limbe that a delayed reaction sets in. The sight of military personnel unnerves me. I dream I’m on a motorbike and being chased. In reality it is not my safety that worries me.

It is at times of conflict that elephants and their ivory become a quick way for foot soldiers to fund their wars.

You can help Your donation will help protect wildlife in Cameroon. Visit www.bornfree.org.uk/ crisis to donate or call 01403 240170.

AUTUMN 2018 | THE biG PiCTURE 21

No creature should be kept as a prisoner for our ‘pleasure’.

HELP US. END THIS. Despairing yet determined, Virginia McKenna visits a ‘small and pointless’ zoo in France, where animals suffer physically and mentally to ‘entertain’ scant visitors.

22 CAPTiViTY | AUTUMN 2018

Virginia McKenna ObE Co-Founder & Trustee I longed to give the black jaguar a better life

CAPTIVITY

I

tigers – the male proudly described as father to 20 cubs (two used in a film).

Where did they go?

My heart was sinking before we had entered the gate. The Zoo du Mont Faron had been visited 30 years ago by my husband Bill. It was in our archive file of his zoo visits over several years, and I had asked our team to select one of the worst zoos in that area of France.

Few of the animals moved at all. Except one. We went past cages and enclosures and finally came to the solitary wolf. Another board explained that a quarter of wolves in the wild live alone. Forever? Walking about the wolf came near me where I was standing by the gate. Suddenly its head lifted and it gave the most piteous howl I have ever heard. I know, of course, that wolves howl, but this was poignant beyond belief. The cry itself is deeply moving, but this wolf will never have a reply. He calls into a never-ending silence and lives a meaningless life.

n our May Wildlife Times I described the visit I made to Marineland, Antibes in France with two colleagues from Born Free. It was not the only captive ‘facility’ we went to. The previous day we had driven to a zoo situated several hundred metres up a high hill.

Comparing his photos with what we saw was a matter of moments. Hardly anything had changed in all those years.

The zoo proudly announced on a board (in French) that ‘You are not visiting a conventional zoo, but a reproduction centre for carnivores. This partly explains the size of our enclosures. In the wild many species are disappearing due to human activity and poaching.

It was not clear if they were inferring that the enclosure size was small or large.

We needed no time at all to decide for ourselves. If the whole zoo area had been dedicated to just one species, it would still have been inadequate. Lions, lynx, caracals, jaguar, serval cats, puma, tigers, leopards – and, for good measure, Hamadryas baboons, geese and ducks.

There were a couple of enclosures with grass, but most big cats were on stony ground or concrete – sometimes, here and there, a small tuft of grass trying to poke through. The male and female lions lay in such an area and, when the lioness struggled to stand, she limped a few yards and collapsed again. No words can describe what it felt like, watching her, pitying her, wanting to move her to a decent, comfortable place in which to end her days.

But then it wouldn’t just be her – I would want to scoop up all the victims of human indifference and lack of respect for other creatures. The Hamadryas baboons huddled together in a bleak area - the back wall decorated with scenes of ‘the wild’, the leopard lying on a concrete ledge in a narrow area, the

How this sad and pointless little zoo is allowed to keep these animals, and to breed them, reveals how little we care and understand. During our whole visit there were never more than 12 people there. Perhaps, as at Marineland, the small number of visitors is telling us something. The ‘owners’ and the authorities need to phase out these sad places. No creature should be kept as a prisoner, for our ‘pleasure’. And how can we inspire future generations to be sensitive to the nature and needs of wild creatures if they are kept in captivity – like this?

The lioness struggled to stand

The baboons’ barren world

Mont Faron Zoo TripAdvisor reviews: ‘Disgraceful place, left in tears’ ‘Animal cruelty at its worst’ ‘I left feeling depressed and angry’ ‘Don’t bother, the zoo isn’t worth it’ ‘Large cats looked unhealthy and miserable’ ‘Owners should be ashamed’

You can help If, like Virginia, you are appalled by such suffering, support our work to end captive exploitation at www.bornfree.org.uk/donate Photos © S Gamel and BFF

The solitary wolf gave the most piteous howl AUTUMN 2018 | CAPTiViTY 23

MY

VIEW

We’re all on a journey. Mine began

back in the 80’s as a zoology student working at London Zoo. I quickly

realised the animals I studied were

behaving very strangely - pacing back and forth, repeatedly twisting,

neurotically grooming. It broke my

heart to see their distress, to realise

how we had betrayed these creatures.

Glorious other beings demeaned for our brief amusement.

Suddenly I understood. A passion for the wild wasn’t enough. Love

engenders responsibility. I abandoned my dreams of studying apes in the wild (I was never very good at

keeping quiet anyway). Instead of the jungle I took a charity office job -

there was work to be done. Sharing stories, supporting colleagues,

helping galvanise action. Always

holding the broken animals in my

heart, extolling the wild. Because as Jacques Cousteau once said -

“People protect what they love.”

The dolphin trainer turns freedom fighter, a movie star becomes

YOUR REPORTS Images of suffering So many animals are exploited for the tourist industry, or held captive in the name of ‘conservation’. This summer we’ve received hundreds of your reports - proof that, no matter what the justification, wild animals suffer in captivity. One country we receive most complaints about is Thailand. A beautiful nation with diverse native wildlife, yet captive exploitation is rife. Environmental photojournalist Aaron Gekoski recently went to investigate and his report was heart-breaking. Animals forced to perform demeaning tricks, living in squalor or chained. Images that expose cruelty and will, we hope, change tourists’ minds to never visit these zoos.

Of course it’s not just Thailand. Born Free recently commissioned similar investigations into zoos in Vietnam and Indonesia, where conditions are equally atrocious and, in some cases, even worse. And, sadly, conditions remain shocking far closer to home, in UK and European zoos. As ever, we remain committed to raising awareness to the plight of individual captive animals and work to bring this exploitation to an end.

Chained and living in squalor

Your Thai zoo comments ‘One can only imagine how animals were trained to perform like this’ ‘Most tourists aren’t aware of the abuse that takes place’ ‘The orangutans aren’t doing it because they want to, they’re forced to’

compassionate campaigner, the

elephant sanctuary. We’re all on a

journey. Join us on ours. We want to change the world.

You speak out A supporter recently received a health supplement brochure with a photo of elephants being ridden. “I contacted the company advising they should reconsider.

It’s about making people think, which is why I view this image differently to how I would years ago.” The company apologised for promoting cruelty, agreeing to never use such images again. Result!

Photos © A Gekoski/Caters News

enlightened ex-zoo keeper opens an

© B Jaschinski/BFF

YOU can help: Send me your reports via our NEW online form at www.bornfree.org.uk/report, call 01403 240170 or send me a letter.

Celia nicholls Editor celia@bornfree.org.uk 24 CAPTiViTY | AUTUMN 2018

Sarah Jefferson Captivity Programme Information Officer sarahj@bornfree.org.uk

CAPTIVITY

EXOTIC PETS Wolf in Wiltshire, crocodile in Kent Who lives next door to you? Nearly 5,000 dangerous wild animals are kept by private owners across Britain. Whilst some are cared for in genuine rescue centres such as RSPCA Reptile Centre in Brighton and Wolf Watch UK in Shropshire, tragically this also includes bears, leopards, cheetahs, lions and tigers exploited for TV and film. Most shocking, however, is the many kept as pets and licensed by local authorities under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. This includes over 75 crocodiles, at least 250 wild cats such as servals and lynx but also lions and tigers, more than 240 primates such as lemurs and capuchins, and at least 650 venomous snakes including death adders and black mambas. To see exactly what dangerous animals live where across Britain check out our interactive map at www.bornfree.org.uk/dwamap The number of people keeping wild animals as pets appears to be growing. Yet these species are particularly vulnerable to welfare problems, especially in a domestic environment, and some present significant risks to owners and the wider public. Most concerning is the unknown number of dangerous wild animals kept illegally without a licence. Born Free calls on the UK government to radically change the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, not least to include constrictor snakes, and we need your help!

Dolphinaria We estimate more than 2,000 dolphins, over 200 beluga whales, at least 30 porpoises and 60 orcas (killer whales) are held in captivity across the world. Usually performing degrading tricks, these individuals live in barren, restricted tanks – what a dramatic contrast to the vast wild environment these clever animals are adapted to live in!

Captive whales and dolphins are only in captivity for human ‘entertainment’. Please encourage your family and friends to never visit a dolphinarium. SG You can help Please sign and share our pledge to never visit a dolphinarium. Visit www.bornfree.org.uk/ dolphinaria-petition Dolphins should live free

You can help Visit www.bornfree.org.uk/take-action to sign and share our dangerous wild animals petition. If this reaches 100,000 signatures it will be considered for debate in parliament.

Who lives next door?

Samantha Goddard Captivity Campaigns Officer samantha@bornfree.org.uk

Born Free is the voice for captive animals worldwide

We challenge exploitation and cruelty | We expose suffering and neglect | We seek an end to zoos, circuses and dolphinaria

AUTUMN 2018 | CAPTiViTY 25

We expose the wretched conditions so many animals have to live in

MY VISION

FOR WILDLIFE Our first contributor to a regular new series, Howard Jones considers his journey to Born Free and shares his passion to leave the world a better place.

How does a lost medical student end up building an Eden in Cornwall, via para-trooping, human conflict and Iraq weapons inspection? What are the forces that caused the same person to bring emerging ideas and technology to sustainable cities, whilst working to create the conditions for homeless people, offenders and addicts to thrive in new lives? Developing social businesses to introduce ethical investment to urban regeneration, then leading Born Free‌ how does that happen?

I am not sure I can explain this easily, but those pieces of me so far have been driven by a simple purpose, even when a ‘life-plan’ was missing - which was most 26 MY ViSiOn fOR wiLDLifE | AUTUMN 2018

of the time. The purpose remains: to leave this world slightly better, as a result of my own impact. The thought is that, if many of us did this, then we may change the world, or the direction we are headed at least.

But it never is about one person, never will be. Personal commitments to balance, justice and kindness, fighting for fairness, not accepting cruelty and suffering, are shared human values, or should be. There will have been little point in all those efforts so far, unless learning is shared and we can be inspired to make change and build movements, based upon what we know to be right. And now, right now, we have

gifted ourselves with the capacity to see more clearly than ever before; on the shoulders of giants. We know how systems work, how impacts come about and have evidence for the best solutions, led by humans but as part of nature. We cannot miss that chance to progress and, armed as we are with the tools to tread wisely and lightly on the planet, still need the best leadership and the very best of us, to survive and flourish in a balanced world.

These are the things that take my attention and are beginning to shape the next phase for Born Free. Building on our heritage and achievements, we are uniquely placed to challenge poor

practice and offer the brightest ideas and opportunities. Fast-moving and open to innovation, often from within, we seek the very best partners and minds to multiply our effort. Our emerging model is to be a crucible for new thinking, quick action and learning. The smart bit will be to shape ourselves to build those movements, based upon compelling beautifully-told - stories of what we do, and how we do it, inspiring others to join in and become part of that change themselves.

Born Free may only ever be a relatively small organisation, in a traditional sense, but with a giant voice, a global reach and a vision that changes minds and our common future.

“Fast-moving and open to innovation, we are uniquely placed to tell compelling stories and inspire others to become part of that change.”

Howard Jones Chief Executive Officer howard@bornfree.org.uk Photos © georgelogan.co.uk

We tackle the critical challenges faced by animals in the wild

You can help If you share Howard’s dream and long to transform the future for wild animals, support our vision at www.bornfree.org.uk – thank you.

AUTUMN 2018 | MY ViSiOn fOR wiLDLifE 27

EDUCATION This is the start of a new and exciting focus on education for Born Free. By strengthening what we already do and building on areas of success, we aim to develop a really impactful programme to encourage people to not just love and respect the wild but to take action to ensure its future. We want to deliver on a global scale to encourage conservation and animal welfare literacy and understanding. Here in the UK we have welcomed a new Education Officer and are creating teaching resources.

These curriculum-based school materials will support primary and secondary school education and focus on a variety of topics such as endangered species, habitat protection and exotic pets.

To find out more, access our free resources, or see how your wild child can get involved, including our free kids club, visit: www.bornfree.org.uk/education

www.georgelogan.co.uk

Laura Gosset Head of Education laura@bornfree.org.uk

RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS Kenya

Ethiopia

UK

Million Genta and Bereket Girma, from our wildlife centre, inspired by education outreach at Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust in Zambia.

Our very first Big Cat Workshop for kids with a passion for art, drama and writing, culminating in a performance of Living with Lions.

South Africa Our education team Sidney Clay and Thembela Schoeman enthuse a local school on World Leopard Day. 28 EDUCATION | AUTUMN 2018

F Fortuna/BFF

Kanjoo School students enjoy an inspiring field trip to Meru National Park.

EDUCATION

www.georgelogan.co.uk

Kanjoo School is a perfect example of how practical support and encouragement can create hope and opportunities for a brighter future.

KENYA NEWS Kanjoo School is special to our charity. It is located next to Meru National Park in Kenya - where Elsa the lioness was returned to the wild in 1958 and the Born Free story began. Today at Kanjoo the children and their community live alongside wildlife every day, presenting an opportunity to nurture a future generation sensitive to the protection and conservation of wildlife.

For the Kanjoo community, education opens opportunities, helps to combat poverty and hoists them up the socioeconomic ladder. To encourage them along this path we provide textbooks, sports equipment and classroom furniture, and engage pupils in environmental education through activities including ecological trips into the park. We were delighted when our Co-Founder, Virginia McKenna, and her friend Helen Pepper, recently visited the school. They officially opened two secondary school classrooms built with funds donated by Helen.

impart the same virtues at her new school. Assisted by Born Free and other partners, Kanjoo School has passed several hurdles, but now faces others. If we forget their basic requirements, that enable children to attend school and gain a formal education, we will fail to help secure their future and the cycle will continue. At Born Free we are passionate about education. As we engage with children through conservation, we hope to shift their attitude and behaviour towards wildlife.

By fostering coexistence we can change their lives and those of their wild neighbours for the better.

Phoebe Odhiang Education Officer Kenya phoebe@bornfree.or.ke

As we sadly say goodbye to Mary Mutua, headmistress of the school for the past five years, we hope she will be our conservation ambassador beyond Kanjoo. She leaves behind children sensitive to animal well-being and we are sure she will

Virginia visits Kanjoo School with benefactor Dr Helen Pepper AUTUMN 2018 | EDUCATiOn 29

E Wamba/BFK

“Kanjoo School is a perfect example of how practical support and encouragement can create hope and opportunities for a brighter future,” said Virginia. “I have great admiration for the teachers and the children - who achieve so much in spite of the challenges. It is especially exciting to see how they respond to learning about their country’s wild treasures and that the Born Free Wildlife Club is growing fast!”

OVER TO YOU YOUR PHOTOS Brave yet a little fearful…

Trevor Platt’s irresistible pic of a young leopard tree-climbing in Tanzania.

YOUR POEMS Turtle

By Richard Bonfield She has been crying for millions of years This beautiful pea-green boat This upturned coracle of sadness For millions of tears Evolution has sucked her back Out of the blue dress of the sea And onto the sands of indignity To lay the eggs that will in time Reprise this mournful pantomime As clockwork toys whirr out to sea To start new turtle families.

YOUR GIFTS Thank you for your kind appeal donations. Together we’re changing the world!

Long live the King Spring 2018, move this lion to a new home. You raised

£118,389 Build a Future

£32,847 30 OVER TO YOU | AUTUMN 2018

F Fortuna/BFF

New Year 2018, our Ethiopian rescue centre. You raised

Annabelle Klinck is only six but raised £400 scaling Snowdon for King (p14).

YOUR FEEDBACK Star letter I always look forward to Wildlife Times.

When I’ve read it I take it to my doctor’s reception for others to read. If we all did the same, readership would grow and animals benefit.

YOUR FUNDRAISING

Trevor Deykin

You can help See www.bornfree.org.uk/fundraising for a full list of fundraisers and our online fundraising pack, or contact joanne@bornfree.org.uk

Great idea Trevor! Please pass this magazine onto a friend or your GP, dentist or vet waiting room.

What a heartwarming video! Such a joy to see King leap from the crate and immediately seem at home (p14). Well done all involved.

Anna Spencer

Star fundraiser

Every animal has a valuable role to play in the earth’s ecosystem. It’s really important to maintain that balance.

Elephants are natural gardeners (p6).

Lizzie Wad

This is the 11th hour for elephants. I wish governments around the world gave more support.

Patricia Anne Stevenson

Sir David Amess MP with James, Born Free’s Joanne and Mark Dance and yoga teacher Mark Lee Davis (bottom left), from Godalming in Surrey, has raised nearly £2,000 hosting community classes and special events.

auctioneer and Born Free Patron James Lewis, raised over £9,000.

Harry Langton’s marathon run raised a staggering £16,000+ for 5 lion-tracking collars.

Leanne Davidson raised £500 for elephants climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

Eight-year-old Tom Macaila Finch trekked Hadrian’s Wall to raise £652 for tigers.

Teresa Romano’s stall at Paws in the Park, Milton Keynes raised £250.

Why would you want an exotic animal as a pet - so many cats and dogs need forever homes. Wildlife should be left as it is in the wild.

Jenny Perry

Education, increased awareness and a slow shift in culture WILL eventually stamp dolphiariums out. Until then, my heart hurts for these beautiful souls.

Angela Costigan

Unfortunately dolphinariums exist because people keep going to see them.

Karen Louise Philp

GET IN TOUCH Which article made an impact? Got a favourite project or animal? Send your thoughts, photos and poems to Celia Nicholls, Editor, Wildlife Times, Born Free Foundation (address p3) or email celia@bornfree.org.uk

AUTUMN 2018 | OVER TO YOU 31

EVENTS We’d love to see you!

26th August Paws in the Park Great Linford, Milton Keynes Fundraising stall in aid of Born Free.

9th September Great North Run Newcastle upon Tyne Come and cheer our runners at the world’s largest half marathon.

5th October Go Wild Golf Day Slinford Golf & Country Club, West Sussex Golf, lunch and prizes challenge the Born Free team!

15th-27th October Remembering Great Apes Exhibition La Galleria, Pall Mall, London Images by top photographers funding ape conservation.

18th October Remembering Great Apes Reception Royal Geographical Society London Evening talk & book signing.

24th November Christmas Ball Burton Albion Pirelli Stadium Burton on Trent Join Virginia McKenna, dinner and dance in aid of Born Free.

14th April 2019 Brighton Marathon Fundraise for Born Free if you have your own place.

28th April 2019 Virgin London Marathon You could join our gallant Run Wild squad and fundraise for Born Free!

Find out more Visit www.bornfree.org.uk/ events or contact joanne@bornfree.org.uk or call 01403 240170.

32 EnTERpRisE | AUTUMN 2018

BORN FREE

ENTERPRISE

Hello, and welcome to an update from Born Free’s Enterprise and Partnerships team.

We’d like to present our gorgeous new range of t-shirts, created especially for Born Free.

With bespoke designs by Brighton-based artist Joey Everett of Chum Designs, these high-quality t-shirts are a step away from our traditional style of clothing and the start of a whole new range. I’m sure you’ll agree they inject a lot of fun and colour!

We’re also offering you a first glimpse at our stunning new silver charm bracelets. There are two styles to choose from – both come complete with a lion charm, with additional wild animal charms available to collect. They’ll make very special gifts for all ages – definitely something to treasure!

All proceeds go to the animals, so every time you buy something from the Born Free shop you’ll be helping keep wildlife in the wild! If you Emma Perkins have any questions or suggestions about our Trading Officer range I’d be delighted to hear from you. emma@bornfree.org.uk

George, Boy & Christian 42 x 29.5cm poster by MJ Hiblen Glorious illustration of lion-man and visionary George Adamson, with two of his beloved lions, commissioned by Born Free. In 1966 our Founders Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna starred in the classic film Born Free, telling the true tale of George and Joy Adamson’s battle to return Elsa the lioness to the wild. £10

Tailor-made for you Thank you to Africa Sky for supporting our King the lion cub appeal (p14). Africa safari specialists, this responsible travel company has joined up with Born Free to support our work. Environmentally-friendly Africa Sky features nine safari and wildlife destinations around eastern and southern Africa. Each itinerary is personalised to give customers a bespoke experience.

Immerse yourself in local cultural experiences and benefit communities with minimal impact on wildlife. Find out more at www.africaskysafari.com

Photos © www.christophermichel.com, www.georgelogan.co.uk

,

Wine & dine Our President Will Travers spoke about our work at a recent fundraiser dinner held at Henderson's Salad Table in Edinburgh.

Guests enjoyed an exceptional menu, each course paired with a carefully chosen wine.

They were thrilled to hear about our plans for King the lion cub (p14), and also learned about Vintage Roots organic wine from Linda Ward, their UK Sales Manager. Visit www.vintageroots.co.uk to buy their Wild Thing wine sold in aid of Born Free.

Will and Linda

OUR NEW T-SHIRTS Women’s ‘Born Free’

Children’s ‘Stay wild’

Three colours - grey, purple & light red £19.99

Four colours - charcoal, light red, sapphire or cornsilk £12.99

Women’s ‘Stay wild’ Three colours - grey, light red or true royal £19.99

To find out more, and to see our full range of clothing and gifts, visit our website.

To order visit give.bornfree.org.uk/shop or please call 01403 240170

Lion charm bracelets COMING SOON In two sizes. Collectable elephant, giraffe and rhino charms also available.

HEROES

Your chance to meet remarkable Born Free people and be inspired by their passion for the wild.

Motuma Adula Ragasa is Project Officer for Born Free’s Elephant Conservation Project at Babile Elephant Sanctuary in Ethiopia.

Motuma implements all conservation activities for this crucial project.

How did you get involved?

I studied Natural Resource Management at Jimma University and have over six years’ experience in biodiversity and community-based conservation, as well as environmental education. At the Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society I was deeply involved in monitoring our nation’s endemic birds, assessing the wildlife potential in Borena plain lands and establishing Borena Park - upgraded from Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary. This is why I’m interested in the important work at Babile - my concern is endangered species management, as well as advanced community conservation and tackling wild animal suffering.

What motivates you?

I love elephants! They are so special. My deep affection comes from spending a

With the brave rangers who protect Babile’s elephants

lot of time watching them in their family units and learning about the threats they face at Babile Elephant Sanctuary. They need well-protected areas to freely roam in their natural habitat. Yet they suffer at the hands of poachers and face conflict with humans as they range.

Tell us about the project?

Found in eastern Ethiopia, the sanctuary covers an area of 6,982km2 and supports more than 350 elephants.

However, this population has been declining and faces severe threats from ivory poachers, as well as habitat destruction and illegal settlement from local communities. In collaboration with Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority and local government, we work to bring together park officials, community elders, youth groups, district police and law enforcement agencies to protect the elephants. We support regular patrols and train scouts in anti-poaching tactics in partnership with PAMS Foundation. We also implement regular stakeholder meetings to strengthen awareness for shared governance of the sanctuary.

How do you resolve conflict?

To stop crop-raiding we construct chilli fences, which repel elephants. To date 4.7km of elephant route has been fenced to protect farmers’ fields.

Villagers are very happy and appreciate the intervention when they see how well the elephants are repelled. However, not all chilli deters elephants and the special type needed - Capsicum frutences - was only grown in southwest Ethiopia. To ensure a continual supply, a nursery has been established and our dedicated scout Ato Ahimed Hasan has raised hundreds of seedlings.

What is your vision?

To secure the future of elephants at Babile.

To see restored healthy forests, filled with growing elephant families, by developing strategic plans which lead the way.

Motuma was talking to Celia Nicholls Find out more To support Motuma’s vital work visit www.bornfree.org.uk/crisis or call 01403 240170 and visit www.bornfree.org.uk/wildlife-heroes to meet other Wildlife Heroes.

‘My deep affection comes from watching elephants in their families.

My vision is to secure their future.”

34 WiLDLiFE HEROEs | AUTUMN 2018

© www.georgelogan.co.uk

WILDLIFE

PROTECT FUTURE

GENERATIONS Leave a gift of compassion After taking care of your loved ones, your Will is your chance to change the world for the better. By leaving Born Free a gift you can help save animal lives, stop suffering and rescue individuals. Now that’s a legacy to be proud of!

Last year, legacies and gifts in memory produced 28% of our charity’s income. These precious gifts helped protect elephants, lions, gorillas, rhinos, tigers, UK wildlife and much more.

Keep the future wild with Born Free

By remembering Born Free in your Will you can help us care for wild animals over the long term, and may reduce your tax bill as well.

We’re here to help every step of the way. Find out more about leaving a gift in your Will by emailing Rachel Tilley at rachel@bornfree.org.uk © www.margotraggettphotography.com

YOU DID IT! King the lion cub is home safe thanks to you. He was starving and terrified when rescued from a small dirty cage. But look at him now…

“Thank you for all your support for King.

Each one of you who donated to our appeal and shared his pictures and story played a vital part. We couldn’t do it without you! Thanks for making such a difference to King’s life. Together we can achieve so much. So do get in touch if we can help in any way.”

Chris Barnden Supporter Care Manager chrisb@bornfree.org.uk 01403 240170

Now you can adopt King Adopt this adorable lion cub today. You’ll help provide King with the good food and loving care he needs at our big cat rescue centre in Shamwari, South Africa (p14).

Just £3 per month

Gift pack and free cuddly toy

To adopt call 01403 240170 or visit www.bornfree.org.uk/adopt Photo © C Radloff/Shamwari