Animal Matters Issue No: 04 • Summer 2015
Feature: Protecting animals on your doorstep More bears saved by you Cyclone Pam: a tale of survival Sanctuary for Borneo’s orang-utans
Page 8 Save Pakistan’s dancing bears
Cover image: Reech, an ex-dancing bear is now safe from harm at our sanctuary in Pakistan. To see how you could help save more bears like Reech, please turn to page 8. Image left: World Animal Protection vet Dr Sergio Vasquez helps a goat following the Nepal earthquakes.
Contents
Thank you for protecting animals This is a bittersweet moment for me, as not only do I have the pleasure of welcoming you to your summer edition of Animal Matters, but I also need to let you know that after six wonderful years at World Animal Protection, I will be leaving the organisation at the end of July. I have loved every moment of my time at World Animal Protection, and in particular I have found the commitment and dedication of our supporters here in the UK to be a daily inspiration. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being with us all the way, as we have sought to end animal suffering and to create a world where animals truly matter.
Inspiring achievements for animals
In this edition alone, it is my huge privilege to update you on our achievements for animals in the aftermath of the earthquakes in Nepal, for dogs vaccinated and therefore spared cruel culling in Bangladesh, and to share some good news about bears both on the other side of the world as well as closer to home – not to mention our successes in support of marine animals and hard-working dairy cows right here in the UK. And the key reason I am able to share so many inspiring successes is thanks to the loyal and unwavering support of you, our dedicated supporters.
Helping them on your behalf
I am also very proud to have been able to work – on your behalf – alongside so many talented and committed colleagues right across the global World Animal Protection community, and I hope you will continue to support them in the amazing work that they do, day in day out, to move the world to protect animals. With very best wishes,
3 News round-up 4 Your impact for animals 6 Cyclone Pam: One puppy’s story of survival 7 More dogs protected against rabies and culling 8 Urgent appeal: Dancing bears need your help 11 Protecting animals on your doorstep 12 Searching for Borneo’s orang-utans: part 2 14 More bears saved thanks to you 15 Ina joins the Romanian bear sanctuary 16 Spreading the word for animals
Contact us World Animal Protection would love to hear what you think of this issue of Animal Matters. Please contact us with your views at:
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World Animal Protection 222 Grays Inn Road, London, WC1X 8HB
news@worldanimalprotection.org.uk
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0800 316 9966 Editor: Katriona Meheran Produced by: Brightsource Ltd Animal Matters is published by the UK office of World Animal Protection. Company Limited by Guarantee in England and Wales, Registration No. 4029540. Registered Charity 1081849. All images are World Animal Protection unless otherwise stated.
Suzi Morris Director, World Animal Protection UK 2
Animal Matters • Issue 04
News round-up
Update
Your response to our appeals
Protecting dogs from rabies Please help rescue Pakistan’s dancing bears Dressed up in ribbons, dragged onto the street and forced to ‘dance’ for passers-by – this is no life for a beautiful bear. Pakistan’s dancing bears are suffering and they
urgently need your help. Please help rescue them and bring them to our bear sanctuary where they can live the rest of their lives free from torment – see how on page 8.
Thank you so much for joining our Fight Against Cruelty to help save dogs like Barkley from cruel and violent culls in the name of rabies. Together you raised over £117,000 and helped vaccinate more than 22,000 dogs against the killer disease. Read more about how you’re protecting dogs on page 7.
Racing to help animals injured in the Nepal earthquake When a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal in April it took the lives of thousands of people and animals, and put even more thousands at risk. It caused extensive damage in the capital Kathmandu, causing buildings and homes to collapse to rubble. Just as the country was starting to begin the recovery process, the unthinkable happened and a second earthquake hit with almost as much force, just a few weeks later. We called on your help to provide emergency aid for the sick and injured animals and your generosity shone through. Thanks to you, our disaster team was on the ground within days, complementing the work of humanitarian organisations and helping animals – so often the forgotten victims in times of disaster. Together you raised over £12,600 and helped provide emergency vet care and medicine for more than 20,000 animals. You helped treat goats that had been buried alive, buffalo with wounds caused by shelters falling on them and thousands of dogs, cats, sheep, pigs and chickens. Thank you so much for responding to their needs and helping them survive this terrible disaster. To read more about how your support is helping to protect animals in disasters, turn to page 6. Animal Matters • Issue 04
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Over to you
Your impact for animals From campaigning to fundraising, to spreading the word about cruelty and suffering, as a World Animal Protection supporter you are making the world a better place for animals.
Image: Kay Lockett
Ways to get involved: get your bake on! There are so many great ways to raise money to help protect animals around the world, and they don’t all involve trekking mountains or running long distances. If you’re a budding baker why not put your skills to the test and host a cake sale or coffee morning? You could host it in your village or at work – it’s a great way to make new friends, catch up with old ones and share recipes and baking tips. Whether your specialty is a Victoria sponge or a bear-shaped iced masterpiece, the beauty with cake sales is anything goes!
Competition winner Thank you to everyone who entered our wildlife writing competition last issue. We were so impressed with all of your entries! A big congratulations goes to Clare Alderson for her enchanting story about a fox. Well done Clare, your signed copy of ‘Leaving Time’ by Jodi Picoult is on its way...
And best of all, no matter how much or how little you raise, every penny will go towards ending animal suffering around the world. Cake sales are simple to set up and great fun too. If you fancy getting your bake on, our experienced fundraiser Jane will be happy to help. Give her a call on 0800 316 9772 or email fundraising@worldanimalprotection.org.uk
Find us on social media
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Image: Mike Chaput-Branson
Get up-to-the-minute stories about the animals you are protecting and join our conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
Clare’s story I was already in my pyjamas, just about to draw the curtains at twilight. The sky was dusky mauve and an early winter moon shone pale. At that moment, I caught sight of something moving steadily across the fields, towards the hedgerow. It was dark coloured and fast, heading for the lane. I dashed to get my camera, hoping that the fox might stay in the vicinity a little longer. Going outside into the chilly air, I was thrilled to see it now crossing the nearest field. It was intently focussed on hunting and hadn’t noticed me. The wind blew in my favour, so quietly and quickly I approached on the other side of the hedge. Observing the fox was a delight. It was totally absorbed in something hidden in the grass and reared up in the air to pounce down with its fore feet like a cat. It was perfectly agile and gracefully light footed. Suddenly it plunged its muzzle into the long grass and I heard a quick crunching. The fox then turned and trotted swiftly away into the dusk. Animal Matters • Issue 04
Over to you
Featured fundraiser Our featured fundraiser this issue is Oscar Silva Zeas, who took on the London marathon and raised an amazing £2,167 to help protect animals around the world. Oscar ran the marathon in memory of his late girlfriend Sophie Rosser, who passed away trying to alert their neighbours to a fire that had broken out in the block of flats they lived in in East London. 23 year-old Sophie was returning from a party when she saw smoke coming out of the building. She phoned Oscar from outside the flats and told him he needed to escape before running into the building to help their neighbours. “Sophie was a World Animal Protection supporter and did all she could to help animals,” says Oscar. “I believe in making people aware of the fight against animal cruelty, and raising funds towards this noble cause is continuing Sophie’s love for animals.” Oscar conquered the gruelling 26 mile run by staying motivated, “During the race I had Sophie’s voice in my head pushing me to keep on running. The last 5km were the hardest, but seeing friends pulling faces and waving at me as I went round really kept me going.” He has this advice for anyone thinking of signing up
Guess the fact
to a marathon to raise money, “Be positive about it. The journey involves pain, determination and a pleasant feeling after achieving that extra mile on your run. It is a combination of building physical and mental strength – you can all do it if you commit to it!” Oscar’s fundraising page is still open. If you’d like to make a donation, please visit justgiving.com/Sophie-WSPA-support
a
Of all the bears that you’ve helped rescue from bear baiting and bring to the Balkasar sanctuary in Pakistan, which bear is the oldest?
a) Rene b) Reech c) Milla Don’t forget to check your winter issue of Animal Matters to find out the answer! Last issue’s answer: C. You helped protect 90,000 dogs against rabies and cruel culls in 2014. That’s a pretty incredible amount of lives saved.
b
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c
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Disasters
Cyclone Pam: One puppy’s story of survival When Cyclone Pam hit the poverty stricken island nation of Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean in March, we appealed for your urgent help to treat its sick and vulnerable animals. Your generosity meant that our disaster team was on the ground within days, helping both farm animals and pets. This is the story of one puppy on Epi Island whose life was saved thanks to your kind support…
Moments from death
This six-month-old puppy was moments from death, little more than a skeleton and severely dehydrated, when our team found her following Cyclone Pam. She lay alone in the grass at the side of a path, her tiny chest moving with each laboured breath. Our vet Dr Nort saw that she was severely dehydrated, malnourished and could not lift her head. He suspected she was also suffering from pneumonia from lying in the damp grass, but she was too weak to be given medicine to treat it. He wasted no time in getting straight to work to try to save her life.
No time to lose
The priority was to get her hydrated as soon as possible and build her strength so she could be given medicine. Dr Nort began by injecting her with glucose and gently giving her water through a syringe. The thirsty pup lapped it up urgently World Animal Protection vets gave urgent treatment to the weak puppy who was dehydrated and struggling to breathe.
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and, amazingly, with each mouthful, the team could see the life coming back into her eyes. Her owner Valia explained that she had been ill for more than a week after eating what he suspected was a poisonous fish washed up after the cyclone. He said she had stopped eating “many days” before and stopped drinking the day before we arrived. Without any access to vet care on the storm-ravaged island, Valia had given up hope for his beloved pet’s survival.
Carried to safety
Dr Nort gently picked up the suffering pup and carried her towards a more sheltered, shaded area away from the side of the path. He made her a comfortable bed to recover in, gave Valia supplies of glucose and showed him how to give her water at regular intervals through the night. He solemnly admitted that she had about a 20% chance of making it. Miraculously, when our team returned the next day the young pup seemed better. She was sitting up and, although unsteady on her front legs, she was able to keep herself upright and wag her tail. And she was well enough to take medicine to treat the pneumonia. Her owner was overjoyed that she had been saved and told us that he’d re-named her ‘Pam’. We’re pleased to share the news that Pam has recovered well and is regaining her strength day by day. Thank you so much for supporting our Cyclone Pam appeal. Your generosity helped save this little pup – and many thousands more animals. To help more animals suffering in the wake of disasters, please donate at worldanimalprotection.org.uk/help-disaster When we returned, she had re-gained her strength and was able to sit up. She is a survivor – all thanks to you.
Animal Matters • Issue 04
Dogs
“I get my dogs vaccinated to keep them healthy – it is a relief to have them treated. I am afraid that if they are not vaccinated they will die or have to be killed.”
More dogs protected against rabies and culling Thank you for supporting our Fight Against Cruelty appeal to protect hundreds and thousands of innocent dogs from cruel and violent culling. Because of you, we are running projects around the world to show governments that vaccinating dogs against rabies – not culling them – is the only effective way to beat the killer disease. We recently visited a vaccination clinic in Flores, Indonesia, to see how your donations have been helping. Pet dogs in Flores protect their owners’ farms from wild animals and guard their homes. They are considered to be part of the family – and many even have special food cooked for them.
A naughty group of dogs
One lady named Veronica brought her five dogs to the clinic to be vaccinated. “All my dogs are very naughty,” said Veronica, “but that is OK because they keep me safe. They stay with me when I go out to the fields, and they also guard my house.”
not only from a terrible disease but also from the culls carried out because of people’s fear, “If all the dogs are vaccinated, then people will not be afraid of rabies,” explained Veronica.
A farmer and his dogs
Later in the day we met another family who were very proud of the three dogs they’d brought to be vaccinated. Lambertus, a local farmer, and his wife lifted up their dog Merah and watched as she was injected. “I get my dogs vaccinated to keep them healthy – it is a relief to have them treated. I am afraid if the dog is not vaccinated that they will die or have to be killed,” Lambertus said. “I would like to thank you for helping to give our dogs the vaccinations,” said a grateful Lambertus. He is pleased that his beloved pets are now protected, something that simply wouldn’t have been possible without the help of people like you. Merah proudly poses for a photo in her new red collar that proves she’s protected against rabies.
Culls fuelled by fear
Veronica told us that she is very scared of rabies, as are most people in her village, “A couple of days ago, one dog bit another dog. Some of the people in the community chased it and beat it to death because they are scared that when a dog bites it has rabies.”
Dogs and people living peacefully together
With your support, we are showing that a fear of rabies does not have to be a fear of dogs. Thanks to you, all five of Veronica’s dogs got their anti-rabies vaccination, protecting them Animal Matters • Issue 04
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Urgent Appeal For years, your kind support has helped rescue hundreds of bears from misery. Last year alone, you helped save 11 bears from bear baiting in Pakistan – where trained attack dogs are unleashed upon a weakened and terrified bear. But did you know that bear baiting isn’t the only cruelty inflicted upon bears in Pakistan? These bears are also forced to dance for paying crowds on their ‘days off’.
A cruel spectacle
Bear dancing is a terrible tradition where young cubs are violently trained then forced to put on performances for people’s entertainment. Often owned by very poor travellers, dancing bears are considered a source of income and are used for begging on the streets. Passers-by, often families and their children, pay to watch a seemingly innocent ‘bear dance’, unaware of the extreme cruelty that the bear is suffering behind the scenes.
Trained to dance as cubs
Bears are not supposed to dance. It is not in their nature. So to force this abnormal behaviour, they are trained from an early age. Poached from the wild when they are just cubs, they are taken from their mothers and sold on the black market into a life of captivity. First, they are made powerless. Their teeth and claws are often extracted and a metal ring is pierced through their sensitive muzzle – a painful process in which anaesthetic is rarely used. Then they are trained to ‘dance’ in cruel and terrible ways. One method used in various countries involves standing bears upright on hot metal sheets, which forces them to hop from side to side in attempt to relieve the scorching pain in their back paws. Once this behaviour has been repeated over and over, the bear becomes conditioned to dance to the sound of music played by its owner. This cruelty simply can’t go on. Please could you help save dancing bears from a life of torment with a donation today?
Together, we can stop this
Dancing bears urgently need your help As a loyal World Animal Protection supporter, you’ll know that around the world, thousands of innocent bears are cruelly exploited for people’s entertainment. 8
The Balkasar bear sanctuary in Pakistan – funded by your donations – is a safe haven for bears rescued from cruelty. Run by the inspirational Dr Fakhar Abbas at our partner the Bioresource Research Centre (BRC), it offers a second chance at life for bears that have been exploited for peoples’ entertainment. Thanks to you, there are now 32 bears living happily the sanctuary, including Nahla, who will never be forced to dance again.
Nahla’s rescue
Five-year-old Nahla was used for both bear baiting and dancing. She had terrible wounds on her body and after years of mistreatment, was extremely stressed and underweight. Thankfully, because of your support, Dr Fakhar and the team at BRC were able to save her.
The gift of sanctuary
When Nahla arrived at the sanctuary, she was taken to the medical room and given emergency treatment. The nose ring – that had been a symbol of her imprisonment for five long years – was gently removed with pliers, and the rope attached to it was discarded forever. BRC’s vets gave her a decent meal for the first time in her life, to build her strength and help her recover. Animal Matters • Issue 04
How your gift could help
£17 £25 £52
could help save a dancing bear from a life of misery. could treat the wounds of a dancing bear upon arrival at the sanctuary. could help end the cruel tradition of bear dancing in Pakistan for good.
She is now in the quarantine area for newly rescued bears, where she has made a new friend in Sukhi (who you can read more about on page 14). Once strong enough, Nahla will be released into the main sanctuary to play in the water pools, climb trees and play in dens with the other rescued bears. She is no longer a dancing bear, all thanks to you.
Together we can help save more bears
Over the years, the kindness of World Animal Protection supporters has helped end the tradition of bear dancing in Greece, India and Turkey. And now with your help, we are campaigning to eradicate it forever in Pakistan. We are convincing bear owners to surrender their bears to the sanctuary in exchange for help setting up alternative, cruelty-free ways of earning a living. We are visiting mosques to encourage religious leaders to explain that animal cruelty goes against the teachings of Islam. And we are lobbying the government to change the law to make all forms of bear exploitation in Pakistan illegal.
Dancing bears need your help
Whether cruelty takes the form of bear baiting or bear dancing – no animal exploitation in the name of entertainment is ever acceptable. Together with your help, we could continue to save more dancing bears like Nahla and give them the lives they truly deserve. Please give a gift today. Your support really could help make the terrible cruelty of bear dancing history. Thank you. Two rescued bears enjoy each other's company in the safety of the sanctuary.
I want to help more bears like Nahla Post your completed form to: World Animal Protection, 2a Halifax Road, Melksham, SN12 6YY Telephone 0800 316 9966 (9am-5pm, Monday – Friday) Visit worldanimalprotection.org.uk/beardance
Here is my gift of: £17 £25 £52 other £ Please debit my: Mastercard Visa CAF Charity Card
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Signature: Date: OR I enclose a cheque / CAF cheque / postal order, made payable to World Animal Protection World Animal Protection sends acknowledgement letters for donations over £5. If you do not want an acknowledgement for your donation please tick here Your donation will help World Animal Protection to protect animals from cruelty and suffering, including those featured in this appeal.
Increase the value of your gift by 25% at no extra cost to you If you are a UK taxpayer please tick the box to ensure that every £1 you give is worth an extra 25p at no extra charge to you. I am a UK tax payer and want World Animal Protection to treat all qualifying donations over the last four years, today and in the future, as Gift Aid donations. I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/ or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for each tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand that World Animal Protection will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I give. I am not a UK taxpayer
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Animal Matters • Issue 04
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Campaigning
Image: iStock by Getty Images
Protecting animals on your doorstep By supporting World Animal Protection you are protecting animals in need all across the globe. But did you know you’re also helping to protect millions of animals in the UK? Our farming, wildlife and Sea Change campaigns are all geared towards helping animals right here on our doorsteps... Seal pup Iron Man made a full recovery but still has the deep scar where the trawl net cut into his neck.
Saving seals from the dangers of ghost gear By supporting our Sea Change campaign you are helping to protect thousands of marine animals from the threat of abandoned fishing gear – the man-made death traps floating around their ocean home. Animals like Iron Man and Beast, two seal pups who were nearly decapitated after becoming entangled in discarded fishing nets in Cornwall…
Shocking injuries
Both seals were found with horrifying injuries where strong plastic netting had wrapped around their necks, slowly constricting tighter around them as their young bodies grew. The poor seal pups were suffering unimaginably – Iron Man’s wound was so deep it looked like his head was almost severed from his body. They needed immediate medical care.
Story of survival
Thankfully, both seals were rescued by British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) and taken to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary where they were cut free from the life-threatening nets and given emergency vet treatment. Unbelievably, when unravelled, the trawl net that four-month-old Iron Man was trapped in reached over nine metres. Staff at the sanctuary cared for Iron Man and Beast around the clock. It was a long road to recovery, but both pups made it and have been released back into the ocean where they belong. You can watch the emotional moment they were released at worldanimalprotection.org.uk/seal-video Please help us continue to fight for a Sea Change and help protect more innocent marine animals like Iron Man and Beast by joining our campaign at worldanimalprotection.org.uk/seachange. 10
Animal Matters • Issue 04
Campaigning
Pledge your support for dairy cows
Fighting wildlife crime on city streets
Thank you for asking your MP to sign our Early Day Motion in Parliament urging the UK Government to collect and publish information on the number of factory dairy farms operating in the UK.
Our wildlife is constantly under threat from criminals who want to harm foxes, rabbits, birds and deer for profit or entertainment. Wildlife criminals don’t just operate in the countryside – they are causing animal suffering in cities too. We spoke to the new head of London Metropolitan Police’s Wildlife Crime Unit (WCU), Detective Sergeant Mark Pickard, about the important role the police play in protecting animals in our capital.
More than 100 MPs signed it, putting pressure on the government to listen to our concerns about the wellbeing of dairy cows.
Full Fact Milk
Now we need your help again. Cows in factory dairy farms spend the majority, if not all of their lives confined in sheds, never grazing outside on grass, and being pushed to their physical limits to produce high quantities of milk. Worryingly, because of the lack of information about how many of these farms are operating in the UK, we could be buying milk from factory farmed dairy cows without realising it. It’s time we were told the facts – so we can express a choice about the milk we buy. Please will you join our call for Full Fact Milk today? By signing our pledge, you’ll help to show that there is a strong consumer demand for free range milk. Supermarkets and shops need to know that if they label their milk to guarantee it has come from cows that graze on grass for the majority of the year, people will buy it.
Why focus on labelling?
Since the introduction of egg labelling in 2004, shoppers have been able to find out how the hen that produced their eggs was farmed (organic, free range, barn or caged). Today, over half of all the eggs that people buy in the UK are free range. But, without a clear labelling system for milk, it is difficult for us to express the same choice about the milk we buy based on our concerns about cow welfare.
How will clear labelling help cows?
We believe cows should be able to graze on grass. We hope labelling milk as free range will encourage pasturebased dairy farmers to continue to keep their cows in fields where they belong.
Take action for dairy cows
What are your main responsibilities as Head of the WCU? “I supervise the WCU and the 32 borough Wildlife Crime Officers. I monitor any crime currently under investigation and make sure that cases are progressing.” Why are you interested in wildlife crime? “To investigate wildlife crime is such a unique opportunity. I have such a broad range offences to investigate – from the trapping of wild birds to the trade in endangered animals.” Are there any cases you have worked on that have been particularly shocking? “One of my first cases involved an elephant foot that someone was trying to sell online. I found it difficult to understand why anyone would want an item like that.” How do you see the Unit protecting animals into the future? “We need to continue to work closely with organisations like Border Force, the Government and World Animal Protection. We also need to increase people’s understanding of the scale of wildlife crime.” Do you have any tips for the public on how they can help tackle wildlife crime if they live in London? “Check out the Metropolitan Police website and be confident to speak to us if you have any concerns about activities in your area. Don’t forget that you have a Borough Wildlife Crime Officer – get to know them and they can help you with any query you might have.” Read Mark’s full interview at worldanimalprotection.org.uk/police
Throughout the summer we’ll have stands at a number of food festivals promoting our Full Fact Milk pledge and trying to get as many signatures as possible. Please help by signing the pledge to let supermarkets and shops know you want Full Fact Milk – and asking your friends and family to do the same: worldanimalprotection.org.uk/fullfactmilk Animal Matters • Issue 04
11 Image: Sam Frost/WSPA
Orang-utans
Searching for Borneo’s orang-utans Part 2: Last issue, we shared James’s diary as he trekked through the rainforest in search of rehabilitated orang-utans in Borneo. This issue picks up where our Director of Disaster Management left off, emerging from deep in the jungle. The next stop was a visit to the sanctuary for injured and orphaned orang-utans part-funded by your donations and run by our partner the Borneo Orang-utan Survival Foundation (BOS)…
Rescued from cruelty
The orang-utans that are brought to the sanctuary can come from a range of different and tragic backgrounds – deforestation, injury inflicted by humans, the pet trade. And of course the evercruel animal entertainment industry, in which orang-utans are trained to kick box for paying tourists. 12
Thanks to your support, the BOS sanctuary in Nyaru Menteng is thriving. Their focus is not just on rescuing and accommodating suffering orang-utans – the vision has always been to release them back to a safe location in the wild.
A rehabilitation process
Today we got to see the journey the orang-utans make from the moment they are rescued to their moment of release. There are currently 508 orang-utans at the sanctuary, and more than 130 have already been released back into the wild. The process of rehabilitation takes a long time. The first stage for a rescued orang-utan is to be nursed back to health. Once recovered, those that can lead a more wild life then visit the sanctuary’s ‘forest school’ where they are taught (or reminded) how to survive in the wild. This includes learning how to make nests to sleep in and how to forage for food. Upon ‘graduation’ from forest school they move to a semi-wild release camp called ‘the island’.
Meeting orphaned babies
Sadly, we were unable to see the forest school as it wasn’t safe for us (bearing in mind the number of orang-utans there at any one time) but instead we were taken to ‘elementary school’ where orphaned babies are cared for by volunteers. The experience was bittersweet. Animal Matters • Issue 04
Orang-utans Upon arrival we were met with the curiosity of several baby orang-utans. Initially nervous of us, they sat hugging each other, but soon some became more curious. A particular handful was a baby called Obama who was fascinated with my colleague Maggie. Visitors aren’t allowed to make contact with the orphaned babies – but of course telling the orang-utans that is not possible. Obama began inspecting Maggie’s toes and hugged tightly to her leg! It wasn’t long before he was gently removed and occupied himself playing with a hammock instead. It was very easy to see why people are attracted to baby orang-utans – and how this in turn can fuel the cruel pet trade.
A sobering sight
In a small bed in the shade, we found a one-month-old, who had recently been rescued. Too small to play and fast asleep, there is rarely a more sobering example of the impact of human selfishness on these animals. Now completely dependent on people for care, his mother long gone, his only hope is the sanctuary and potential future release into the wild.
Island release
Not far from Nyaru Menteng is the protected island where the animals are released to live a more independent life, reducing their contact with people and learning to live as they should. Some food is provided but orang-utans gain a large proportion of their dietary needs from the natural vegetation that exists there. The next morning we went out on a boat to see eight orang-utans be released onto the island. After an hour of waiting, the first four cages arrived with sedated orang-utans inside. As the cages were loaded onto boats the vet administered an antidote to the sedative so that by the time they reached the island, the orangutans would be awake and ready to roam.
First steps of freedom
Staff jumped off of boats and took food into the forest for the orang-utans and then everyone was cleared ready for the moment of release. Cage doors were slid up and the wonderful sight of orang-utans stepping out of their temporary cages onto the island was something special. The gift of freedom to animals so persecuted! They were now on the first step to making it on their own. An orphaned orang-utan clings onto a carer at the Nyaru Menteng sanctuary.
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Watching eight orang-utans take their first steps from forest school onto an island, with one eye on the wild, was heart-warming and emotional. To have funded that, to have been part of keeping it alive, is a privilege. After getting accustomed to ‘the island’, they are then transported by helicopter to a special release camp in the jungle where they start their natural lives over, some for the first time, in the wild.
A bright future ahead
Denny, the director of the sanctuary, told us of the mixed feelings the staff experience when they release orang-utans. A combination of joy at seeing their vision realised and sadness at saying goodbye. It struck me how alternative the future for these animals could have been if World Animal Protection supporters like you hadn’t heard the call and taken responsibility to help fund the sanctuary seven years ago.
Journey home
We left the sanctuary soon after and began our journey home. As we travelled through the inky night, engines roaring and lights ablaze, my thoughts turned to my young family. What will be left of the wonders of the forest by the time they are old enough to explore it? My son Jack had been excited to help me “pack for the jungle” – but will there be any orang-utans left by the time he can do the same?
Final reflections
To see the benefit that our funding has had directly on the lives of orang-utans has been heart-warming. But it has also brought home the ever present threats of gold mining, logging, palm oil and population growth to the forest, its species and its charismatic ambassador – the orang-utan. Living side by side with the inspirational staff at the sanctuary was a joy, as was seeing orang-utans making it back in the wild. Over the past week we’ve experienced intense encounters with the newly wild orang-utan Shelli, heavy rain, flooding, all sorts of wildlife and countless orang-utans which have made this journey truly memorable.
Two orphan babies comfort each other in the safety of the sanctuary.
A semi-wild orang-utan takes food from the feeding platform on the protected island.
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Bears
Saved: thanks to you Last issue we told you the breaking news that you helped save another five bears from the cruel blood sport bear baiting in Pakistan. Here’s a little bit about them... Name: Alex
Meaning: Defender Age: 10 years Personality: Alex is a large and feisty, yet happy, bear. Unfortunately, he has been suffering from a bacterial infection on his tongue which has meant he’s had to be kept quarantined and hasn’t been allowed to mix with the other bears yet. However, thanks to the care of sanctuary staff, the infection is improving and he’s on the road to recovery.
Name: Sukhi (was Benny) Meaning: Happy Age: 4 years Personality: Sukhi is a four-year-old female bear who desperately needed to be rescued. When she arrived at the sanctuary she was in urgent need of care. She was so weak that vets couldn’t examine her properly and could only remove her nose ring. However, she is now recovering steadily and has made good friends with Nahla who was rescued at the same time.
Name: Diloo
Meaning: Loved one Age: 8 years Personality: Diloo is a small bear and rather shy. He’s not as sociable as some of the other bears and is quite aggressive – probably because he’s still carrying the mental scars from his previous life in the bear baiting ring. Because of this, he hasn’t met with the other bears yet, and is still recovering in quarantine – but we’re hoping he’ll be ready to join them very soon.
Name: Nahla (was Timmy)
All images: BRC
These pictures were taken in the sanctuary’s quarantine area. We’ll share pictures of the bears in the main enclosure with you as soon as we have them. 14
Meaning: Drink of water Age: 5 years Personality: Upon arrival at the sanctuary Nahla was very stressed, underweight and slightly anaemic but she has since put on weight and is recovering well. Sanctuary staff are pleased to report that she has become a very active bear with a big appetite and is getting along well with her new friend Sukhi.
Name: Pooh
Meaning: Innocent Age: 10 years Personality: Sadly, Pooh is blind – but that hasn’t stopped this small bear from being friendly and sociable with the others. He has recovered from his past traumas well and is in good health. He has been released into the enclosure for disabled bears where he is making friends and settling in nicely.
Please make a donation today Your gift could provide these five bears with everything they need to feel safe and at home at the sanctuary. Call 0800 316 966 or donate online worldanimalprotection.org.uk/sanctuary. Thank you.
Animal Matters • Issue 04
Bears
Ina joins the Romanian sanctuary Thanks to your help, another bear is now free from cruel captivity and enjoying the forests and pools of the Romanian bear sanctuary. A life behind bars
Ina, an old female brown bear, had been suffering terribly in a run-down zoo in north-eastern Romania. For more than 20 years she suffered a miserable existence, trapped behind steel bars in a tiny concrete enclosure. She hardly had any space to move around, let alone roam free in a natural environment. Our partner Asociatia Milioane de Prieteni (AMP) had been complaining to the zoo and successfully campaigned for Ina’s immediate release and transferral to a suitable, caring home – the Romanian bear sanctuary that your donations help fund.
That was until Ina came along and disrupted his peace and quiet! The drastic change of scenery – a woodland forest in contrast with her dirty concrete zoo enclosure – was understandably quite confusing for the old bear. She rushed in to the training area and gave young Andi quite a surprise! In shock, he clung to the trunk of his tree, inspecting his new roommate suspiciously. Once both bears realised there was no threat, they began to settle and gradually started playing together in the water pool.
Friendly training
Meeting other bears in the training area is an important part of a rescued bear’s socialisation and stress reduction process. It is a vital part of adapting to sanctuary life, as many of the bears are not used to the company of others and need time to make friends before being released into the main forest sanctuary. We’re pleased to report that Andi and Ina are getting along well – and sanctuary staff are sure they’ll have no trouble settling in with the other bears as soon as they’re ready for release.
Second chance
Shortly after arriving at the sanctuary, Ina was taken to the training area for newly rescued bears, where she was introduced to another recent arrival, Andi. You might remember Andi, a rescued bear cub we told you about last issue. Andi was brought to live at the sanctuary after local authorities threatened to shoot him for wandering into town and raiding peoples’ bins for food.
Getting to know each other
Two-year-old Andi had perched himself up in a tree for more than a week when he first entered the sanctuary’s training area. Slowly, as time passed and the cub became more comfortable with his new surroundings, he started to come down from his tree and cautiously explore his new home.
Animal Matters • Issue 04 Image: AMP
The best life possible Since 2005 you have helped rescue 83 bears from cruel captivity across Romania. 79 of them are still thriving in the sanctuary today (the others have sadly passed away of old age). Thanks to your support, the sanctuary has been extended several times and is big enough to accommodate the estimated 10 remaining bears that we know are still trapped in cruel captivity in Romania. Together with AMP we are working hard to rescue these remaining bears and give them the best lives possible. Thank you so much for helping to make this a reality.
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Could you be a voice for animals? Do you want to spread the word about animal welfare but don’t know where to start? Then why not become a speaker with World Animal Protection? With a little training, you could use your passion to inspire others and be the voice for animals in your local community. Or if public speaking isn’t your thing, you could arrange for one of our speakers to come and talk about animal welfare either at your work, school or a community group. Our speakers will talk about the suffering that so many animals face round the world – from bears trapped in cruel captivity to marine animals suffering from dangers hidden in our oceans – and teach people how to help. By explaining the suffering that animals face, we can empower more people to get together and make a lasting change for animals.
To find out more: Visit worldanimalprotection.org.uk/speakers Call 0800 316 9772 Email speakers@worldanimalprotection.org.uk