Born Free's Zoo Check's New Report Published

Born Free is a great resource for keeping abreast on what's going on with wildlife around the world, both the good and the bad. They share stories of poaching in Africa, stories about the dramatic rescue of a former circus lion now confined to a small cage in a dusty village where he's taunted by locals, and stories about what we can do to help. Born Free's Zoo Check is a wonderful organization that visits zoos around the world and reports back on their conditions which pressures the zoos into making changes. All sentient beings deserve to live quality lives. If we're to keep animals in zoos at all, the facilities must be as close to their natural habitat as possible and they absolutely must be well treated and cared for and provided with the stimulus they would naturally receive in the wild.


Here's Zoo Check latest report. Most zoos with deplorable conditions were found in Europe. Read on to see what they found and what they hope the zoos will change to improve the quality of life for these animals.

The photo and information below is the intellectual property of Born Free and Zoo Check.

http://www.bornfree.org.uk/campaigns/zoo-check/zoos/eu-zoo-inquiry/

This investigation is part of an extensive EU-wide project that involves 21 EU countries and a total of 200 zoos.

The EU Zoo Inquiry 2011 has been conducted by the Born Free Foundation, in association with the European coalition, ENDCAP. It is an independent study evaluating the implementation and enforcement of the EC Directive 1999/22, relating to the keeping of wild animals in zoos, which was fully implemented in EU Member States (25) in 2005 (and 2007 in Bulgaria and Romania). The Directive requires all zoos (as defined) to be licensed and controlled through regular inspection, to ensure they are engaged in activities to conserve biodiversity, educate the public and maintain high standards in animal welfare. The investigation, which has included a review of national law, law enforcement and compliance in a selected number of zoos in 21 EU Member States, has identified inconsistencies in application and substandard conditions in zoos, which is primarily due to a lack of knowledge and training of enforcement personnel and zoo operators to ensure an understanding of the legal requirements of the Directive.

As a result of this work, the European Commission has agreed to provide additional training to veterinarians in fundamental and applied animal welfare science, as well as to meet Born Free’s main request to develop a ‘best practice’ zoo guide to assist Member States and zoo operators to meet the legal requirements. Born Free continues to produce country reports, as a result of the investigations, which will be available online once published.

Fast track to the country reports >

1. Make a donation to our Stop Captive Animal Suffering appeal

2. Sign our letter to the Commissioner for the Environment urging him to study Born Free’s EU Zoo Inquiry 2011 reports and take action for the animals.

3. Contact your MEP and ask them to support higher standards in animal welfare of wild animals in zoos in Europe.

4. Report animal suffering through Travellers Animal Alert

Thank you for caring about the animals. This is their planet, too. 

Animals Matter.

Born Free: The Gift the Adamsons Gave the World

The year is 1966 and I'm a 3-year old toddler, oblivious to world events of historical significance. Oblivious to just about everything except the things in my little world that affect me. In 1961, just two years earlier, the Bay of Pigs invasion (or, at it's known in Latin America La Batalla de Giron) was unsuccessful in Cuba. The Berlin Wall between East Berlin and West Berlin was built, and the Soviets launched their first man into space. In the following year, 1962, a 24-year old man named Gunter Litfin was the first person killed trying to cross the Berlin Wall to freedom in West Berlin. He was a tailor seeking freedom and a better life in West Berlin and was shot on the very same day that the "shoot to kill" order was given. The Cuba missile crisis pitted the U.S. against the Soviet Union and Cuba. In California, actress Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her home.

In 1963, U.S. President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas and Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act was passed in the U.S. while Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life in prison in South Africa. The following year, 1965, the Los Angeles Riots gripped L.A. and New York City experienced The Great Blackout. In that same year, the U.S. began sending its first troops to Vietnam. The world saw many historical events in the 60's, many of them heartbreaking.

In 1966, the world received a gift that was both uplifting and heartwarming. It was a film, a true story about a lion cub named Elsa and the amazing husband and wife team who raised her, George and Joy Adamson. Through this story, the world temporarily forgot about world events; assassinations, imprisonment, war, poverty, hate crimes, and violence. What is perhaps most ironic is that this heartwarming story took place in one of the cruelest and most violent landscapes that exists: the wild animal kingdom of Africa. It is an achingly beautiful yet violent place where survival of the fittest is the only thing that matters, no matter how heartbreaking it may be when it occurs.

Through this little lioness, the world saw that the King of the Jungle was also capable of great character, attachment, warmth, and love. The film encouraged the world to care about wildlife, its well-being, and its future. It raised unprecedented awareness around the world. People everywhere were fascinated by this amazing man and woman who were not only living in the African bush, but also raising a wild lion. As the popularity of the Adamsons grew, the world discovered just how special these two individuals really were. The story of George and Joy and their love for this lion was exactly what the world needed in 1966.

George and Elsa at the riverbank

Thank you, George and Joy, for the precious gift of your story. You gave a wonderful gift to the world not only through the story of Elsa, but also through your continued work in wildlife conservation. Your memory will be kept alive through those lucky enough to have heard your message and understood the importance of what you had to say.

L to R: Virginia McKenna, George Adamson, 

Bill Travers, Joy Adamson

For the most comprehensive website about George Adamson, please visit http://www.fatheroflions.org/.
Visit the George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust: http://www.georgeadamson.org/
The Born Free website can be found here: http://www.bornfree.org.uk/

Watch Elsa's Legacy on PBS: Elsa's Legacy

Animals Matter.

George and Elsa

A Christmas Gift that Will Change a Life

Here’s an idea if you’re struggling to find the perfect Christmas present for friends or family members. This gift will forever change the quality of life for an animal whose first few years were miserable. Plus, through your gift you’ll be teaching children the important lesson of caring for the beautiful and amazing wildlife who share our planet.

If you'd like to make a difference in an animal's life, please consider adopting an animal in someone's name as a Christmas gift. By doing so, you're ensuring that the animal you choose will receive proper care such as food, housing, and veterinary care. Two programs that I highly recommend are the "Adopt an Animal" program from Born Free and the "Adopt an Elephant" program at The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation. 

Remember Dolo the Lion?
I'll never forget those haunted eyes and sad expression.
The mighty King of Beasts should never elicit pity as Dolo once did.

Photo courtesy of Born Free

"A 1mm chain tethered The King of Beasts 
to his reality"

In August of this year, I wrote a blog entry about Dolo the Lion (http://wildfolio.blogspot.com/2011/08/rescue-of-dolo-lion.html), an adult male lion languishing in a small cage in  Ethiopia. I couldn't get the heartbreaking look in his eyes out of my mind. I've seen plenty of lions in the wild, and have never seen anything remotely close to the expression I saw in Dolo's eyes. Lions are confident, majestic animals ... not pathetic, despondent creatures. But Dolo had good reason for his expression.  For four long years, Dolo was kept on a 1mm long chain by a private owner in southern Ethiopia. Emaciated and hopeless every morning, his desolate roar would echo around the town. He had a blank expression and seemed locked in his own world, while his mane had been rubbed off by the chain that tethered him to his reality. Dolo's story broke my heart so I embarked on a letter writing campaign to various wildlife conservation groups and sanctuaries to see if anything ... anything at all ... could be done to remove him from his horrid circumstances and place him in a wildlife sanctuary. 

In March, 2011, Dolo's life changed. That was the month that Born Free rescued him from the horrendous life he'd always known. Born Free took this emaciated, lonely, sad lion to his new home. At last he's able to feel the cool grass beneath his paws and can rest in the shelter beneath the shade of acacia trees. And Dolo now has a companion - Safia, a rescued lioness. The anguish in Dolo's eyes has softened as he's settled into his new home, but unfortunately the lack of proper care in his early years has led to limited vision in his eyes. But Dolo is now in a safe natural environment. He has the company of a companion, he's become more confident, and he's no longer tethered by a short chain. He's begun the journey of the rest of his life. A much, much happier life. 

Photo courtesy of Born Free

Dolo in his "previous" life, in a small cage and always chained.

Photo courtesy of Born Free

Dolo in his new home, no longer chained as he begins his new life.

Adopt a Very Special Elephant

Pumpui's Story

Pumpui is one of 3 elephants currently unsponsored at GTAEF (Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation) residing in Chiang Rai, Thailand on the border of Laos and Myanmar, known as the Golden Triangle. She is one of 35 elephants rescued from the streets and has been working with autistic children at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang to help for a human-animal bond to help the children.

Pumpui spent her early life on the streets selling bananas to villagers to feed back to her. Shortly before her mahout Suk bought her in 2005 she had been hit by a car and lost the young baby she was carrying. She was very scared of cars and wary of people. Khun Suk and his family worked patiently with Pumpui and helped calm her over time but still travelling eventually landing in Pattaya for 2 years and living on the streets selling bananas. There were many dangers for Pumpui, noise, traffic and the danger of falling into sewer drains. She was rescued by GTAEF and is now a healthy, sweet natured elephant.

Photo and information (above) courtesy of Carol Stevenson.

You can adopt Pumpui with a contribution as little as $5 a month by visiting http://www.adoptingelephants.org/ or choose the amount you'd like to donate, either a one time donation, or on a recurring monthly basis. 

Photo courtesy of Carol Stevenson

Pumpui's Photo Album

By renowned "Elephant Photographer" Carol Stevenson

 Photos courtesy of Carol Stevenson

Adopt Pumpui

 One Time Donation     $5 Month     $10 Month     $20 Month     $40 Month     $100 Month

THANK YOU for caring about wildlife.


Animals Matter.

What We Can All Learn from Christian the Lion

A very special lion who was responsible for my interest in lion conservation is still in the news, thanks to Oprah Winfrey. Recently, Oprah featured Christian's famous YouTube video on her OWN channel as part of her Oprah's Lifeclass series. Christian was successfully released back into the wild with the help of "The Father of Lions" George Adamson. The famous video showing the reunion between Christian and the men who raised him (Ace Bourke and John Rendall) can be seen here:

While I think it's absolutely wonderful that Christian continues to inspire people (as he did me), I wish Oprah had taken a moment to briefly speak about the drastic decline in the lion population and its impending extinction (in as few as ten years). It would have been a great platform to raise awareness about this very important issue. Many people aren't even aware that the lion is at risk of extinction.


The footage in the video was filmed by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, who went on to found the Born Free Foundation, one of my favorite wildlife conservation charities. Here's the article Born Free's Will Travers (Bill and Virginia's son) recently published about Oprah's coverage on Christian. All text and graphics below are the property of Born Free USA. If you'd like to donate to Born Free (a Christmas gift of a donation in someone's name, along with a stuffed lion, is a great gift), you can visit their donation site here:

Born Free Donations

Christian the Lion Continues to Inspire

Dear Friend,

Last night's edition of the cable TV program "Oprah's Lifeclass" featured video clips of Christian the legendary lion — who'd been rescued from a London department store and returned to the wild — being reunited with his former owners. The segment was narrated by Oprah Winfrey, who evidently was moved to tears by the footage.

Christian's stunningly heart-warming reunion with his two human friends, captured in a documentary by Born Free co-founders Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna (my parents, I'm extremely proud to say), went "viral" on YouTube and has inspired millions of people worldwide. Christian, by the way, spent four months living in my garden before being released to the African wild!

See a slideshow in which my mother recalls details of Christian's life.

Enjoy footage my parents took of Christian's reunion with his human friends.

Watch the "Lifeclass" Segment about Christian.

And please help spread the word by forwarding this e-mail to your family and friends, and consider posting it on Facebook and Twitter so that all your contacts will have the chance to see Christian the lion's reunion and to learn more about how Born Free USA works to protect lions.

For the animals,

As always, thank you for reading. Please help us save this beautiful iconic species from extinction.


Animals Matter.