Annual Report 2009

Annual Report 2009 African Lion & Environmental Research Trust

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CONTENTS REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2009 3.

Chairman’s comments

4.

About ALERT

6.

Review of 2009

14.

Updates from some our ongoing projects

43.

Future projects for 2010

BOARD OF TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 46.

Company Information

47.

Report of the Board of Trustees

50.

Report of the Independent Examiner

51.

Statement of Financial Activities

52.

Balance Sheet

53.

Notes to the Financial Statements

The African Lion & Environmental Research Trust works with all sectors of society throughout Africa to promote the development of sustainable conservation management plans. ALERT is proud to foster partnerships with local communities that collaboratively develop and implement African solutions to African challenges. ALERT promotes community action by raising awareness, motivating and empowering people to protect and restore their environment and improve livelihoods.

African Lion & Environmental Research Trust (Head Office) Melrose Farm 1134 Nakatindi Road PO Box 60701 Livingstone Zambia E: info@lionalert.org W: www.lionalert.org Registered Offices African Lion & Environmental Research Trust (UK) 39 St. James’s Place London SW1A 1NS United Kingdom UK Charity Commission Number 1120572 African Lion & Environmental Research Trust (Zimbabwe) 11 Phillip’s Avenue Belgravia Harare Zimbabwe African Lion & Environmental Research Trust (Zambia) 7th Floor, Godfrey House Kabelenga / Longolongo Roads P.O. Box 33066 Lusaka Zambia Zambian registration number ORS/102/35/3583

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Chairman’s comments…

In my mind, without doubt 2009, was the most progressive year yet in ALERT’s history.

One of the major objectives of the ALERT program has been to draw attention to the plight of the African Lion. In 2009 we filmed “Lion Country”, a television series about the African Lion Rehabilitation & Release into the Wild Program that is receiving almost 5 million viewers weekly for its UK screening. Hopefully the series will go onto world-wide audiences and attract major support and sponsorship.

A focus of the ALERT program since its inception, has been to establish the support of major educational institution we are currently in discussions with one of the best in the world to compliment the associations we have already made.

In late 2009, we commenced building the Night Encounter area in the Dambwa Forrest and also we started on the Ngamo Release Area, adjacent to Antelope Park – both major steps forward for the lion release program.

2009 also saw visits to Ghana, Swaziland and Mozambique to discuss the ALERT programs with high-ranking government officials; including the President of Ghana.

In my mind, one of the biggest successes of 2009 is the amazing support, dedication, commitment, and belief in the end goal, of those working closely with the ALERT program.

Without the support of this small, but dedicated group of people, I would not be able to take this program forward at the rate that it is going. Special mention needs to be made of: - My Chief Operating Officer, David Youldon and his dedicated group in Livingstone and Victoria Falls.

- The entire Antelope Park lion management team, so capably lead by Leigh-ann Marnoch - Our sister company African Impact for the amazing support in marketing the program to volunteering conservation workers around the globe.

In conclusion, I have no doubt that the ALERT program has already, and will continue to draw global attention to the decline of the African Lion and this, together with our 4 stage release program WILL help to save this magnificent beast.

Andrew Conolly Founder & Chairman

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About ALERT‌ We are the African Lion & Environmental Research Trust (ALERT), a non-profit organization dedicated to the facilitation and promotion of sound conservation and management plans for the African lion (Panthera leo) in consultation with governments, wildlife authorities and communities.

ALERT also comprises the Conservation Centre for Wild Africa (CCWA) and the ALERT Communities Trust (ACT), each with distinct but complimentary conservation, research and community development & empowerment programs.

ALERT was founded in 2005 at Antelope Park, near the city of Gweru in the heart of the Zimbabwe Midlands, to support the African Lion Rehabilitation and Release into the Wild Program developed by Andrew & Wendy Conolly in 1999. The aim of this program is to provide solutions to augment the sharply decreasing numbers of African lions through reintroduction programs into appropriate reserves across the African continent.

In recognition that the environment is shaped not just by geography and bio-physical factors, but also by socio-economic and political ones ALERT was also founded to develop a holistic view to lion conservation to ensure that wild and reintroduced prides can survive in viable numbers.

Conservation of one species in isolation however is unlikely to provide a sustainable future for that species; only through greater understanding of the environment within which the lion lives and its interactions with that environment can sound conservation and management decisions be made. To this end CCWA was formed to specifically consider these wider issues and engage in in-situ and ex-situ conservation and research of other species with which the lion shares its environment.

Only through real community participation in conservation does the lion, or any of Africa’s wildlife, have a long term future. At present most communities receive little benefit from the wild areas around them and therefore many over-utilize those resources.

If we can assist the African people to develop opportunities to improve their livelihood through sustainable use of those natural resources then those communities will have reason to make rational decisions to protect these wild areas. ALERT, through our developing community programs, is working towards practical ways to empower communities for the benefit of truly sustainable use of land; motivated by Africans to the benefit of Africans.

ALERT seeks to develop cooperative partnerships to: reflect the strength of unions forged between Africa’s diverse stakeholders; to provide a forum to generate innovative conservation solutions in tandem with responsible development programs, to leverage funding and develop a culture of sharing of expertise between partners to meet the most pressing conservation and development needs across the continent.

The lion is a symbol of many indigenous cultures. ALERT seeks to address continent wide issues in conservation whilst maintaining location specific solutions. Through our programs we hope to foster cross border co-operation to meet the needs of Africa.

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The African lion is an iconic symbol of Africa; a powerful image that can draw attention not just to this keystone species, but can assist in raising awareness for lesser appreciated species, its environment and the people who live with it.

The African lion‌ an ambassador for all of Africa’s wildlife and its people.

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The year that was... 2009 by ALERT Chief Operating Officer David Youldon Wow! What a year that was. I can safely say that I have never been busier in my entire life, and, believe me, I have had some pretty busy years. I think we at ALERT can feel rightly proud of what we have achieved this past year despite a global recession that obviously hampered our fundraising abilities. Here are just some of the highlights: In January ALERT officially launched its Facilitated Research Program permitting students studying at all levels to complete their thesis at any of our project locations with full logistical and scientific assistance. During 2009 we hosted students from Oslo, Exeter and East Anglia Universities amongst others. They completed their research on a wide variety of topics including Behavioural Sequencing and Personality Development in Lions, Local Participation and Aid Dependency in Rural Communities and The Role of Volunteer Tourism in Sub-Saharan African Environmental Conservation.

“Deciding to undertake a postgraduate thesis was a huge life decision for me and the whole process seemed quite overwhelming at first. I had an idea of what I wanted to do, but turning that into a viable research study was a daunting prospect. Given that my field work was to take place in Africa my university was limited in how much support they could provide.

The team at ALERT were hugely helpful as I prepared for my study. Their thorough understanding of the animals that they work with and the environment that they operate in was incredibly useful to me in establishing my methodology and making sure that it would really work on the ground. They handled all the logistical arrangements for me and have been incredibly supportive as I have embarked on this journey.

I would highly recommend their programs to anyone interested in carrying out a research study in Africa.”

Lisa Clifforde, MPhil, Exeter University Ten percent of the program fees paid by these students has been retained by ALERT in order to allow us to fully fund study placements for students of African universities. We hope to host the first of these students in 2010 and look forward to building local capacity within Africa over the coming years to develop local solutions to Africa’s conservation challenges. If you are interested in undertaking your research study within Africa, click on the image on the left.

If you would like to donate to our fund to help us provide more study placements to African students please contact us at info@lionalert.org.

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We also announced a partnership with the Africa Centre for Holistic Management (ACHM). This partnership will allow us to greatly enhance our habitat protection role.

Communal lands are showing ever-increasing levels of desertification due to unsustainable land use activities with the attendant denuding of natural ecosystem processes such as; access to clean water; reduction in soil quality; loss of wood for fuel; and the extinction of flora and fauna species. As land becomes less productive communities are forced to expand their zones of use in order to maintain the same benefits derived from these eco-system processes, which inevitably encroaches on wildlife areas. This encroachment reduces the land area which all wild species need to thrive and increases conflicts between humans and wildlife, particularly through crop raiding by elephants and livestock predation by carnivores such as lions.

Following public meetings ALERT has commenced a training program with ACHM for communities surrounding Victoria Falls to teach holistic management techniques. We hope that with further funding this program can be greatly expanded in 2010 to tackle one of Africa’s greatest challenges; living with wildlife.

During February we commenced a study of the ecology of elephants in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and surrounding areas. Following IUCN guidelines we are looking to understand better the use of the region by this species. From this we hope to be able to improve management of elephants here as well as enhance conflict mitigation measures for the surrounding communities.

We made our first sighting of a lion in the Zambezi National Park, a large, lone male. Our study here is looking at all the large predators of this National Park providing data for our own research as well as passing results on to the Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority and to other NGO’s to assist with their studies and conservation management plans.

A pack of African Wild Dogs moved into the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Wild Dogs have the highest hunting success rate of any of Africa’s predators and as such, further conflict with communities is inevitable. Through 2009 we have been building a picture of where these wide-ranging animals are moving in the region. These elusive creatures have been difficult to track but due input from the local communities we now have a reasonable idea of their movement patterns. With thanks to the Painted Dogs Project in Hwange, collars have been sourced and we hope in early 2010 to dart and collar two dogs.

In Zambia at the beginning of March, the first kill at stage one of the African Lion Rehabilitation & Release into the Wild Program in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park came on the 5th of March. Kela and Kwandi are 10-month old sisters, and were on a morning walk with a third female, Loma, when they heard a noise in the thick Bush.

Kwandi rushed into the undergrowth and was found a few moments later with a Greater Canerat (the second largest rodent in southern Africa) clamped between her jaws. Kela and Loma sat watching a few yards away, but when Kwandi’s attention was distracted Kela stole the kill from her sister and carried it off into a thicket.

Last year a collaboration between ALERT, ACT and African Impact was founded to empower vulnerable and marginalised members of the community through a number of projects to offer opportunities for them to secure more sustainable livelihoods through environmental responsibility. One element of this is to provide support in the setting up of ‘nutritional gardens’ to improve health and provide excess crops they can sell.

Every week, a meeting is held at Chinotimba Gardens by the District AIDS Awareness Council (DAAC) made up of some 40 individuals from the Victoria Falls area living with HIV. During these meetings they discuss ways of improving their livelihoods and how to live positively with the virus. And this was to be the destination for a donated batch of seeds. ACT project staff and voluntourists assisted the group with the clearing of two areas and weeding before the seeds were planted in a preparation bed. Once they have germinated and established they will be further transplanted and distributed among the community.

In April the results from an independent study on the African Lion Rehabilitation & Release into the Wild Program stage two release at Dollar Block in 2008 were provided to ALERT. The report included the following conclusions; “it is important to reintroduce captive bred lions into the wild” and “captive bred lions are able to kill and sustain themselves”. The results of this independent study with data collected by ALERT itself show the released lions have met all pre-conditions established for success.

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ACT’s Conservation Education program is now in operation at all three of our project sites; Victoria Falls, Antelope Park and now Livingstone. The first lesson was held this month at our program’s site in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park with 20 pupils from the nearby Twabuka School.

Three volunteers, Tracey Ferrier, Maya Helsvig and Alex Haliday lead the lesson assisted by Lion Encounter (Zambia) Head Lion Handler John Mundanya and Guide Friday Ng’ambi. The lesson was planned around keeping our environment clean, with a particular emphasis on litter. The children played a series of games, working towards earning their ‘Litter Star’. After a quick break, John and Friday then took the kids on a tour of stage one of the lion release program, introducing them to the 10 cubs as well as explaining the program’s objectives. It was the first time any of the children had ever seen a lion, and they were all very excited.

Twabuka has 200 students and over the coming weeks all students and some parents had the chance to take part in the Litter Lesson before moving onto other subjects in the syllabus.

"In the end, we conserve only what we love.

We will love only what we understand.

We will understand only what we are taught."

Baba Dioum, Senegalese poet In May Antelope Park in conjunction with ALERT issued a press release regarding the discovery of FIV in eleven of the Park’s lions.

Seroprevalence of FIVPle in free-ranging populations of African lions within east and southern Africa exceeds those seen in any feline species to date. Phylogenetic analyses of FIVPle genome sequences circulating in free-ranging populations of lions display high levels of sequence divergence, suggesting that FIVPle infection in these animals may be an ancient event. As with HIV strains among humans, however, the FIV strains among lions are likely evolving at rates that exceed the ability of the lion immune system to keep up. It has been argued that loss of habitat and conflict with humans are the most pressing concerns currently for lion conservation issues; nevertheless, we must not lose sight of the fact that wild lions are infected with a pernicious virus, the effect of which on longevity, reproduction, and survival has not been adequately documented. Doubtless all factors contributing to lion conservation must be carefully and objectively evaluated.

While it was originally hypothesized that co-evolution of FIVPle and lions led to partial adaptation between virus and host recent studies have shown that infection consequences for lions are largely similar to infection consequences for domestic cats. A recently discovered subtype of the FIVPle virus common in southern Africa in fact uses the same recognition factors on the surfaces of cells important in immune regulation to invade and infect those cells as FIVFca does in domestic cats.

It is important to point out that FIVPle infection is not an automatic death sentence - that is not how the virus works. FIVPle does not work as an epidemic disease, which in the past has led to confusion. Over time, the lion’s immune system does become compromised, resulting in them becoming more susceptible to a variety of diseases. Some infected lions in the wild can lead long lives, although it appears that their reproductive output is lessened and cub survival rate is reduced.

New levels of management implemented at Antelope Park will minimize threats of the spread of the virus to FIV negative lions. In addition ALERT committed to engage in a multi-collaborative research effort to monitor the progressive effect of the disease on the FIV positive lions.

Dr. Pieter Kat, a consultant to the program with significant experience in this field, believes that this will be an important and novel project that will add much-needed knowledge to the understanding of this virus and will be of great benefit to both wild lions and the individuals in the African Lion Rehabilitation & Release into the Wild Program.

On the 28th of May 2009 the first peg was driven into the ground by founder Andrew Conolly to mark the location of the fence to be constructed within Zambia’s Dambwa Forest as part of the long awaited development of the stage two and three release areas for the African Lion Rehabilitation & Release into the Wild Program.

It has taken five years from when the initial idea to revitalize this part of Zambia’s natural heritage was proposed to the Zambian authorities to get to the point when on 11th May the green light to commence the project was given.

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Meetings were immediately set up with the district offices of Forestry, ZAWA and the Joint Forest Management Committee to advise them of the intention to start work with subsequent meetings with the three chiefs representing the communities that live around the Forest. A series of public meetings within these communities to provide an update on our plans and information on how the building will be phased over the next few years were undertaken. So far the plans have been met with overwhelming support by the authorities and communities alike.

The first stage two area is hoped to be completed by March 2010 so that Kela, Kwandi, Loma, Zulu, Leya, Rundi and Rusha can commence their Night Encounter campaign.

The pride will continue Night Encounters for a period of one year during which time we hope to complete the second stage two area into which they will be released around February 2011 at the age of two-and-a half years old. This will free up the first area for the next release pride to start being formed and begin their Night Encounter training.

The release pride will remain in stage two for around one year until they are three-and-a half years during which time the final phase of construction will take place – stage three.

ALERT is exceptionally proud of our UK patron, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest on his third attempt. He is an inspiration to all of us on the program to continue to strive towards our goals.

At 65, Sir Ran is the oldest Briton to climb the 8,850 metres (29,035ft) to the world’s highest peak, and afterwards said that while he was pleased he “felt dreadful”. After a failed attempt last year where he had to abandon the venture due to exhaustion, and suffering a heart attack on his first effort in 2005, Fiennes completed his third assault on the mountain in three weeks.

Over the years, Sir Ranulph has led over 30 expeditions and is best-known for a three-year trans-global expedition which he completed in 1982, as well as running seven marathons in seven days on seven continents just four months after undergoing a triple heart bypass in 2003.

In June ALERT staff visited the Parque Nacional da Gorongosa in Mozambique. Where once 14,000 buffalo fed on the lush grasses shadowed by lion prides 18 strong there are now just long, near-empty vistas.

In 1992 and for two years following the end of the civil war in Mozambique the great herds of Gorongosa were decimated. Gone are the innumerable wildebeest and zebra herds, gone are most of the secretive bushbuck, nyala and oribi, and gone are many of the hippo in the lake formed by the Sungue River.

But the fortune of this most enthralling of Parks is turning around with thanks to the Carr Foundation and a dedicated conservation management team. They aim to reintroduce all manner of species to the Park – to restore it to its former glory. Much work has already been done.

There is plenty of lion food available in the Park already – warthog are considered at almost plague proportions and there are other species too on which the lions could thrive; impala and reedbuck amongst them. At its height the Park sustained some 500 lion yet the lions here are not reproducing well despite the availability of prey. Recruitment is low and the reasons are unknown.

With little or no influx possible of wild lions from other areas and a dwindling population the lions need help. ALERT has offered assistance to the conservation management team to establish a multi-collaborative effort to help understand what is going on; looking at disease, genetic structure, human conflict issues as well as assist in research to better understand the usage of the Park by the current lions. Our offer is under consideration and we will keep you up to date as this hopefully develops.

On behalf of Zimbabwe’s Department of Parks & Wildlife, CCWA purchased satellite images covering the Victoria Falls area. The images have been used for our joint sable habitat selection study and will help correlate sable sightings to vegetation composition estimated by normalized difference vegetation indices.

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The ground hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri), a bird indigenous in southern Africa to Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, KwaZuluNatal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo Province and is scattered around northern Namibia, is an unmistakable looking-bird with a conspicuous red face and throat patches and a large black de-curved bill (Ian Sinclair, 1993). There are many myths surrounding ground hornbills, such as the belief that it is “muti” (medicine) for bringing rains. In some areas they are considered sacred, while in others it is thought that in large numbers they signal drought.

Regarded as vulnerable in South Africa, a population estimate of 1,500 to 2,000 has been put forth, and Zimbabwe’s population is believed to be on the decline as well. Habitat fragmentation has resulted in fewer suitable areas for the hornbills to occupy, but they have also been killed through feeding on poisoned meat, left for problem carnivores predating on farmer’s livestock as well as being killed for meat in their own right.

A new CCWA study in and around the Zambezi National Park commenced to determine ground hornbill population numbers within the Hwange District, as well as data on habitat and prey preference. Additional information collected from the communities surrounding our project base in Victoria Falls and the study site will aid understanding people’s attitudes towards the bird and assist in developing management strategies aimed at conserving the ground hornbill.

The Victoria Falls rainforest is one of the world’s most visited tourist sites and is home to over 800 plant species. The spread of invading alien plants is contributing towards the depletion of indigenous plant species in the area. In turn, this will lead to a loss of plant biodiversity if action is not taken.

Environment Africa in collaboration with Zimbabwe’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife started an eradication exercise which involves removing these alien species by mechanical methods. They mapped out areas infested by alien plant invader species and within the study area, established four vegetation plots in the rainforest and one control plot outside of the rainforest.

CCWA has since partnered with Environment Africa and National Parks to assist the project in maintaining plant biodiversity.

To create further awareness of this vital work within the Victoria Falls National Park, we launched the Friends of Victoria Falls Program http://www.lionalert.org/pages/friends-of-victoriafalls.html and formed a partnership with The Living Rainforest, in Berkshire.

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In July we announced new community programs at our Antelope Park project site. Antelope Park and ACT staff identified a local clinic and two primary schools which the project has now formed a partnership with.

Medical assistance: The instigation of the pilot stage of this program coincided with a nation-wide scheme throughout Zimbabwe to vaccinate children under five against measles, Tuberculosis and Polio. Mkoba, a neighbouring village to the Park where many staff live, was identified as a prime candidate to offer assistance to. A team of nurses from Mkoba Poly Clinic faced a challenge in that their mobile vaccination unit was not so mobile. Antelope Park provided vehicles to the nurses for the entire operation. In addition, the Park’s Assistant Camp Manager, Simba Giya, and ALERT’s Sibo Ncube and Lorraine Mpunzi assisted nurses as they toured the region’s pre-schools vaccinating the children.

Teaching assistance: Simba, Lorraine and Sibo headed next to Mkoba 4 Primary School to present a proposal to the headmaster, Mr Mandiziva, for the start of a teaching project at the school. At present, Mkoba 4 Primary has 200 pre-schoolers as part of the government’s early child development scheme – but only one classroom to teach them in. Staff shortages have also taken their toll on the school’s 2,000 other pupils. The school’s staff was keen to take up the offer of assistance that a volunteer-based program would give. The teaching program is being structured to provide the stretched staff with classroom assistance as well as helping to maintain and expand existing infrastructure.

In Zambia we held the first of our new health education classes in the local community by presenting a lesson on cholera followed by a question and answer session. The meeting was held at Twabuka Primary School where we have already established our conservation education program with pupils. This time, it was the parents’ turn and attendance was high with over 60 people from the local area listening to the talk, perhaps demonstrating the lack of information that has so far been provided to those in rural communities and the desire to be better informed. There were plenty of questions, feedback and advice, and at the end everyone was pleased with the results. This was the first of many such sessions which included lessons on malaria, bilharzias, HIV/AIDS amongst others. The program has already been extended to other neighbouring communities.

Perhaps the most incredible tale to come from the African Lion Rehabilitation & Release into the Wild Program this year was that on 12th July 13-month old Leya chased, jumped on and brought down a juvenile giraffe – estimated to be around four-years old. Just three weeks earlier Leya had made her first kill on an adult impala.

Closing in on the giraffe herd Leya honed in on the juvenile, who clearly had a limp to its back right leg. Continuing to narrow the gap, she got within striking distance and clung to its back. Readjusting her grip several times, she eventually wore the animal down and pulled it to the ground unaided.

Monthly game counts in the Zambezi National Park continued in order to estimate population sizes and monitor changes within each population. The data collected is also essential in determining habitat requirements of individual species, and where necessary provide clues for any decline. Combined, all information on the wildlife and habitat works towards drawing up informed management and conservation plans.

Using road-strip counts, an historical network of transects are travelled on a monthly basis to survey the wildlife in the area. Volunteers and staff count the animals sighted and measure their perpendicular distance from the road with a range finder and angleometer. The sample area is then calculated from the average distance that animals are seen from the vehicle and the distance travelled. Sample means of density for each species taken every month will eventually be used to collate precise and accurate estimates of overall abundance.

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In August we told you how rural communities surrounding our project base in Livingstone face a big problem when herds of elephants return to the Mosi-oaTunya National Park every year to utilise the Zambezi River. While their presence is a huge draw for tourists to the town, those who grow crops on their property are vulnerable to raids by the herds and can easily lose an entire year’s worth of work, revenue and food sources in a single night.

To complement our elephant monitoring program within the National Park, we began a program of mitigation method testing on four plots of land at Maunga Community School. The school has in previous years attempted to grow its own crops to provide nutritional meals for pupils and staff, but have had their efforts raided on each occasion.

The four plots each test a different elephant deterrent; the first plot will just be tilled with crops left exposed to the elephants, the second will have a ditch bordering it; the third will be surrounded by chilli plants at its edges, while the final plot will be surrounded by a mud wall. The four plots will be monitored during both the wet and dry season for signs of elephant damage and the most successful can then be used as a showcase to those suffering from raiding activities.

Filming for the much anticipated documentary about the African Lion Rehabilitation & Release into the Wild Program, delayed due to restrictions on film crews operating within Zimbabwe, finally got underway in September. A crew from Anglia TV in the UK joined us at Antelope Park and Livingstone for almost two months to film a six part series on the program. The first episode will be aired at 7.30pm on ITV1 on 6th January 2010. We expect the series to be distributed worldwide later in the year. Allowing unprecedented access to all aspects of the program we hope that the films will raise much needed awareness for the plight of the African lion.

Throughout 2009 media interest in our programs increased significantly with articles in various print and web media as well as features in a number of TV series. We expect this to continue in 2010.

ALERT extended its cooperative partnerships this month; firstly with the Tashinga Initiative. ALERT assisted in funding training for game rangers in Mana Pools National Park that will provide greater protection to this beautiful wildlife area. We also provided funding to our partner, the AWARE Trust, to disease test the lions in Gonorezhou National Park in Zimbabwe.

Having viewed the progress of the African Lion Rehabilitation & Release into the Wild Program in further detail, Antelope Park has been offered the option of 6,200 acres by Zimbabwean authorities and we are happy to report that the agreement for this additional land has been signed. For many years now the land has been under-utilised bringing little economic benefit to the local community. This additional land affords Antelope Park a number of exciting opportunities for community development programs in addition to the multiple stage two release areas being built.

October was pretty much taken up with filming the TV series with many of the lion release program’s staff, and of course lions, taking part. Leya did it again, by taking down a second giraffe whilst Tswana made her first kill, a duiker, on camera.

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In

November

we launched our Where is your PRIDE? campaign. The aim is to gain support for lion conservation from

organizations, clubs, and businesses that incorporate the lion in their name, logos, organizational symbols or advertising .

Our new web site was well received judging by the staggering increase in traffic. We hope to build on this initial success in 2010 by making the site even more informative.

The release program hosted SADC ministers this month. Also, Andrew Conolly, founder of ALERT met with the Ghanaian President Atta Mills as well as the Minister of Tourism, the Minister of Lands and the Deputy Minister of Tourism to discuss our involvement in the development of a national lion species management plan for the country. This follows introductory visits to Ghana by ALERT staff and by a government delegation to our project sites in Zimbabwe and Zambia earlier this year. In 2010 we hope to commence this program which we believe will be a significant contribution to lion conservation in West Africa where the species is considered endangered.

This review tells just a small part of the story of 2009 and the progress of our many individual projects. We cannot thank you enough for the support that you all have shown during this past year With kindest regards,

David Youldon ALERT Chief Operating Officer

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Mana Pools NP Game Ranger Training Course...

In October we announced our support

for The Tashinga Initiative (www.thetashingaintiative.org) A wildlife protection project in the Zambezi Valley of Zimbabwe. TTI, in full collaboration with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA), seeks to address the problem of unsustainable resource use, illegal activity and to enhance operational capacity within ZPWMA. Following a direct plea from Dr. Norman Monks, the Area Manager of Mana Pools National Park, ALERT donated funds, along with other organizations, towards The Tashinga Initiative’s Ranger Training Course, which took place during November; the Pass Out Parade taking place on 10th December.

Trainers Dolf Sasseen (TTI) and Wildlife Officer Netsai Chigwenjere (ZPWMA) met up at Mana Pools on the 14th November, together with Lynne Taylor, Director of The Tashinga Initiative, the Mana Pools National Park Area Manager, Dr Norman Monks, and Senior Wildlife Officer Dube to commence the training program.

The Park’s Rangers undertook an intensive program in order to better equip them with a practical knowledge on the subject of anti-poaching, how best to deal with armed poachers – a predominant problem in this region, to build team confidence and spirits and training to ensure the safety of each Ranger.

The Rangers themselves commented on the training given… ”The course was … life inspiring to me as it gave me an incredible experience. The tracking and ambushing tactics are fundamental.”

The Trainers remarked…” [The Rangers] responded very well to this training and have expressed the desire to learn more…each individual has stated that they benefitted much and that it has equipped them with knowledge they never had…”

It is hoped that further training of these Rangers to build on the experiences of this first course can be undertaken in the New Year.

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Large predator population assessment in the Zambezi National park The Zambezi National Park is home to five species of large predator including; spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), leopard (Panthera pardus), lion (Panthera leo) and African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus). Densities of large predator species are estimated to be low despite the fact that a fairly high concentration of antelopes exists in the basalt woodlands below the sand ridge and stretching all the way to the Zambezi River. This habitat should under normal circumstances be good hunting ground for predators and should therefore support a good population of predators. Knowledge of a reliable estimate of predator populations will go a long way in knowing predator � prey ratios and relationships in the ecological system. Predators will provide a sure check on mammal populations in the park hence reducing chances of over utilization of browse and graze.

A great number of hyena spoors were encountered and physically spotted, leading to the assumption that there is high number of spotted hyenas in the Park. This is usually indicated by a skewed population structure in the corresponding prey population, that is, low recruitment rates or survivorship of the young to adulthood. However since there is no baseline prey life table from which we can draw any meaningful conclusions from, it is difficult at this stage to say whether the hyena population can be sustained by resident prey species or is in equilibrium with available resources. Their distribution does not seem to follow any variants in habitat quality. Spoors were encountered throughout the various habitats; mixed woodland, Kalahari sand woodland, grassland, Teak and mopane woodland. Three cheetahs were physically spotted on grassland habitat. Spoors for a single leopard were encountered on one occasion, however a reliable source alluded to physically spotting six on different sections of the Kazungula road whist driving on one particular night.

There is a need to develop more carnivore specific methodologies to aid population estimates. With more funding it is hoped that species specific studies will permit more effective population census techniques and allow us to indentify habitat use and territorial boundaries. The transect route also needs to modified as it only covers the Northern section of the Park. However numerous lion spoors were encountered outside the transect route, in the Southern section which is favoured by prey species largely due to the presence of a conducive habitat. By correlating such spoor to our regression model then we will be able to predict the make-up of the ZNP’s lion population. This is imperative when carrying out a pre–release population analysis.

A Population Viability Analysis will aid in identifying significant environmental and population aspects, guiding model variants of likely intraspecific competition that release stock could cause. Assessing their potential interactions, this would guide long-term population management. In essence our ability to establish wild population dynamics (age) will help us determine our thresholds prior to release.

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Urban agriculture: As habitats are over ‐utilised the natural processes that offer vital resources are compromised. By protecting environments, even small eco‐systems, whilst developing sustainable use programs, we can ensure those resources can meet the demands of future communities.

The broad strategic goal of the project is to assist orphans, other vulnerable children, people living with HIV, the elderly and destitute to showcase best practices and restore the integrity of earth’s ecological system, with special concern for biological diversity and the natural processes that sustain life, to affirm gender equality and equity as a prerequisite to responsible development and ensure access to health and economic opportunity.

Great strides have been taken in helping out in the implementation and maintenance of nutritional gardens for people living with HIV/AIDS. The contribution made by an ex volunteer cannot be understated in the progress of this program, as she has constantly supplying the program with the necessary resources. A variety of herbs and vegetables will provide a valuable nutrition source in the face of the AIDS pandemic.

Victoria Falls volunteers are actively involved in the upkeep of the nutrition garden, and spend many hours a week planting seedlings, weeding, cultivating and watering of the communal garden. The gesture has now been extended to the old people’s home, and in line with the 2009/10 farming season, maize has recently been planted.

However, a key challenge with this program remains in protecting the garden from baboons and other pests. Over the next year, a fence will be erected to protect the crops from the baboons.

Above: volunteers at the Victoria Falls project clear the communal gardens in preparation for the creation of a nutritional garden. Below: the first health education lesson held in Livingstone’s Maunga Community School

Health education: A program of health education began in June at our Livingstone program. Once again the lessons were initially held at Twabuka Community School, this time however it was for the adults of the community. Weekend classes were held on malaria, cholera, bilharzias, rabies, STDs, HIV, Swine Flu and tuberculosis. For each lesson a general lesson plan was followed to include an introduction of the condition; what is it, how is it harmful; how is it caught, can it be transmitted between people and how can you prevent yourself becoming infected; what are the symptoms; what you should do if you develop the symptoms of any of the conditions. In the case of incurable viruses such as HIV, great stress was put on the need to take prescribed medication and the importance of healthy living; many people living with HIV can live long and healthy lives. It is also hoped that such information would help stem the culture of discrimination and taboo which some illnesses can create in communities.

The lessons were well attended with up to 30 community members at each lesson. Plenty of questions were asked and opened up a lot of lively debate. As with conservation education, the main purpose of the classes was to engage community members in the idea of taking an active approach and interest towards their personal and their family members’ health, as well as providing the basic facts behind each subject. The syllabus was also adapted to include children and this was taken to the children of Maunga Community School. A nine-week lesson plan was devised, which with over 400 students to include took six months over 2009. The children participated in lessons on personal hygiene, tooth decay, balanced diet, physical activities, HIV/AIDS, core life skills, drug abuse, malaria, tuberculosis.

We are looking to expand this program to include a greater number of schools in the Livingstone area.

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The African Lion Rehabilitation & Release into the Wild Program Over 2009 we extended our program’s operations from our two stage one sites at Antelope Park in Gweru and Masuwe Lodge in Victoria Falls, to include our first stage one outside of Zimbabwe, in Zambia’s Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park.

The National Park is 68km² and ALERT and our partners Lion Encounter (Zambia) have use of an area of 3km².

In the first year of operations in Zambia 10 lions took part in stage one of the program, and 14 kills were made on everything from monitor lizards and tortoise to waterbuck and giraffe; the first time by a walking cub in the program’s history. Program-wide we saw the lions make a total of 49 kills, and those lions aged between 18-months and two-and a half years on Night Encounters made 24 kills, achieving a 32% success rate.

Of the funds raised from lion walks in Zambia US$ 94,000 was raised for the Zambia Wildlife Authority to assist in their management of the Park.

Livingstone also hosted five international research students through ALERT’s Facilitated Research program looking at topics as diverse as Behavioural sequencing and personality development in African lions to the Economic impacts of tourism in the Livingstone area, Zambia.

Further to the research program, 10% of all international students’ fees are held by the Trust to provide fully funded placements to students from African Universities enabling capacity building within Africa for research

In Zambia we also saw the development of our first release site within the Dambwa Forest. On the 28th May 2009 the first peg was driven into the ground by the program’s founder, Andrew Conolly, to mark the location of the fence; a process which took five years to get to. Meetings were immediately set up with the district offices of Forestry, ZAWA and the Joint Forest Management Committee to advise them of the intention to start work with subsequent meetings with the three chiefs representing the communities that live around the Forest. A series of public meetings within these communities to provide an update on our plans and information on how the building will be phased over the next few years were undertaken. So far the plans have been met with overwhelming support by the authorities and communities alike.

The first stage two area is hoped to be completed by March 2010 so that our first Zambian release pride of Kela, Kwandi, Loma, Zulu, Leya, Rundi and Rusha can commence their Night Encounter campaign.

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The pride will continue Night Encounters for a period of one year during which time we hope to complete the second stage two area into which they will be released around February 2011 at the age of two ‐and‐a half years old. This will free up the first area for the next release pride to start being formed and begin their Night Encounter training.

The release pride will remain in stage two for around one year until they are three ‐and‐a half years during which time the final phase of construction will take place – stage three.

Our program’s base at Antelope Park has also seen an exciting development that will allow the creation of several release sites on land next door to the Park. In late 2008 a 1000 acre piece of communal area of land outside of the Park’s Ngamo Gate was offered to the program by Gweru City Council, for general use by the program.

The negotiations over the lease agreement for this land was a lengthy process and took a little while longer than hoped after months of on ‐going negotiations, Antelope Park management received a draft lease agreement from Gweru City Council’s Town Clerk giving the Lion Rehabilitation & Release into the Wild program the right to fence areas of the proposed Ngamo Land, adjacent to the Park, for the purpose of conservation as of 1st July.

In September, the Council then offered the Rehabilitation & Release program a further 5,200 acres and the agreement for this additional land was signed later that month. For many years now the land has been under‐utilised bringing little economic benefit to the local community. This additional land affords Antelope Park a number of exciting opportunities for development in addition to the release areas proposed.

Firstly, the Park itself could be extended from its current size of 3,000 acres. Antelope Park is located just outside the city of Gweru in the centre of Zimbabwe; a region almost devoid of wildlife following the introduction of extensive agriculture and livestock farming many years ago. Such extension will conserve land for wildlife and in particular will enhance protection of the dwindling vulture populations of the region – six species of which, including the endangered Cape Vulture, are known to frequent the Park’s Vulture’s Restaurant.

Our oldest lions are nearing the end of their natural breeding life. It is our intention to release these lions as a pride into a protected area where they will have the opportunity to live out their days in ‐natural a semi environment with the opportunity to hunt and become self‐sustaining. However given their time in captivity we may have to supplement feed them.

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Such extension to the land available to the program could easily accommodate an area for retiring breeding lions.

The program now also has the opportunity to release an FIV positive pride of lions into stage two where we will be able to observe their progress in comparison to an FIV negative group in a separate release site. This could result in crucial knowledge about the effects of the virus on an infected lion’s survival with significant benefits to the management of the species continent �wide.

Antelope Park is one of the largest employers in the area and provides significant benefit to the local economy by direct employment and through secondary and support industries. The expansion of operations at Antelope Park, where the lion release program was developed, can only enhance social and economic development in an otherwise relatively impoverished city.

Due to the lengthy process that reaching a satisfactory agreement to both sides for the lease agreement goahead for the work to commence came right at the start of the rainy season, which obviously makes work difficult.

However, over this time the necessary fence and other materials for the first release site have been sourced and have arrived at the Park, and once the land is dry enough to begin building the first of several release sites will be constructed over the first half of 2010.

With two areas close to our current programs now under construction, focus is shifting to sourcing new land for further sites in both Zambia and Zimbabwe. Several areas have been identified as potential future release areas and these are under consideration by the relevant authorities.

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Influence of social upbringing on activity budgets in African lions Activity budget data in 2008 was collected at Antelope Park, but over 2009 was expanded to include the Victoria Falls and Livingstone projects. This has enabled us to look at various aspects influencing activity at the different sites and the experiments have been designed in such a way that the data, though related, can be analysed independently.

The Zambia base focused on the influence of group size as well as influence of time of day on the activity budgets. The Victoria Falls project investigated the influence of age and sex in the lion as well as influence of time of day. The Gweru site which consists of a larger sample size focused on the influence of age and sex, time of day, enclosure size and complexity as well as group size on activity budgets.

The practice within the Program of removing cubs from their mother at three-weeks old has come in for some questioning in the past. A litter born over 2009 therefore proved an appealing area for study, as well as providing information on the changes in activity budget with age in young cubs. Data was collected on the litter at two-weeks old (still with their mother) at three-weeks old (at the point of removal), and at three-months old (beginning their daily walks). The results are summarised below: Activity

2 weeks (%)

3 weeks (%)

3months (%)

Resting Active Stereotypic Hunting Play Social

63 29 0 0 2 6

72 22 0 0 0 6

44 44 0 6 5 1

Between two- and three-weeks old there is not much difference in activities performed, however there is an increase in resting at the three-week mark and decrease in activity, very likely brought on by the uncertainty of their new surroundings. However, the degree of social behaviours displayed among the cubs remains constant.

Between two-weeks and three-months the cubs significantly increase their activity rate (51% increment).

Previous studies show that lions in captivity are prone to stereotypic behaviour, but this did not prove to be true in the program’s cubs. Possible explanations for this might be the quality of enclosures, space and presence of environmental enrichment, and the substitute of parental care from staff, suggesting the cubs were quick to accept humans as pride-mates allowing them the confidence to perform the play behaviours and develop their natural hunting instincts.

From this study it is clear that the cubs indeed partition their time amongst the six different behaviours looked at. It is also clear that the protocol of removing cubs from their mothers at this age does not have any long-term negative impact on them and in fact encouraged active, play and hunting behaviours. However, at present more hours have to be spent on observation on all areas of this study.

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Hunting strategy in captive ‐bred lions: It is very difficult to study wild lions consistently on every hunt they take part in over their lifetime. The Rehabilitation & Release into the Wild program affords unique insights into this aspect of lion development. On all lion walks information is collected that can help us to understand strategies employed by lions whilst hunting; what cooperation is present, and whether individual lions learn techniques or styles that when used improve their hunting success rate.

Our hunting success results showed that groups of three are likely to fair best in a hunt. Taking an all-female group of three and a mixed gender group, we can look at the preferred methods of approach, direction and most importantly with three kills made in each group over the defined period we can look at whether their preferred hunting styles are in fact the most successful.

The first group of three females took part in 114 hunts over the study period and contain two sisters and a third female from a second litter.

We can see that two of the female – the sisters – by far prefer the method of approach of walk-stalk-chase. Female C however will more often simply walk towards the prey, 6% more often than walking, stalking and chasing.

Figure 2 clearly shows that all the lions preferred the direct approach, but our two sisters within the group do display a certain degree of cooperation with flanking; Female A’s left and right approach are directly opposed to that of Female B’s.

Figure 1

Figure 2

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For our second group, the mixed gender group of two males and a female the same results are represented below: The pattern of approach is quite clearly different from that of an all-female group, whilst for the lone female and Male A in this set the method of walk-stalk-chase is still the preferred style, just, there are a lot more spontaneous approaches.

Figure 3

While all lions within group 2 favour the direct approach, there does not seem to be the same level of cooperation between the mixed group as with our first group; further supporting figure 3’s depiction of a more random and less coordinated hunt amongst mixed gender groups.

Figure 4 One area that has come to light from the existing hunting results is that possibility of certain hunting characteristics amongst lions which alters their strategy and success; those that will always hunt under any given circumstance, those that will always hunt but not in the presence of certain other lions, individuals that frequently initiate a hunt but usually allow others to take over and the scavengers. Identifying which category each lion within a pride falls into could be crucial for their success in stage two; simply putting two good hunters with the best hunting records in a pride may not work if one of those hunters will not hunt in the company of the other. Greater consideration and investigation into identifying the markers within such characters will be worked towards over 2010.

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Ground hornbill status assessment in the Zambezi National Park The ground hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri), indigenous in southern Africa to Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, KwaZulu ‐Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo province and scattered around northern Namibia, is an unmistakable ‐looking bird with a conspicuous red face and throat patches and a large black de ‐curved bill.

Regarded as vulnerable in South Africa, a population estimate of 1,500 to 2,000 has been put forth; Zimbabwe’s population is believed to be declining as well. Habitat fragmentation has resulted in fewer suitable areas for hornbills, but they are also killed through feeding on poisoned meat left for problem carnivores predating on livestock and being killed for meat in their own right.

An assessment into the hornbill’s status in Zimbabwe’s Zambezi National Park commenced in 2009 with the intention of supplementing information as to their status in Zimbabwe. The information will also help develop management strategies aimed at conserving the bird. Insight into the habitat, prey preference and preferred nesting sites of the ground hornbill will also aid understanding of the biology of the ground hornbill. Investigating people’s perception on the ground hornbills is also of importance as it will help us determine if people in the communities pose a threat to the remaining population.

As a start to collecting preliminary data, this study was incorporated into our Victoria Falls project’s monthly biodiversity survey in the ZNP. Two sightings were recorded in 2009 and in both instances a male and female adult as well as two sub adults were spotted together. In both cases the birds were spotted close to the road side but no nests have been located so far. The two sightings could easily be the same family of birds as they were spotted in very close proximity and the GPS points were recorded for each sighting.

This has been quite a development as to-date on the Zambezi National Parks’ species survey cards there is only one record of a ground hornbill for the Park, and our hope now is that from this preliminary data we can develop a species specific study which will devote more time to trying to find nesting sites as well as looking at the cultural aspects associated with this bird which in some areas has resulted to either its decline or its abundance.

After a number of sightings of the bird on other research programs in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, we are extending this study now across the water to our Zambian program to widen the scope of data collected for this study. Photographs and GPS points for these first sightings have in the meantime been pooled with the Victoria Falls project’s data.

Vulture population monitoring Over the years at Antelope Park, left over bones from lion feeds and meat unsuitable for consumption by lions have been put in an area, popularly known as “Vulture’s Restaurant” for these birds of prey to feed. The Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) is one of the rarest species found in Zimbabwe and so far the only record the organisation Birdlife Zimbabwe has of the specie is a photograph taken at Vulture’s Restaurant. The existence of this restaurant steered the need to use this area as a potential study area for understanding vulture ecology, along with bird counts, feeding behaviour extending to locating protecting breeding sites.

Over 2009 an area of the Park near to the restaurant was identified for an observation tower for watching vultures as they come to feed and takeoff and the site for construction, and materials are currently being sourced to build the platform. Activities surrounding the preliminary stages of this research have also included bird identification and so far, the birds fully identified have been the lappet faced vulture, white backed vulture and the hooded vulture. The lappet faced vulture has been seen to nest inside the Antelope Park camp, close to Anchor farm boundary.

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Ecology of hyena in Dambwa Forest As an increasing number of species are displaced through loss of habitat and other ecological pressures, so too are they appearing in areas inconsistent with historical data on their home ranges. Once instance is the recent occurrence of hyena having recently relocated to the Dambwa Forest area of Livingstone.

The Zambian Wildlife Authority’s Atlas lists hyena as present within Zambia at: • Kafue National Park, 22400km² • Lower Zambezi National Park, 4,092km² • Liuwa Plains National Park, 3,660 km² • Lavusha Manda National Park, 1,500km² • North Luangwa National Park, 4,636km² • Lochnivar National Park, 410km² • Luambe National Park, 254km² • Nyika National Park, 80 km² The hyena is listed as not present in the 68km² Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, and the Dambwa Forest, at approximately 108km², which share a four kilometre border. The forest comprises uninhabited indigenous forest area, combined with undulating open savannah grasslands, however at present it is denuded of game species. The Mosi-oa-Tunya NP is inhabited by elephant, rhino, hippo, buffalo, giraffe, wildebeest, kudu, zebra, waterbuck, impala, pukum warthog, bushbuck and waterbuck.

We aim to assess the population size, movements and feeding habits of the hyena in the forest, in order to assist in a management plan for the pack. As well as establishing if the combined Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and Dambwa Forest can support such predators as well as assessing the ecological suitability to such a species, there is of course the problem of conflict with humans via predation on livestock.

In preparation for this study, evening and night observations are being conducted in the forest, as well as interviews with local farmers about any experiences they have had to-date with hyena. In time, this is intended to help narrow down the search area in advance of an attempt to collar at least one individual in the pack. We will also be in close communications with our partners, the Africa Centre for Holistic Management to develop and implement suitable means of mitigation measures.

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Hunting success in captive ‐bred lions: Data is collected on all chases, stalks and kills made by the cubs in stage one, both while walking and on those young lions in the Night Encounter program, to assess the variable development of hunting success in the lions of the African Lion Rehabilitation & Release into the Wild Program. Factors such as group size, gender split and species being hunted are also recorded to ascertain if such variables contribute to the overall success in a hunt, and therefore determine if the captive‐bred lions are achieving hunting success comparable to that of wild lions.

Walking cubs – stage one (3-18 months old): Taking eight of the program’s walking cubs over 2009 as a sample representative of all walking cubs in the program, six females and two males, their results are presented below.

The three groups for the entirety of the study period were composed into walking sets as follows: • • •

Figure 1

One all-female group of three individuals; A mixed-gender group of two males and one female; One all-female group of two individuals.

Hunting success has been broken down into three components for the walking cubs; when a kill has been made, when a cub makes contact with prey but does not make a kill and when one cub on the walk covers 90% or more of the original distance that was between itself and the prey species at the start of the hunt.

At least one member from the three sets had made their first kill during the study period with all three groups having a combined total of three kills each, with the mixed-gender achieving a higher percentage of contact. However, as figure 2, below, shows the all-female group have a higher overall success rate due to their ability to cover more distance more regularly and gives the stage one walking cubs in the Rehabilitation & Release into the Wild program an overall hunting success rate of 16.28%.

Figure 2 African Lion & Environmental Research Trust

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Night Encounter lions stage one (18 – 30 months)

Figure 3

–

Over 2009 there were 74 hunts recorded on Night Encounters at Antelope Park and 24 kills made, giving the hunting lions in the program a 32% success rate, the most successful months were December with an 83% success rate, March with a 60% success rate and joint third January and November 2009 with a 50% success rate. Night Encounters also afford us the opportunity to further trial different hunting combinations in terms of group size and gender split. Figure three below shows that hunting groups comprising three members had the highest chance of making a kill over 2009, with a 32% success on night hunts.

The chart below shows the groups broken down into male and female only groups and one male and two females (no data was available over 2009 for two males one female). It clearly shows that at this point, all male groups just beat all female groups; however this could be slightly misleading due to two all-male groups taking part in Night Encounters over 2009, to one mixed group and one all female group.

Figure 4

As well as continuing to look at the factors influencing the level of success the lions in the Rehabilitation and Release into the Wild Program achieve on hunts, one of the biggest areas of interest over 2010 will be the first Night Encounters held outside of Antelope Park, at our new hunting site in the Dambwa Forest in Zambia.

The first group set for release from the Livingstone project have been raised as a pride, but walked in smaller groups of twos and threes. It is anticipated that the Dambwa site will afford the opportunity to take the group out to hunt at night as a single pride instead of smaller groups; the first time this has been attempted in the program. Three lions in the future pride have made kills; the male has three kills, one female has three kills including two juvenile giraffe and a second female has four kills. Contact has also been made by two of the other females. We hope to see if this method allows those who currently have not had the same level of success, or even interest in hunting, to learn from those that have, or whether they may possibly act as a hindrance to the more successful hunters in the group.

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Conservation Education: A program of Conservation Education has been in progress over 2009 at our Victoria Falls and Livingstone projects. With the program’s volunteer workers preparing weekly lesson plans during term time including plenty of games to help engage the children aimed at equipping the students with the knowledge of utilising their local and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

The Victoria Falls project has taught 200 children from the Chamabonda Primary School at grade six-level, age 10, and the overall view by their teachers was that the pupils had developed a good foundation on the concepts of education over the syllabus. Later in the year lessons were extended to Monde Primary, a rural school just outside of Victoria Falls town, where the scenario was very different. The pupils had very little idea about conservation, and yet are the ones who are living alongside the wildlife, and a greater amount of time was spent with these classes.

Topics covered at Victoria Falls included endangered animals and the ‘red list’ status, food chains, camouflage, super predators, elephants as ecological engineers and rock and soil formations.

In Livingstone, the program of Conservation Education began in May starting with the pupils of Twabuka Community School. Three hundred students aged 6-14 years old came on weekly lesson trips to Lion Encounter’s base in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, between 20-40 pupils each week, to participate in lessons such as ecosystems, the circle of life, the environment and the importance of Zambia’s National Parks. Game drives and trips to the lion’s enclosures were also included.

After Twabuka, it was Maunga Community School’s turn – this time 400 students were taught by the program’s volunteers.

In its first year the program has proved very popular with the majority of students; one pupil from Twabuka Community School was so taken with the 10 lions at the Livingstone project he could name all 10 and point them out correctly to staff after only being told their names once, as well as explaining the purpose of the dew claw – a future guide in the making?

With the enthusiasm shown by the pupils to learn about the animals they live alongside and the importance of conserving their natural heritage, we hope to extend our syllabus to include further topics over 2010 as well as signing up more schools to take part in the course.

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Factors influencing in captive-bred lions

variation

of

mane

development

Variation in mane colour has been associated with various factors such as genetic preconditions, environment, testosterone levels and nutrition among many.

In a bid to investigate how such factors affect variation in manes, monthly mane scoring of all the program’s males is one way we intend to find out the relationship between mane growth, health and other factors. Due to the subjectivity of the scoring, monthly variations which were not uniform could not be avoided.

However, it was quite easy to pick out the unique cases where mane growth was quite significant either negatively or positively. One example which could be easily investigated was that of Bigboy. He was once characterized by a full mane that was ravaged by mange; a parasitic infection of the skin of mammals. The mites embed themselves in the hair or skin, digging in through the skin causing intense itching and crusting that can quickly become infected. The infected mammals are usually subject to hair loss due to the severe itching. Bigboy after being affected by mange lost all of his mane and a lot of weight as well.

He has however been recovering quite well over the past two years since the initial infection, and a comparison to a prior analysis of his mane, conducted in October 2008, which showed his mane had increased by 14.5%, shows a further 8% increase since 2008 with areas such as the neck, sideburns, spine, dorsal crest, throat and chest having significantly improved. This has shown us the existence of a relationship between health and mane condition.

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Wild dog monitoring in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park Like many species all over the world the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is one such mammal which has been drastically affected by a combination of habitat fragmentation and persecution.

Historically, this highly social carnivorous mammal was distributed through much of sub-Saharan Africa from desert (Lhoste, 1946) to mountain summits (Thesiger, 1970) with around 500,000 dogs roaming 39 countries such that a pack of 100 was not uncommon (Mcnutt et al 2008). However, wild dogs have virtually been eradicated from West Africa and greatly reduced in central and north-east Africa, with 25 of 39 former range state no longer supporting populations (Fanshawe et al. 1997).

At the present time, populations of wild dogs are estimated to be between 3,000 and 5,500 in perhaps 600 – 1,000 packs in Africa (Woodroffe e.t al 2004). The results of a compilation of the most up to date information available on the wild dog’s distribution and status throughout Africa undertaken by Woodroffe et al., cited that wild dog are extinct in the tiny Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park (MOT NP) (66km², Buk 1994).

In addition to Fanshawe et al, the Zambian Wildlife Authority’s Atlas of the National Park’s of Zambia states wild dogs are present in Zambia’s Lower West Zambezi and Sioma Ngwezi Game Management Areas, as well as the Lower Zambezi Valley and Escarpment.

However, over the last 12 months a number of dogs have been cited within the boundaries of MOT NP as well as in the Dambwa Forest which adjoins the National Park, and the rural communities surrounding the town of Livingstone. Therefore, there is an urgent need to determine the status and distribution of the wild dogs now utilising the area and to determine how they fit into the broader metapopulation of southern Zambia.

Over 2009, two radio collars and tracking equipment were kindly donated by the Zimbabwe-based Painted Dog Project. In conjunction with the ZAWA, we are now tracking the pack with the intention of collaring two individuals to help, not only protect them from persecution, but also to understand their movements through the area. Several times a week, CCWA teams sweep areas of the Park in search of wild dog spoor, recording GPS positions, numbers, estimated age of the tracks along with information on the vegetation and habitat; all of which is helping us to build up a picture of their habits in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Questionnaires and sighting records have been distributed to lodges in the area to extend our knowledge. However with pack home ranges quoted as anything from 420-1320km², tracking these animals is no easy task.

The information collected so far was recently presented to the Livingstone branch of ZAWA and now plans are under discussion between representatives from both organisations on how and where best to dart and collar the dogs.

Once collared a full program of intensive monitoring on the pack will commence with the objectives of: •

Determining the distribution, status and abundance of wild dogs using the MOT NP and Dambwa Forest areas;

•

Monitor their routes outside of the Park as well as other National Parks and Game Management Areas included in the pack’s home range, and if possible determine what caused them to emigrate from their former home range to now include MOT;

•

Determine distribution, status and abundance of other wild dog populations in the other NPs and GMAs used by the MOT pack;

•

Investigate the factors influencing choice of den site relative to relevant variables, such as prey distribution, terrain, vegetation and landscape;

•

Investigate the feeding and behavioural ecology of the wild dog and its likely contribution to human-wildlife conflict;

•

Determine prey species, abundance, availability resident in all Parks used by the pack and the suitability to wild dogs;.

•

Investigate the extent of conflict between wild dogs and farmers surrounding Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, and between and around other utilised NPs and GMAs and propose management strategies;

•

Monitor proposed mitigation measures.

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Behavioural sequencing and personality development in African lions Lion prides in the wild are made up of anything from 1-18 females, usually related, their dependent offspring and male coalitions who hold pride tenures. Well known for their cooperative behaviour (Schaller 1972), lions hunt together (Scheel & Packer 1991; Strander 1992), rear their offspring together (Packer et al 1990; Pusy & Packer 1994a) and defend territories (Bygott et al. 1979; Packer 1986; McComb et al. 1994). We believe that there is evidence that each lion within a pride does not have an equal role and instead individuals seem to fill roles that play to their strengths. We believe that lionesses can be strongest in any of three roles in a pride; that of alpha, hunter or mother. Similarly, males can be good hunters, pride defenders or fathers. Given the spectrum of necessary individuals and skills that contribute towards a successful pride, it is important that the prides released into stages two and three of the program are well‐balanced to ensure all parts of pride life are tended to. Therefore, all lions in the African Lion Rehabilitation & Release into the Wild Program are observed at three‐month intervals for a number of behaviours that we will correlate to their behaviour upon release. We hope that we will, in future, be able to predict the role which a lion may excel at in a pride during its early months thus allowing us to group prides together earlier leading to improved social and survival behaviours upon release.

Over 2009 we have completed our first full set of results for a lion, Sahara – others that have previously taken part in the study were either already past the starting age of 6 months when the character walks began, and so only have later ages collected for them, or moved to other walking sites where the study is not possible to implement in the same format.

In addition, with the inclusion of the 3T litter, born in January 2009, to the study and having been through their six- and nine-month studies over 2009, we can begin to make early comparisons and possible predictions into their future roles. The 3Ts are comprised of one female and two males, whereas the 3Ss were of two females and one male – giving an equal sample size in males and females for six and nine months (when two of the Ss no longer took part in the study thereafter).

Comparison between males and females at 6 months

Com parison betw een m ales and fem ales at 9 m onths

100 Males

80

Females

60

6m

40 20

9m Males Females Aggressive

Bold

Active

Social

Irritable

Intolerant

Testing

Challenging

Playful

Enduring

Leader 2

Aggressive

Bold

Active

Social

Irritable

Intolerant

Testing

Challenging

Playful

Enduring

Leader 2

Leader 1

Character traits

90.0 80.0 70.0 60.0 50.0 40.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 0.0 Leader 1

0

time displayed

Time displayed

120

Character Traits

The comparisons in the graphs above of traits between the males in the two sets at six-months of age, and females shows that the female cubs clearly display a higher tendency for leadership, endurance and irritability. The males are generally less active than females, but are more testing of their siblings’ dominance.

Three months later at nine-months, the males are now more prone to leadership qualities while the females are more playful, however the sample size is still small and the behaviour of one individual can have a significant outcome of the final average such that it may not tally with everyday observations, hence there is a need for a much broader sample.

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However, results from all walks over the last two years of the study are starting to be investigated in more depth with a view to linking the traits in cubs to adult roles. By breaking down each defined behaviour (such as play, social interactions, leadership qualities etc...) and rating differences in responses we are starting to be able to form links between high and low scores for each trait to a ‘character’.

A further comparison of our sets involves looking at Sahara from the S litter and Tanaka from the T litter, both female, at six- and nine-months. We can see that at the younger age they are fairly evenly matched over the leading through testing traits. However, from intolerance to aggression their scores are more spaced out. But by ninemonths their results for all traits tested are much closer together; potentially signalling that Sahara and Tanaka are destined for a similar role within a pride, and even giving us our first indication of when traits maybe reliably assessed..

With several stage two releases scheduled over the next two years, the next part of this study will be to confirm our predictions about such traits to potential roles.

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Sable habitat selection in the Zambezi National Park: Debates among large mammal natural scientists have developed on the effect of sport hunting on wildlife populations. One side argues that hunted mammals have adjusted to hunting pressure and therefore thrive better than those in non‐hunting areas while the other side believes the opposite is true. Zimbabwe’s Zambezi National Park is contiguous with the Kazuma Pan ‐Matetsi‐Hwange complex, forming a total conservation area of over 1,846,700ha, excluding forest reserves. Of particular interest to this study is the Matetsi Safari area where sport hunting is permitted.

This is a specific study of sable antelope and is a comparison of habitat use between safari areas and National Parks. The central hypothesis is that hunted sable will select safer but not optimal habitat for the species. Utilisation levels of sable quotas have been recorded to be 100% in all years, and therefore represent a species with high hunting pressure; hence its selection among many other large herbivores for this study. It is hoped that the results of the study will allow improved conservation management plans to be created for the species, with consideration for other species resident in the Park as well, with particular respect to the regulations controlling sport hunting within the area.

Monthly surveys were conducted over for this particular study. The focus this year was on the Northern section of the Zambezi National Park; furthest from the designated hunting area. Data from the adjacent area has been collected previously by Parks and the information we provided them will go a long way in comparison of habitat use between safari areas and national Parks. A total of five sable sightings were recorded and two of these sightings were recorded in a vlei habitat. This is a low lying open grassland area and three were in bush mixed woodland where the dominant plant species was combretum. However of interest is the high number of sables encountered outside the transect route. All these herds were observed in a vlei habitat. This seems to indicate a strong preference for open habitats within the protected area. Ironically the vlei habitat is deemed not to be ‘safe’ for the sables due to its openness. However this trend could only make sense since no hunting occurs in protected areas. It will be interesting to find out the outcome of these results once the study is complete.

Waterhole restoration in the Zambezi National Park The Zambezi National Park is divided into two distinct areas; north and south of the Kazungula Road. The area to the north has sufficient natural water supply in the form of the Zambezi River and a spring line, however the southern section is dry with no natural water points. Given the influence of surface water availability on the distribution of most species of large mammalian herbivores (Western 1975; Owen- Smith 1996) large sections of the south section support very few herbivores, especially during the dry season when animals concentrated along the Zambezi River. The consequent concentration of animal species in the north during the dry season exerts ecological pressure and so do the focusing tourist vehicles, putting strain on the Park’s limited road system and accelerating soil erosion. It is of paramount importance therefore to note the faunal patterns that are likely to be influenced by the restoration of the Chamabondo 3 borehole.

So far a pre-installation study has been undertaken whilst taking into consideration the following research questions; •

Does waterhole restoration have an influence on game sightings frequencies?

•

Does the extent of utilization of the Chamabondo vlei habitat change with water availability?

•

Is the extent of immigration significant after waterhole restoration?

A single waterhole count was done prior to the rainy season at the Chamabondo platform. Only three animal species were seen; 13 sables, five eland and one duiker. These were seen within a radius < 0.5km from the intended water point. Given the fact that the waterhole has not been functional for some time, such a trend was inevitable. However numerous game species were spotted within a radius greater than 2 km. These included zebra, giraffe and buffalo. Over 2010 as more funds become available monitoring of the waterhole will be conducted at a greater frequency.

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Assessing the age of African lions by nose pigmentation All of the lions at Lion Encounter Zambia had their first birthdays over 2009, and nose shots were taken on these dates and sent to our program’s consultant ecologist, Dr Pieter Kat, along with an observer’s colour rating. Nose photos were also taken over the course of the year for Antelope Park’s population.

Dr Kat and his colleagues are assessing a simulation model that proposed a sustainable trophy hunting method for African lions based on a long-term study of lion biology in Tanzania. The model predicted no discernible effect of harvesting males over six years old from a population and that hunting quotas be replaced with agebased quotas. According to the model lion age could be reliably estimated using nose colour because the noses in Tanzania darkened predictably with age.

Studying a population in Botswana for over 10 years, Dr Kat found no statistically significant pattern of nose darkening with age in this population and suggests that an age based hunting quota system on lions may therefore not work here or in other parts of Africa not included in the study from which the system was devised.

To further supplement his work, we are supplying annual photographs of the noses of lions from within the program of known age.

The photos below are from 2009, from the lions at Antelope Park’s Breeding Centre.

The photograph on the left is from a lion that turned sixyears old in 2009, whilst the second and third photos are from five-year old lions. The first two photographs, six and five-years old, are clearly still spotted, while the third (fiveyears old) is predominantly black with a small section in the middle still pinkish. The male on the left, Milo, was one month shy of turning seven-years old when this photograph was taken – and while the nose is clearly spotted it is far from having 60%, or more, coverage. If the original model is accurate, Milo’s nose should be much darker.

The lions will continue to be monitored annually for such developments, or lack of.

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Human-wildlife conflict mitigation The value put on wildlife by those not living with it every day is very different to that of many rural communities in Africa, where it is perceived as having a negative economic value, either through loss of life, livestock and crops or through loss of incomegenerating opportunities restricted by protection of the habitat that wildlife needs to survive.

During early 2009 a partnership was formed between ACT and the Africa Centre for Holistic Management to undertake joint projects to promote, through Holistic Management, the reversal of land degradation / desertification in communal areas that will bring economic, environmental and social benefits to the communities that we work with whilst bringing greater opportunities for wildlife to thrive through human-wildlife conflict mitigation and education.

On the 12th February ACT representatives held the first meeting with community leaders surrounding our Victoria Falls Program, many from villages which had been plighted by several incidences of predation and crop raiding. The first priority of this new project was to build a relationship with the community leaderships and providing with plenty of information as to our aims.

In May a second meeting was hosted by ACT and ACHM with the wider community, the Rural City Councils, Campfire, Members of Parliament, the Hwange Lion Research Project and tourist operators, Shearwater and Lion Encounter. The meeting was aimed at hearing the communitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; views about the problems of wildlife conflict and to build support for a participatory approach finding solutions.

It was from this meeting that a mandate on mitigating wildlife-human conflict has been formed. As partners, ACT and ACHM have since been trying to source funding to implement a program aimed at awareness amongst communities as to the importance of wildlife to economic prosperity, whilst also ensuring that through sustainable and holistic means through better land management practices and elephant-proof crop fields.

A further development has been recent meetings with representatives from a local community board known as the Mvutu Community Development Trust that operating under a Memorandum of Understanding with Kavango Zambia Transfrontier Conservation Area (Kaza TFCA). As organisations that share a common view on issues such as human wildlife conflict, we intend to work together in this regard, but no solid partnership has been formed but we look forward to further developments with all interested parties and stakeholders in this program over 2010.

Left, top: community members and leaders attend a meeting held by ACT & ACHM to address wildlife conflict issues in the Victoria Falls area; below: ACHM founder, Allan Savoury addresses the meeting

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Biodiversity monitoring in the Zambezi National Park Six kilometres from the Victoria Falls lies the 52,600 hectare Zambezi National Park; wild with bush and big game it stretches along the Zambezi River for 40 kilometres. Game includes mega fauna such as elephant (Loxodonta Africana), buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and lion (Panthera leo); antelope including the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) and waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus), along with a large number of smaller mammal species such as smallâ&#x20AC;?spotted genet (Genetta genetta) and honey badger (Mellivora capensis).

The Zambezi National Park and surrounding safari areas are part of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, established with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Situated in the Okavango and Zambezi River basins and incorporating 36 National Parks, game reserves, community conservancies and game management areas the total conservation area spans approximately 287, 132km².

The results of the study coupled with comparison to historical data collected since the 1970s will allow improved conservation management plans to be created, especially in respect to the development of the Transfrontier Park.

Road strip counts were conducted between July and September 2009 to give the first impressions of current abundance and diversity of game in the Northern section of Zambezi National Park, an area of 320 km2. Using a mean visibility index (obtained as a function of the sine angle of the animal from the road) multiplied by the range distance which was then multiplied by the length of transect, to give an estimate of abundance to the sample area. Game spotted within the sampled area was then extrapolated to give the estimated numbers for the total area. Results for the year 2009 are summarised below in table 1.

Species

Total Sightings

Total Seen

Total Distance 2 (Km )

Animals per km

Total Hours

Animals per hour

Area Sampled 2 Km

Estimated No

Impala

15

129

250

0.5

29

4.4

13.05

3163

Warthog

31

83

250

0.3

29

2.9

13.05

2035

Buffalo

2

37

250

0.1

29

1.3

13.05

907

Kudu

7

31

250

0.1

29

1.1

13.05

760

Zebra

3

22

250

0.1

29

0.8

13.05

539

Bushbuck

12

17

250

0.1

29

0.6

13.05

417

Giraffe

9

29

250

0.1

29

1.0

13.05

711

Elephant

2

19

250

0.1

29

0.7

13.05

466

Sable

5

20

250

0.1

29

0.7

13.05

490

Waterbuck

5

28

250

0.1

29

1.0

13.05

687

Table 1: The indices of abundance calculated for species observed during the Zambezi road strip game surveys.

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Habitat Preferences Chi-square probability tests were then performed to find out if a relationship existed between species and preferred habitat and concluded that there is a statistically significant relationship between the two. The trends are graphically indicated below.

Fig 1: Species frequencies by habitat In general, sables were found to prefer Bush Mixed Woodlands (BMW) and vlei habitats within the transect route. However some observation made outside the transect point towards a significantly higher affinity for vlei habitats. Impala were found to occur in BMW, Kalahari Sand Mixed Woodland (KSMW) and riverine habitats, though with significantly higher frequency in BMW habitat. Warthogs were generally found in all habitats though with high, but roughly equal frequencies, for BMW and riverine habitats.

Buffalos were encountered in high frequencies in vlei habitats and in very low numbers in BMW habitats. Giraffe preferred BMW and riverine habitats. Low frequencies were however encountered in the Mopane woodland. Waterbuck and bushbuck were generally found along riverine habitats with a few in BMW. Kudu was found to utilize both the BMW and riverine habitats in exactly the same ways. Lastly elephants were spotted only once in BMW habitat. These data should be viewed in the context of being preliminary indicators of habitat preferences until such a time when more data has been collected.

In general Bush mixed woodland and riverine were the most preferred habitats. The mopane and Kalahari sand mixed woodland were the least preferred. This has several implications in as far as wildlife management is concerned. Firstly shows that these habitats are â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hotspotsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for all game and general deserve a higher degree of protection from natural stochastic disasters such as wildfires. Secondly presence of herbivores in such habitats may be an indicator of where most carnivore sightings can be recorded, as carnivores are especially concentrated where prey is abundant.

The program will continue in 2010.

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Monitoring of FIV positive lions in captivity Antelope Park and Lion Encounter (Zimbabwe) began a program of disease testing all lions within the Zimbabwean sector of the program for the lion specific strain of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIVPle). These blood samples were collected by ALERT’s consultant vets, Dr Keith Dutlow, BVSc, MRCVS and Dr Lisa Marabini, BVSc, MRCVS (founders of the AWARE Trust), and tested under the supervision of Dr J. E. Crafford, Senior Lecturer in Immunology at the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, part of the Faculty of Veterinary Science of the University of Pretoria at Onderstepoort in South Africa. The PLV Elisa test was used to ascertain the FIVPle status of the samples provided.

The results confirmed that 11 of the lions tested had in fact contracted FIVPle; Big Boy, Amber, Amy, Ariel, Cheeky, Chipo, Cleo, Elsa, Emma, Melanie and Zuva. With the exception of Big Boy, Cheeky and Elsa, these lions were born at Antelope Park and were immediately quarantined from the rest of the Antelope Park lions. It is thought that Big Boy was the source of the virus; originally taken from the wild by another breeder when he was found orphaned in Hwange National Park; he joined the program in 2006 to save him from likely being shot.

Little is known of the effects of FIV on lions either in captivity or in the wild, a virus which is believed to be present in almost 100% of adult lions in eastern and southern Africa.

Studies into the effects of the disease are extremely difficult to conduct on wild lions, however close monitoring of a group of FIV positive lions kept under the same conditions as FIV negative ones has the potential for important discoveries about the effects and course of the disease.

Background information about FIVPle Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) naturally infects cat species in the wild and is related to other lentiviruses known to infect primates (human and simian immunodeficiency viruses, HIV and SIV), sheep and goats (caprine arthritis encephalitis virus‐CAEV), horse (equine infectious anemia virus‐EIAV), and cattle (bovine immunodeficiency virus‐BIV).

FIV is endemic in Felidae species, many of which are considered endangered or threatened.

Phylogenetic analyses from six felid species affirm the high level of species specificity worldwide. Each species specific FIV forms a distinct monophyletic lineage, separated by substantial genetic divergence that suggests‐host virus co‐evolution and rare episodes of interspecies transmission in the wild. FIVPle is the species specific strain that infects lions and is known to have at least five subtypes, sometimes resulting in animals being co ‐infected with multiple subtypes.

The effects of FIV infection and disease are well described in the domestic cat (Felis catus) but less so in exotic felids. FIVFca infection in the domestic cat is analogous to HIV infection of humans displayed as early flu ‐like symptoms, followed by severe weight loss, chronic wasting disease, and increased susceptibility to rare cancers and opportunistic infections, cancers, neurologic disease and death.

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Captive and wild FIV positive populations of two species, the African lion (Panthera leo) infected with FIVPle and the puma (Puma concolor), infected with FIVPco exhibit less severe disease associations. However, infected lions show a dramatic decline in CD4+ subsets, a reduction of the CD4+/CD8+ ratio, reduction of CD8+βhigh cells, and expansion of the CD8+βlow subset relative to uninfected lions.

The results observed with FIV‐infected lion and puma parallels human (HIV) and Asian monkey (SIV) CD4+ diminution, and suggests there may be an immunological cost of FIV infection in these two species of large cats.

Seroprevalence of FIVPle in free‐ranging populations of African lions within east and southern Africa exceeds those seen in any feline species to date. Phylogenetic analyses of FIVPle genome sequences circulating in free ‐ranging populations of lions display high levels of sequence divergence, suggesting that FIVPle infection in these animals may be an ancient event. As with HIV strains among humans, however, the FIV strains among lions are likely evolving at rates that exceed the ability of the lion immune system to keep up. It has been argued that loss of habitat and conflict with humans are the most pressing concerns currently for lion conservatio issues; nevertheless, we must not lose sight of the fact that wild lions are infected with a pernicious virus, the effect of which on longevity, reproduction, and survival has not been adequately documented. Doubtless all factors contributing to lion conservation must be carefully and objectively evaluated.

While it was originally hypothesized that co‐evolution of FIV Ple and lions led to partial adaptation between virus and host recent studies have shown that infection consequences for lions are largely similar to infection consequences for domestic cats. A recently discovered subtype of the FIVPle virus common in southern Africa in fact uses the same recognition factors on the srfaces of cells important in immune regulation to invade and infect those cells as FIVFca does in domestic cats.

It is important to point out that FIVPle infection is not an automatic death sentence ‐ that is not how the virus works. FIVPle does not work as an epidemic disease, which in the past has led to confusion. Over time, the lion’s immune system does become compromised, resulting in them becoming more susceptible to a variety of diseases. Some infected lions in the wild can lead long lives, although it appears that their reproductive output is lessened and cub survival rate is reduced.

The new levels of management of our lions in the program will minimize threat of the spread of the virus to our negative lions. In addition we will engage in a multi‐collaborative research effort to monitor the progressive effect of the disease on our lions.

Dr. Pieter Kat, a consultant to the program with significant experience in this field, believes that this will be an important and novel project that will add much‐needed knowledge to the understanding of this virus and will be of great benefit to both wild lions and the individuals in our program. Over the second half of 2009, this study expanded to include a partnership with the University of Glasgow.

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July 2009 marked the first monitoring into the effects of FIV on body condition and behaviour in the 11 FIV positive lions at Antelope Park, and every three months photographs are taken of the 11 lions to document any deterioration in body condition.

In October, 18 lions – including nine of the positive females, and a control group, were darted so that blood samples could be taken for further analysis. Along with continued bi-monthly condition and behavioural monitoring, blood samples will be drawn annually from the same 18 lions to track the virus’ course in the positive lions.

Later in October, the AWARE Trust began a program of disease testing wild lions in eastern Zimbabwe’s Gonarezhou National Park, in-part sponsored by ALERT. With so few lions left in the Park the process of locating, darting, testing and collaring the population is a lengthy and ongoing one. But the first lion was tested and collared; an adult male. And in November we received a donation towards this study of SNAP Feline Triple tests for FIV, FeLV and feline heartworm from IDEXX Laboratories.

ALERT‘s plans for this program of FIV testing and discovery extends much further. Gorongosa has a lion population of, at best, 60 while historically the population peaked at around 500. Despite an abundance of prey, recruitment is low and the reasons are unknown. ALERT has offered assistance to the conservation management team to establish a multi‐collaborative effort to help understand the threats facing Gorongosa’s beleaguered lion population; ranging from disease, genetic structure, human-lion conflict issues as well as to assist in research to better understand the usage of the Park by the current lions. Our offer is under consideration and we hope this program will come to the fore over 2010.

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Elephant monitoring in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park

Case study: Herd I and Idaho

Monitoring of the elephant population within the MOT NP was undertaken several times a week over May to November. Data collection involved moving around the national park and once elephants were spotted, photographs were taken and records of identifying features such as scars, ear notches, broken or missing tusks were taken note of.

Also of particular interest was the date and time of sightings, location and GPS of sighting, vegetation, activities observed as well as the body condition scoring Finally, whether it was a lone animal, bachelor herd, breeding herd – how many individuals there were; breakdown of male, female, adult, sub-adult and juvenile as far as possible, but with herds of 40 or so this wasn’t always practical as they often moved off as soon as they saw us or fairly soon afterwards. To combat this problem in 2010 a new rating system of accuracy for counts has been introduced, which can then be taken into account later on when analysing the data. To further assist in building up a picture of the elephants’ use of the Park, all non-research sightings were recorded with an estimate of numbers, location and GPS. When possible to stop on research sessions (ie when not tracking a herd – which was pretty much most of the time), the GPS would be recorded for any recent evidence of elephants moving through an area – such as footprints or broken branches/upturned trees.

During the remainder of the year, as the herds moved away from the area, research sessions were cut down to once a week to monitor any signs of return of the herds, or any activity from any few animals that may have stayed behind.

While over 80 individuals within the population have to-date been identified and a great deal of information on their behaviour and movement has been collected, the majority of the data over this last year has been within one 10km area of the Park. This is not to say that the elephants do not use other areas, however the road system allows limited investigation in the majority of the Park. To combat this problem, in future a new addition to the study will be implemented to collect indirect information on foot. This will allow us to amass a greater abundance of information on how the elephants move through the Park and how regularly each area is utilised. Further, whilst the elephants are away over the wet season, a new program of vegetation monitoring will commence, looking at how well the Park regenerates whilst the herds are absent, and the levels of destruction caused during peak seasons.

th

Herd I was first sighted on the 15 July on a loop within the Park named Giraffe. Only a dozen individuals were initially visible and the process of identifying them began. As the herd began to move off it became apparent that a dozen was more like 80 individuals. The job of identifying all members of the group became impossible as they continued to move, but reference photographs were taken of as many individuals as possible as they passed the research vehicle to be referenced on later sightings.

Amongst the many, one elephant stood out quite clearly from the rest; a sub-adult female whose entire right ear was hanging in shreds. Herd I has since been sighted on six occasions; and on most occasions they have been positively identified by the presence of the sub-adult female with the torn ear, who went on to become named Idaho.

She has been positively identified three times and through such distinctive individuals we can reliably confirm the movements of each herd.

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Using spoor as an indicator of age and sex in lions: A concise model The lion has the largest sized spoor in Africa when compared to all other members of the cat family, with the front spoor distinctively wider but slightly shorter than the hind spoor. Spoors play a key role in the understanding the presence and behaviour of many species in the wild, especially carnivores as most are nocturnal, solitary, cryptic or camouflaged (Mahon et al 1998) making it difficult to obtain any reliable indices or information on them through direct observation. As a result, there is a need to come up with a model that relates spoor size to age (i.e. estimate age from indirect observation), which can then be quantified to meaningful and useful information on population densities and pride structures. The objective of this study is to develop a model that relates spoor size to age to aid estimation of a lion’s age from indirect observation and to determine if there is a significant difference between male and female lions of the same age in spoor size Measurements of lion spoor are conducted on the Rehabilitation & Release Program’s lions’ monthly anniversary up until the age of 18 months, or, if safe to do so, until 20-months. Measuring a lion’s spoor is substrate specific; it works better on soft sandy ground than on hard ground as the prints will be visible and relatively easy to measure. The soil is classified on the basis of its texture and the strata we will look at for the purposes of this study are as follows: Strata: Coarse sand Fine sand Very fine sand

Description: Sand that looks and feels more coarse and gritty Sand that is dominated by the finer sizes of sand particles Dominated by the very finest sand grains, akin to silty soil

Level of sink: No sink, little sink, very sunken No sink, little sink, very sunken No sink, little sink, very sunken

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The spoor measurements of each lion cub are taken on each of the soil classes and the level at which the soil sinks as a result of the spoor print is also recorded.

A right-angled calibrated ruler is placed up against the spoor and a close up photograph is taken from which measurements are later collected. The measurements from a front and back spoor of the subject lion are taken as shown below:

↑ Total height of pad

↑

Main pad height

← Total width of paws →

↓

Measurements are then taken from the front and back paw photographs to ascertain the total length of the paw (from the base of the main pad to the tip of the toes), the total width of the paws (from the outer edged of the two exterior toes) and the main mad height.

Measurements are also taken manually for the stride and straddle distances.

The graph above represents results obtained from 13 lion cubs with measurements taken between the ages of four-to 19-months to see if there is a correlation between spoor area and the lion’s age. At present the sample sizes used for each particular month were not equal and a mean average size was used to represent the spoor area for a particular month (note to get the area, all computed values of the paw area should be multiplied by 10). The computed data produced a R² value of 0.655 and from this we can conclude that a correlation between spoor area and age exists. Though the R² value is not very high to reflect a strong correlation and this can be attributed to the fact that the sample sizes at each age (months) are not equal. As we collect more data we hope to reach a point where comparison made in each month is of equal samples so as to get more accurate data. We also hope to be able to extend the project to include adults and then compare results to known wild lions.

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New projects for 2010 As well as continuing with all of our existing projects we have many other proposals that we hope to develop as we move through 2010. These include: •

Greatly increasing our community involvement at all three existing project sites. We have a number of plans in the pipeline to: o provide new infrastructure to schools and medical clinics in rural communities around the Dambwa Forest in Livingstone; o Extend the training in holistic land management practices with its human/wildlife conflict mitigation benefits; o Provide our conservation and health education classes to more people; o Establish adult literacy classes for rural communities; o Develop and implement a training program in sustainable living practices to reduce rural community’s impact on the environment around them; o Implement an empowerment scheme for communities to take advantage of natural resources available in and around the Dambwa Forest in a sustainable manner; o Extend vocational training opportunities to communities around our project sites.

•

Develop further ex-situ lion conservation programs to include: o Establishing a study of wild lion cubs to evaluate the methods and progress of learnt social and hunting behaviors in order to establish improved pre-release training protocols in the African Lion Rehabilitation & Release into the Wild Program; o Develop a national species plan for lion in Ghana; o Develop species specific studies for large predators of the Zambezi National Park; o Conduct genetic mapping survey of lion populations within Zambia and Zimbabwe.

•

Increase our role in habitat protection by extending our anti-poaching programs, both in direct action and through additional funding and training of existing anti-poaching units;

•

Completion of two stage two areas and commencement of the development of a third and our first stage three release area for the African Lion Rehabilitation & Release into the Wild Program.

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African Lion Environmental Research Trust (A Company Limited by Guarantee and Not Having a Share Capital) REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2009

COMPANY NO: 6311286 CHARITY COMMISSION NO: 1120572

AFRICAN LION ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH TRUST CONTENTS

Page

Company Information

2

Report of the Trustees

3-5

Report of the Independent Examiner

6

Statement of Financial Activities

7

Balance Sheet

8

Notes to the Financial Statements

9 - 12

AFRICAN LION ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH TRUST COMPANY INFORMATION Company Number

6311286

Registered Charity Number

1120572

Registered Office

39 St. Jamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Place London SW1A 1NS United Kingdom

Company Secretary

Ms. Lisa Walker

Independent Examiner

Robert Reynolds FCA Wilkins Kennedy Stourside Place Station Road Ashford Kent. TN23 1PP

Bankers

Lloyds TSB (UK) Kingdom Bank (Zimbabwe)

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AFRICAN LION ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH TRUST REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES The Trustees present their report, together with the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2009.

The trustees who served during the period are set out below. The power to appoint and discharge trustees is noted in the Memorandum and Articles of Association which are its governing documents.

Status The charity is a company limited by guarantee, registered under the Companies Act 2006 and is a registered charity.

Objects of the charity The objects of the Charity are for the public benefit: (1) To promote for the benefit of the public, the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of the African Lion.

(2) To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of the African Lion.

(3) To further and benefit the community in Africa by ensuring that they receive tangible benefit from supporting conservation programmes in relation to the African Lion.

Trustees and Constitution The trustees who served during the period were: Mr. Clive Ronald Needham Mr. Charles Arthur Cain Ms. Lisa Walker (Secretary) The directors who served during the year were: Mr. Andrew Connolly (Chairman) Mr. Charles Arthur Cain Mr. Clive Ronald Needham Mr. David Scott Each member of the Association has guaranteed to subscribe ÂŁ1.00 in the event of the company being woundup.

The company was incorporated as a limited company on 12 July 2007 and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The company number is 6311286.

The company is also registered with the Charity Commission, number 1120572.

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AFRICAN LION ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH TRUST REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES Trustees’ Responsibilities The Trustees are required by Company Law to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the surplus or deficit of the company for that period.

In preparation of these financial statements, the Trustees have: selected suitable accounting policies and applied them consistently; made reasonable and prudent judgements and estimates; stated whether applicable accounting standards and Statements of Recommended Practice have been followed subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; prepared the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in operation.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time, the financial position of the company and which enable it to ensure that financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Review of activities ALERT’s aims, objectives and vision remain: To promote for the benefit of the public, the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of the African Lion.

To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of the African Lion.

To further and benefit the community in Africa by ensuring that they receive tangible benefit from supporting conservation programmes in relation to the African Lion.

Alert continues to be high profile in Africa, promoting the conservation and well being of the African Lion. A detailed report on Alert’s activities to date has been separately presented and should be read in conjunction with these financial reports.

In summary, ALERT undertook a number of new initiatives in alignment with its aims and objectives. Early in 2009, the Facilitated Research Programme was launched; designed for overseas students to undertake and complete fieldwork, ALERT has welcomed applicants from a number of institutions including Oslo, Exeter and East Anglia. To ensure the same opportunities are offered to African students, ten percent of all fees paid by guest researchers are being used to create a fund intended to provide free research placements at one of the project sites. Early in the year ALERT also announced a partnership with the Africa Centre for Holistic Management, initiated a human-elephant conflict mitigation study and started work with some of the marginalised AIDS suffers in Victoria Falls.

Other programmes started in 2009 include, construction of a night encounter area in Dambwa forest commenced, representing a crucial step in the rehabilitation and release programme in Zambia; extensive conservation and health education for communities in the local areas through the ALERT Communities Trust (ACT); and a partnership between CCWA and The Living Rain Forest, operating out of Berkshire, was formed to create the Friends of Victoria Falls Programme.

Throughout 2009, ALERT sponsored and ran 22 wildlife research and community activity projects across all three project areas; many of these are ongoing and will continue into 2010; all are described in detail in the previously mentioned report.

The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Trust’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities.

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AFRICAN LION ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH TRUST REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES Risk management The trustees have examined the major risks to which the charity is exposed and confirm that systems have been established to mitigate those risks.

Investment powers Under the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the charity has the power to make any investment, which the trustees see fit.

Financial Review and Reserves policy Alert is still in the process of raising its required funding for the current planned short term projects in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The unrestricted activities of the charity resulted in a surplus of ÂŁ51,993.

It is the aim of the charity to build up unrestricted funds, which are the free cash reserves of the charity, at a level which equates to six months budgeted total future operating expenditure. The balance of unrestricted cash funds at the period end had not yet reached this level in the first year of operations. We continue to actively work to build the unrestricted cash reserves of Alert.

Small company exemption The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD

Clive Needham Director .................

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AFRICAN LION ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH TRUST INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES ON THE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2009 set out on pages 7 to 12.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and reporting accountants The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 43 of the 1993 Act; to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 43(7)(b) of the 1993 Act; and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner's report My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner’s statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met; or (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Name:

Robert Reynolds

Relevant professional qualification or body: FCA Address: Date:

Wilkins Kennedy, Chartered Accountants, Stourside Place, 35-41 Station Road, Ashford, Kent. ..............................

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AFRICAN LION ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH TRUST STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (incorporating an income and expenditure account) YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2009

Notes

Incoming Resources Donations Lion sponsorship program Merchandise sales Lion release projects Membership income Filming income Consultancy income Fund raising events Other income

2009 Unrestricted Funds £

2008 Total Funds £

Total Funds £

55,722 4,172 3,790 6,129 163 12,471 29,081 1,348

55,722 4,172 3,790 6,129 163 12,471 29,081 1,348

113,053 3,859 11,136 19,495 -

-

-

8,261

112,876

112,876

155,804

2,066 5,034

2,066 5,034

3,409 16,661

89,093 13,132 109,325

89,093 13,132 109,325

72,630 14,662 107,362

3,551

3,551

48,442

Funds at the start of the period

48,442

48,442

-

Funds at the end of the period

51,993

51,993

48,442

Volunteer program Total Incoming Resources Resources Expended Costs of generating funds: Marketing Fundraising administration costs Costs of activities in furtherance of the charity’s objectives Lion release projects Management and administration Total resources expended

Net income for the period

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All of the above results are derived from continuing activities which commenced in the period. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

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AFRICAN LION ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH TRUST BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2009

Notes

2009 £

Fixed assets Tangible assets Current Assets Merchandising Stock Debtors Cash and bank balances

Creditors – Amounts Falling Due Within One Year Net Current Liabilities

6

7

8

Net Assets Funds Unrestricted funds

2008 £

£

£ 183,547

20,690

5,217 2,049 1,809 9,075

1,850 27,842 3,661 33,353

(2,050)

(144,180) 31,303

(135,105)

51,993

48,442

51,993

48,442

51,993

48,442

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For the financial year ended 31 December 2009 the charitable company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006. No member of the charitable company has deposited a notice, pursuant to section 476, requiring an audit of these financial statements under the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of the financial year and of its profit or loss for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of section 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to accounts, so far as applicable to the charitable company.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies and with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008).

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on ……………. and were signed on its behalf by:

Clive Needham Director

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AFRICAN LION ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2009 1

Accounting policies The principal accounting policies which are adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below.

(a)

Basis of Accounting The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008).

The results for the year are presented in the form of a statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account), in order to comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities’ (SORP 2005) issued by the Charity Commission in March 2005 nd (2 edition).

(b)

Donations and grants Donations, gifts and grants are included in full in the statement of financial activities when receivable.

(c)

Resources expended Resources expended are recognised in the period in which they are incurred. Resources expended include attributable VAT which cannot be recovered.

Management and administration costs include the management of the charitable company’s assets, organisational management and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

Certain expenditure is directly attributable to specific activities and has been included in those cost categories. Certain other costs, which are attributable to more than one activity, are apportioned across cost categories on the basis of an estimate of the proportion of time spent by staff on those activities.

(d)

Tangible fixed assets Individual fixed assets costing £100 or more are capitalised at cost.

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of the assets over their estimated useful lives as follows: Office equipment & vehicles Fencing Lionesses

(e)

1 - 4 years on a straight line basis 10 years on a straight line basis No depreciation

Fund accounting Funds held by the charity are: Unrestricted general funds – these are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees.

2

Net incoming resources for the period This is stated after charging: Depreciation Examining accountants remuneration

2009 £ 2,343 1,250

2008 £ 19,596 1,250

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AFRICAN LION ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2009 3

Resources expended

Administration

4

Fundraising

Marketing

Lion release projects

Total 2009

Total 2008

£

£

£

£

£

£

Staff costs Travel expenses Merchandising Legal fees Depreciation Loss on disposal of assets Bank charges Costs of events Consultant fees Lion release project expenses Communications Office rental Marketing Miscellaneous expenses

155 4,612 2,343

766 3,405 -

766 -

11,787 300 -

13,319 455 3,405 4,612 2,343

14,847 3,932 4,183 8,592 19,596

971 -

-

-

15,433 30,148 19,538

15,433 971 30,148 19,538

786 11,497 4,172 37,362

303 2,373 937

863

1,300 -

-

303 2,373 1,300 1,800

513 632

Filming costs Independent Examiners fees

1,438

-

-

11,887 -

11,887 1,438

1,250

13,132

5,034

2,066

89,093

109,325

107,362

Staff costs and emoluments of the Trustees Salaries

2009 £

2008 £

13,319

14,847

The average weekly number of employees calculated on a full time equivalent basis was 3. No employees received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in the period. No pension scheme exists.

No member of the Trustees has received any emoluments during the period; Mr A Connolly was reimbursed £Nil (2008: £6,000) in respect of event costs.

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Taxation The company is a registered charity and under Section 505 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 is exempt from corporation tax.

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AFRICAN LION ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2009 6

7

Tangible fixed assets

Lionesses £

Fixtures, Fittings & Equipment £

Motor Vehicles £

Total £

Cost At 1 January 2009 Additions Disposals

20,690 -

176,069 650 (173,793)

6,384 (6,384)

203,143 650 (179,477)

At 31 December 2009

20,690

2,926

-

24,316

Depreciation At 1 January 2009 Charge for year Elimination

-

17,962 2,343 (17,379)

1,634 (1,634)

19,596 2,343 (19,013)

At 31 December 2009

-

2,926

-

2,926

Net Book Value At 31 December 2009

20,690

-

-

20,690

At 31 December 2008

20,690

158,107

4,750

183,547

Debtors Loan to African Encounter Zambia Donations receivable

8

Creditors Amounts Falling Due Within One Year Loan to Antelope Park for lion release project development costs Loan to African Encounter for working capital CM Management (IOM) Limited Accountancy accrual

9

2009 £ 26,002 1,840 27,842

2008 £ 2,049 2,049

2009 £

2008 £

800 1,250 2,050

136,545 5,655 730 1,250 144,180

Funds

Unrestricted General

Balance at 1 January 2009 £

Incoming Resources £

Outgoing Resources £

Balance at 31 December 2009 £

48,442

112,876

(109,325)

51,993

48,442

112,876

(109,325)

51,993

There were no restricted funds received during the period. All funds related to the overall aims and objectives of Alert.

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AFRICAN LION ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2009 10

Analysis of net assets between funds Unrestricted

Tangible fixed assets Net current liabilities

11

£ 20,690 31,303

Total Funds £ 20,690 31,303

51,993

51,993

Capital commitments and contingent liabilities There were no capital commitments of contingent liabilities at 31 December 2009.

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Related party transactions During the year donations and merchandise sales totalling £24,707 were received from companies of which the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr. A Conolly, is a Director. In addition consultancy income of £28,419 was also received.

During the year payments were made to companies of which Mr. A Conolly is a director as follows.

Filming fees Veterinary fees Office rental Facilitated research student room and board Marketing and travel costs

£11,887 £178 £2,373 £4,071 £1,845

Mr Clive Ronald Needham and Mr Charles Arthur Cain are directors of CM Management (IOM) Limited. During the period the company incurred costs totalling £2,834 in respect of administration and banking services. At 31 December 2009 the company owed CM Management (IOM) Limited £800.

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