The following story appeared in the Spring/Summer 2014 issue of Born Free USA’s magazine, Animal Issues Digest.
The Individual Animal Matters
While the Born Free ethic—the soul of the organization—is rooted in the story of Elsa the lioness and her return to freedom, vividly portrayed in the iconic film Born Free, our compassionate conservation agenda stems from a different tale. Pole Pole, a small elephant from another wildlife film (An Elephant Called Slowly) was sent from Kenya to the London Zoo as a “gift.” The young African elephant lived on cement, mostly alone, for more than a decade before meeting a sad, early death as a teenager. African elephants in the wild can live into their 60s. Pole Pole should have lived—and ultimately died of natural causes—in the wild.[teaserbreak]
Born Free USA has a long history of animal advocacy and wildlife conservation. This includes campaigning in state legislatures and the U.S. Congress for legislation to protect animals, producing compelling reports on animal issues to share with decision-makers and the general public, and supporting conservation projects in Africa and Asia to protect wild animals in their natural habitats.
But, we also take great pride in our view that each individual animal matters. Through the rescue, care, and, when possible, release of animals from appalling captive conditions, we provide these individuals with the dignity they deserve and a life worth living.
Wild animal rescues are often painful reminders of the wider issues facing wildlife today, but also beautiful stories of hope and perseverance. In an ideal world, Born Free’s network of wildlife sanctuaries would not be necessary, because there would be no animals in need. But, as long as animals cry out for our compassionate care, we’ll devote whatever resources are needed to save them. And then we’ll share these heart-warming successes with you…
Mission: Rescue Big Cats
Meet Simba. Confiscated from a beast wagon in France, where he had been kept by an animal trainer since he was just eight months old, Born Free was first introduced to this surprisingly gentle male lion at the Natuurhulpcentrum Wildlife Rescue Sanctuary in Belgium. He needed a more permanent home; where better than the Lilongwe Wildlife Center in Malawi? Having lived in captivity all of his life, nine-year-old Simba would not be able to learn the skills necessary to live his life back in the wild—so, a large, naturalistic enclosure at a wildlife rescue center in Africa, next door to the lovely lioness Bella, was the next best thing. This February, after months of planning, Simba finally—and safely—made the journey.
Bella, who was herself rescued by Born Free from a snowy Romanian zoo in 2009, lives alongside Simba, separated by fences. Eventually, after much preparation by Animal Care Consultant Tony Wiles and Jasper Ipema, the Animal Care Manager at the center, it was deemed safe to attempt the introduction. In April, the doors were opened between them… And, although at first the relationship looked a little hostile, they have since become close and have begun to enjoy each other’s company.
Jasper says, “Bella used to be very dependent on human company, and Simba, too, would come to the fence to get our attention. Now, they only look up when they see us, and then focus on each other again. To us, this is the best outcome we could have wished for.”
Mission: Rescue Primates
Kept in captivity as pets, used in laboratories, trained to do tricks on television, and killed to supply the bushmeat trade, a variety of primate species need rescue and rehabilitation to undo the horrors of unnatural confinement.
Working recently with some highly successful programs, Born Free has supported the release of baboons and vervet monkeys conducted by the Lilongwe Wildlife Center, and the Zambia Primate Project (ZPP). Many of these individuals were confiscated from the pet trade in Africa, were given new hope, and were offered the opportunity to live out their days in the wild. As one of Africa’s most established and successful primate release programs, ZPP’s primate survival rate is currently an amazing 95% six months post-release.
This year has also included the rescue of little Chinoise, a baby chimpanzee found in a plastic container in Douala, Cameroon, who is now being looked after by our friends at the Limbe Wildlife Centre in Cameroon. She was recently introduced to the nursery group, where she will once again have the chance for a more suitable life for a chimpanzee. Closer to home at the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary in Texas, we recently welcomed Tweek and Starbuck, two rhesus macaques. They were rehomed with us from a research laboratory and are slowly getting familiar with their new home, transitioning to a life with outdoor space, almost certainly for the first time in their lives. At 12 and 15 years old, they should both have many years left to enjoy their lives in relative freedom under the thoughtful eye of Sanctuary Director, Tim Ajax.
Similarly, Amy, a Japanese macaque, and Billie, a female vervet, were both confiscated in Pennsylvania and are starting their new lives at the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary in Texas. After being released from quarantine, they are in separate outdoor enclosures getting exercise, enjoying the sun, and learning how to get along with other monkeys. Billie, who is very small, is full of spunk and quickly lets you know when she doesn’t agree with something, whereas Amy, much larger than Billie, is shy and quiet most of the time. They both still have a long road ahead, but we hope they will soon enjoy the direct company of other monkeys.
Mission: Rescue Hyenas, Too!
Hyenas are among the most misunderstood animals in Africa, and are extremely challenging to take in and care for—especially when they are young. Generally, Ethiopians are incredibly tolerant of hyenas. But, these large predators live in and around all of the country’s major cities. Unfortunately, tolerance has its limits, and conflict often results in fatalities.
When a large female hyena was found in a heavily populated area, she was, sadly, shot. As authorities removed her lifeless body, two young babies appeared from a drainage pipe nearby! The Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority contacted the Born Free Foundation Ethiopia Country Director, Stephen Brend, who leapt to action to take in these two youngsters.
We now have five hyenas of various ages in our care. As soon as they are old enough and strong enough, we will release them to a much less densely populated area of the wild… where they will, again, be free.
As Long as They Need Us
Animals face so many dire threats in this world. Chimpanzees are captured for the pet trade in the forests of central Africa, while cheetah cubs are taken from the wild in the Horn of Africa to be sold to the Middle East. Lions are kept in zoos and circus cages. Macaques are paraded around our cities as pets, or are trapped in laboratories for years on end. And, where humans are unable or unwilling to peacefully co-exist with our wild animal counterparts, the animals inevitably suffer.
Born Free will always campaign against the trade in wild animals as pets and the use of wild animals in entertainment. So, too, will we always work with indefatigable determination to rescue every individual animal in need, and to provide that innocent being a lifetime of humane accommodation at one of our sanctuaries (or at those of our partners). It’s our responsibility, and it’s certainly the least we can do.
I dare say Born Free is on a mission: to end animal suffering, and to rescue every animal in need. May the day soon come when we can honestly say, “Mission accomplished!”
Stop Press
As we go to press, Born Free’s team in Ethiopia has undertaken a long and difficult journey to collect a rescued cheetah cub from Jijiga in the far east of Ethiopia, close to the border with Somalia. Stephen Brend, who led this rescue mission alongside a colleague from the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority, met with the NGO German Agro Action (the temporary carers of the cheetah) to collect the cub, who was confiscated at the end of May from Harirad. The cub, one of three males, is thought to be just three months old and, sadly, is the sole survivor of the trio. This is the fallout from the illegal cheetah trade.