Wildlife Times - Autumn 2019

The magazine for people who care about wild animals

WILDLIFE TIMES

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AUTUMN 2019

BARBARIC SPORT t

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KILLING FOR CONSERVATION f f

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RAISE THE RED FLAG t t

PLUS • • • •

u t bu KEEP WILDLIFE IN THE WILD

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WELCOME From Will Travers OBE

two hundred words are never enough to give you a proper taste of the high quality ingredients that go into each and every Wildlife Times. Just look at the flavours on offer in this issue. like our tasty new crusade to end the repugnant pursuit of trophy hunting (p4), including a major report to bust myths and expose cruelty (p16). the hearty story of the lions of lyon unfolds, four cubs destined for south africa, thanks to you (p12). our spicy new Raise the Red flag campaign shows how each and every one of you can help tackle wild animal abuse (p22). our nourishing on-going efforts seek an end to captive exploitation, not least elephants in the uK (p27). always inspirational, my zesty mother Virginia McKenna visits belfast Zoo (p28). not forgetting sensational snapper George logan (p34). he shoots animals all the time – with a camera! add a healthy sprinkling of animal updates, wildlife news, conservation projects, field reports, policy, education, fundraising, events – it's looking like quite a feast. but, let me be clear, without one special ingredient it just wouldn't be the same. and that ingredient is you. born free and you – now that's what i call a recipe for success!

COVER STORY

Behind each show is a story of abuse, time to Raise the Red Flag!

The elephant (head) in the room Why would anyone want to kill for fun? Yet every year, wealthy hunters slaughter hundreds of thousands of the world’s increasingly rare wild animals. They pose by bloody corpses for selfies, then take gruesome trophies home for display.

Trophy hunting is inhumane and morally unacceptable. We need your help to end this shameful, archaic practice (p4).

Cover photo © www.georgelogan.co.uk

© BF/A Gekoski

president & co-founder will@bornfree.org.uk @willtravers

© G Roberts

best wishes

CONTENTS

4

LET’S STOP THE HUNT

12

9

HAVE YOU HEARD

16

14

LYON LION LATEST

SAVING PANGOLINS

22

27

30

34

RAISE THE RED FLAG

ACTION FOR LIONS

BRUTAL TRUTH BEHIND TROPHIES

ELEPHANT-FREE UK

IT’S A WILD LIFE Images © Norman, A Gekoski/Caters News, G Hacke, www.georgelogan.co.uk, M Heenan, B Jennings

The Born Free Foundation is an international wildlife charity devoted to wild animal welfare and compassionate conservation. Born Free works to end captive exploitation and Keep Wildlife in the Wild, where it belongs!

Wildlife Times is published uarterly by Born Free each year SSn 1 1 9212 Managing ditor Will Travers, will bornfree.org.uk ditor Celia nicholls, celia bornfree.org.uk Designed by Claire Stanford, claire bornfree.org.uk rinted by rint Ltd, Tel 020 9 1 01 .

This publication is printed on Satimatt reen supplied by bbs Tel 020 9 11 The views expressed in Wildlife Times are not necessarily those of Born Free. f you have any comments or issues you would like to raise, please write to the Managing ditor at the address right.

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Born Free Foundation, Broadlands Business Campus, Langhurstwood oad, orsham, West Sussex, 12 ,U 01 0 2 01 0 info bornfree.org.uk www.bornfree.org.uk Born Free Foundation is a egistered Charity no.10 090

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CONSERVATION

LET’S STOP THE HUNT Trophy hunters shoot animals for pleasure and keep their head, skin or other body parts as a souvenir. This is an indefensible industry, as Dr Mark Jones explains.

I

t comes as a shock to many that, in this day and age, people want to kill wild animals so they can stick their heads, skins or other body parts on a wall or in a cabinet. Yet this abominable practice, which led to the collapse of many wild animal populations during the dark colonial times, still persists today. Every year, countless thousands of animals continue to fall victim to trophy hunters.

You’ll be horrified, but it’s not just abundant animals that are in the hunters’ sights. If you have enough cash to spend you can hunt an elephant, lion, leopard or giraffe in as many as a dozen African countries. You can even go after a Vulnerable* cheetah in Namibia, or Critically Endangered* black rhino in Namibia or South Africa.

In fact, to the dedicated wealthy trophy hunter, the rarer the animal the better.

If your busy schedule doesn’t allow the time for a full-blown safari, you can go to South Africa and pay to kill a handreared lion in an enclosure (known as ‘canned hunting’). And if your particular passion happens to be firing at defenceless wild animals with a bow and arrow, a handgun, or an antique muzzle-loader rifle, you can do this too – and even be given an award for your bravery and skill by hunting organisations like Safari Club International.

When, often poor, local people kill endangered wild animals, we call it poaching. If caught, they face fines, imprisonment, even death. When wealthy people pay tens of thousands of dollars for the privilege, it’s called trophy hunting, and they get awards.

International rules designed to protect

4 coNsERVATIoN | aUTUMn 2019

wild animals from the worst excesses of human greed seem to bend over backwards to exempt hunting trophies from trading restrictions, bowing to claims that the practice is sustainable, and that it benefits wildlife conservation and local communities.

The truth is very different. Trophy hunting is an abomination that causes immense individual animal suffering, destroys animal families and societies, and in some cases threatens the very future of vulnerable wildlife populations.

It deprives local people of their heritage, and the opportunity to benefit from non-destructive wildlife tourism, which generates far more money than trophy hunting ever can (p6).

Trophy hunting has nothing to do with the culture of the countries in which it takes place. It simply satisfies the blood-lust of a small, wealthy, narcissistic, predominantly western minority so they can show off their bloody conquest to their peers at expo events and on social media, while lining the pockets of a chosen few. Please help Born Free take action. Trophy hunting should be consigned to history, where it clearly belongs.

Find out more see p16 for Mark’s in depth, myth-busting exposé into the shocking truth behind trophy hunting.

Dr Mark Jones Head of Policy & Veterinarian markj@bornfree.org.uk *Classified on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species

TARGETED BY HUNTERS

Help Born Free consign trophy hunting to the history books.

CECIL’S STORY Four years ago, a 13-year-old lion was killed in Zimbabwe by a dentist from Minnesota, USA with a bow and arrow, who reportedly paid £40,000. Grotesquely, Cecil was then skinned and his head removed. Part of a long-term Oxford University study, he had been a major attraction at Hwange National Park and his death caused international outrage. Let’s ensure he didn’t die in vain.

Images © www.georgelogan.co.uk, AJ Loveridge, M Crowley, M Coglan, J Shallcross

CONSERVATION Ending trophy hunting would be an important step towards restoring our humanity.

MORAL BAROMETER Why would anyone want to kill a lion? Does trophy hunting help or hinder conservation? Will Travers takes a critical look at ethics and economics.

W

e know it goes on. We see dreadful images on social media. We hear its supporters talk about conservation, investing in local communities, making sure that if it pays, it stays. Trophy hunting is hard to avoid.

Those photos of camouflage clad men, women and, indeed, children, clutching a rifle in one hand and a dead elephant, lion, buffalo, giraffe the list seems endless in the other appear with sickening regularity on our tablets, laptops and smart phones. ach one shocks. ach one makes my stomach churn. ach one records another life taken by a misguided fool who thinks we are put on this arth to take, control, exploit and dominate.

ne can argue about trophy hunting on all sorts of levels. Some ustify the taking of animals’ lives for fun because it delivers money to local communities on 6 coNsERVATIoN | aUTUMn 2019

average ust of the tens of thousands trophy hunters pay . n their view, in some of the remote places where it takes place it secures wild areas and puts a value on wildlife, because it provides employment where obs are scarce.

But look at the evidence trophy hunting grosses about 1 0m a year across africa. But this sum pales into insignificance when compared to non consumptive wildlife based tourism, which generates 1. bn a year in enya alone. erhaps ust 20,000 poorly paid, low skill, seasonal obs service the trophy hunting industry across all of africa. ust a fraction of the million plus obs that support the tourist industry in enya alone.

But ust as importantly, the debate about whether trophy hunting has any place in our 21st century world must be a moral

one. s it right for a wealthy, almost exclusively western, predominantly american elite, to shoot some of the world s most magnificent and increasingly rare wild animals so that their heads can adorn the killer s living room an ironic description for a room where death is celebrated back home no one can deny that those countries that permit trophy hunting have the right to manage their wildlife as they see fit.

But by the same token we, for example in the U , have the right to decide whether we will allow the import of trophies. at a recent meeting with the previous nvironment Secretary, Michael ove, together with colleagues from Lion aid, The Campaign against Trophy unting and others, challenged those in the room who support or tolerate trophy hunting, including Safari Club nternational, UCn , WWF, Save The hino nternational

TARGETED BY HUNTERS

Will Travers OBE President will@bornfree.org.uk

and CIC** to accept the moral argument.

I called on the government to take swift and decisive action. But will they?

Trophy hunting may not be the greatest threat to wild species and it may not impact the largest number of animals.

However, as a barometer of our attitude towards wild animals and our own sense of self, it tells us a lot about ourselves.

Ending it would be an important step towards restoring our humanity. *International Union for the Conservation of Nature **International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation

ACTION 2019 Thousands of body parts from lions, elephants, hippos and more are brought home by British hunters. It’s time to end the UK import of bloody trophy hunting items: • Thousands joined us in London in April as we marched to Downing Street calling for a ban on UK trophy imports • 167 MPs from all parties signed the Early Day Motion 1829 calling for these horrific imports to end • A House of Commons poll in May found 93% of UK public are against trophy hunting, with people describing it as ‘abhorrent,’ ‘appalling’ and ‘barbaric’ • Nearly 210,000 people signed our 38 Degrees petition against UK trophy imports, which I presented to Defra in May.

Marching in London

Images © www.georgelogan.co.uk, Paul Nicholls Photography, N Hosab, Curious Expeditions, N Appleton, Inf-lite teacher

BAN TROPHY HUNTING HELP END THIS BARBARIC SPORT

born free is opposed to the killing of any animal for sport or pleasure, and we want trophy hunting banned.

With your help, we will campaign for an end to trophy hunting, work with airlines and shipping companies to stop the transportation of trophies, and put pressure on the uK and other governments to introduce a ban on the import of hunting trophies.

HELP END THIS BARBARIC SPORT www.bornfree.org.uk/ban-trophy-hunting Image Š www.georgelogan.co.uk

Charity No:1070906

HAVE YOU

HEARD

THEIR FUTURE, YOUR HANDS Born Free is about to send a team to a big trade meeting in Geneva. Delegates from all over the world will make decisions that impact apes, elephants, rhinos, lions and much more. Help give animals the best possible protection and ask UK officials to fight for wildlife.

the latest on born free animals, projects and people.

k/CITES-TAKE-ACTION

Visit www.bornfree.org.u

SAFE, THANKS TO YOU In a dramatic u-turn, the Zambian government has cancelled controversial plans to let paying trophy hunters shoot up to 1,250 hippos.

“We’re so grateful to all of you who took action to stop the cull,” said Born Free’s Dr Mark Jones. “With less than 130,000 hippos across Africa, each one matters.”

THE BEAUTY OF FREEDOM

YOU DID IT! #ShootToThrill ing photographers We’re calling on budd ra? me ca d. a h wit y Hand s of animals in the wil bmit your finest photo su to ills sk tion d eti an mp es co of all ag hrill?! Our en you can #ShootToT wh kill to t oo sh to l s na Who need s including a professio September with prize runs until the end of your image. and a giant canvas of photography lesson Images © E Neikirk, S Schiller

Thousands of you responded to our plea to ask the Welsh government to end wild animal circuses. and they listened.

Legislation to ban this cruel exploitation is now underway. “Such entertainment is dated and unpopular,” said Born Free’s Dr Chris Draper. “This brings Wales into line with a long list of countries.” aUTUMn 2019 | HAVE you HEARD 9

HAVE YOU

HEARD The latest on Born Free animals, projects and people.

HARE TODAY, GONE… Seeing a hare zig-zagging at speed across a field is a real treat, but sadly one that’s increasingly rare in the UK. As few as 800,000 remain and every year 300,000 are shot dead in the name of sport. “We’re lobbying hard for legal protection, not least during their breeding season,” explains Born Free’s Dr Mark Jones.

PRACTICAL HELP FOR HEROES Wildlife rangers risk their lives to protect wild animals and stop poachers. So Born Free is proud to support The Sockstar Project, a new initiative to support these brave men and women founded by our Youth Ambassador Lewis Bedford. “By providing basic items such as toothpaste, socks and soap we can make a meaningful, day to day difference to their lives.” Lewis says.

MIRACLE BIRTH A farmer in West Sussex, UK, saved four fox cubs by performing an emergency caesarean. A poor vixen had been killed by a car, but Chris Rolfe noticed movement inside her. He and his mother Jean cared for the newborns, before taking Ginger, Biscuit, Big Tip and Little Tip to our Fox Project friends (p15) for rehabilitation.

RAY OF HOPE Born Free has followed the likes of Michael Palin and Michael Caine to support innovative conservation action with National Park Rescue.

“We want to rescue an important park in Zimbabwe,” explains Born Free’s Dr Nikki Tagg. “It’s a key location for elephants, we help local people assist rangers and tackle poaching.”

10 HAVE YOU HEARD | AUTUMN 2019

SPIKEY MITES

REASONS TO

Just two weeks old when rescued, these orphan hoglets are thriving thanks to our UK rescuer Tarnya Knight. “Eeny, Meeny, Miny and Moe are small but feisty,” Tarnya explains. “Their eyes have opened and they can lap milk for themselves.”

BE CHEERFUL We want to brighten your day!

LEARNING TO FLY

s

e colleague Our Limbe Wildlife Centr dreds in Cameroon rescue hun the m fro s of rare grey parrot ese cruel pet trade. “Th of intelligent birds are one the planet’s most social species,” explains Laura Craddock, Fundraising Manager.

“They can now recover in a spacious aviary, created with Born Free’s help.”

LANDED Eco Activists for Governance and Law Enforcement we salute you. Thanks to EAGLE, these bravest of colleagues supported by Born Free since 2004, an incredible 102 traffickers with ivory, leopard skins, pangolin scales and more have been arrested this year in Central Africa.

SMART BUT SIMPLE Thanks to a National Geographic grant, 100 bomas in Kenya will get smarter. Our reinforced night enclosures keep livestock safe from lions and stop retaliatory killings, while families benefit from low-cost energy-saving stoves, water storage barrels and solar units.

MALAWI MAGIC

Kudos Lilongwe Wildlife Trust. We helped launch this conservation and rescue initiative in 2007 and now CEO Johnny Vaughan has been awarded an MBE while their sanctuary has achieved PASA and GFAS* accreditation. *Pan African Sanctuary Allian ce & Global Federation of Anima

l Sanctuaries

Images © Dave, Sockstar Project, S Wild, I Redmond

AUTUMN 2019 | HAVE YOU HEARD 11

RESCUE & CARE

ALMOST THERE 12 RESCUE & CARE | AUTUMN 2019

Remember these four cubs, stolen from their mothers to be kept as pets? Maggie Balaskas reports on the dawning of a glorious new life for the Lions of Lyon.

Y

ou never cease to amaze us. In April, Born Free launched an appeal to take four small lions to their spiritual homeland, where they belonged. Kept illegally as novelty pets in France, Horus, Dadou, Cersei and Thea* deserved a new life at our superb sanctuary in Shamwari Private Game Reserve, South Africa. But this was an epic endeavour and we couldn’t do it alone. So we turned to you for help and your response was extraordinary. I can’t thank you enough for sharing our vision.

feeble, woebegone infants first taken in, it does my heart good to see them so robust and exuberant. My colleague Dr Chris Draper, Born Free’s Head of Animal Welfare & Captivity, is over the moon with the project’s progress, but reminds us providing a safe future for these cubs is just a small part of the solution. “I’m delighted the cubs will soon be moving to a new life, as each has had a lucky escape from a cruel trade. Now, with you by our side, we must redouble our efforts to stop the illegal keeping of big cats in Europe.”

Your donations came flooding into our office and you completed sponsored challenges, held fundraising events, and supported our social media campaign with likes, shares, retweets and regrams. Your tremendous efforts inspired and motivated us as we’ve doggedly prepared for the cubs’ relocation and lifetime care. This complicated project is a tremendous task – it takes a lot of paperwork to move just one lion from France to South Africa. And this is our biggest lion relocation, for our smallest lions.

Thank goodness for the generosity of International Airline Group, who have offered to fly the cubs from Lyon to Port Elizabeth, near Shamwari for free – fantastic! This helps free up funds for their long-term support.

The cubs’ move to spacious, natural bush enclosures and devoted care for life at our sanctuary is imminent. I will be in touch soon with news and keep an eye on our website for the latest reports. On behalf of Horus, Dadou, Cersei and Thea, and everyone at Born Free, thank you for all you have achieved for the Lions of Lyon.

The youngsters’ well-being is our absolute priority at every stage and, as you can see, they are flourishing at their halfway house. Remembering the

I recently took our Co-Founder, Virginia McKenna OBE, to visit the incredible quartet in France.

“Meeting the Lions of Lyon was one of my happiest moments for a very long time. The four little cubs are now waiting to go to Shamwari where they will have the most wonderful, kind, caring and beautiful life – treasured beyond measure.”

THEN...

Thea

Cersei

...AND NOW

*Previously known as Kuuma and Girl, but renamed by supporters for a generous donation.

Find out more Visit www.bornfree.org.uk/video-hub to watch a film of Virginia visiting the cubs in France.

Thea and Horus Dadou

Maggie Balaskas Rescue & Care Manager maggie@bornfree.org.uk

CUBS ON STANDBY

Images © F Fortuna/BF, A Blanchon

AUTUMN 2019 | RESCUE & CARE 13

MY

RECENT RESCUE

VIEW SAVING PANGOLINS

Born Free was my first job fresh out of college. At the beginning, it was

just my way into the working world.

Little did I know that, over 14 years later, I would still be part of the incredible team making such a

difference to wild animals’ lives.

Back in 2007, Born Free rescued a little lion called Sinbad from a

rundown zoo in Romania. Sinbad

sticks in my mind, as he is half the

size of a normal lion due to his poor diet when he was young. Thanks to our team’s tireless work, he is now

spending his life in the natural habitat comfort of our sanctuary in Shamwari Private Game Reserve, South Africa.

His story, along with all those of the individuals we rescue, has really

opened my eyes to the awful plight of animals all over the world – stuck in

shoddy zoos, circuses and even kept illegally as pets. Born Free strives to

change that and I’m with them every

Born Free has helped rescue and protect pangolins since 2014. These elusive, nocturnal animals resemble anteaters and armadillos, but are more closely related to bears, dogs and even cats. Mainly ground-dwelling, four species are found in Asia and four in Africa, but some, like Central and West Africa’s black-bellied pangolin, also climb trees. Known as scaly anteaters, pangolins are the world’s only mammal covered in protective scales, made of keratin – the same fibrous protein in human fingernails. Pangolins feed almost exclusively on ants and termites, using powerful front claws to excavate mounds and exceptionally long tongues to slurp up insects. Their remarkable ability to close their nose and ears keeps ants out when foraging.

Tragically, pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world. The illegal wildlife trade is driving them to extinction and, every year, tens of thousands are killed. Their meat is

considered a delicacy in China and Vietnam, and their scales used in traditional Asian medicines and jewellery. African pangolins are hunted for bushmeat and traditional African medicine. With a drastic decline in Asian populations, African species are now targeted for Asian markets.

Born Free campaigns to stop the illegal wildlife trade and supports projects in Africa to protect pangolins. Nestled in Central African Republic’s semievergreen forests is the Sangha Pangolin Project. Having rescued, rehabilitated and released pangolins since 2014, they recently expanded to increase their research and engage with local communities to tackle poaching and trade. In Malawi, our Lilongwe Wildlife Trust friends play a vital part in protecting pangolins and recently returned three confiscated adults, destined for the wildlife trade, back to their natural habitat. After a check-up, food and water the trio were ready for release. MB

step of the way. How inspiring to know you will be too.

© www.georgelogan.co.uk

UNIQUE NATURE • There’s nothing like a pangolin! They are grouped alone by scientists • They’re a prehistoric species, unchanged for 70 million years • Their name means ‘something that rolls up’ in Malay • They curl in a spikey ball if attacked by a lion or tiger • They have body armour that deters all predators, except humans • They have no teeth, but a sticky 40cm tongue • They have poor eyesight, but excellent hearing and smell locate food • One pangolin eats 200,000 insects a day – great pest control!

• They are surprisingly good swimmers • They roll in mud or manure to remove irritating parasites.

Edd Thatcher Office Administrator edward@bornfree.org.uk 14 RESCUE & CARE | AUTUMN 2019

© A Harwood

Born Free rescues individual animals from appalling conditions

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

RESCUE & CARE

Born Free rescuer Tarnya Knight talks to Sandra Reddy, Hospital Director of The Fox Project in Kent, UK. Tell us about your work?

Our charity rescues over 800 sick, injured and abandoned foxes across the south east of England each year, including nearly 300 abandoned cubs.

Adult casualties who recover are released back to home territories. We prioritise reuniting cubs with vixens when the situation allows, but cubs often arrive singly. We make a difference to the individuals in our care and give them a second chance at life in the wild.

How does Born Free help?

We appreciate your fundraising support over many years, such as towards the purchase of our wildlife ambulance and rehabilitation enclosures.

What challenges do you face?

As casualty numbers increase year on year, and as we approach our 30th year, it is time to purchase our own

You can help To become a volunteer or to find out more, including humane deterrents for urban foxes, visit foxproject.co.uk

What’s happening this year?

We had an extraordinary number of foxes caught in netting including three cubs caught in a child’s camouflage hide.

One fox Garth was caught up in wire fencing resulting in a damaged rear leg which had to be amputated. Resilient as foxes are, Garth does nicely on three legs, happily playing with his new family of rescued cubs and will be released soon.

Rose and Winnie now ready for release

Tell us about Rose the fox cub?

Rose was our first cub this year and just 10 days old when rescued. She is established in her new family group who are all doing extremely well.

Can readers get involved?

We are always glad to receive help from volunteers. You could take part in our rehabilitation programme or, if you live within our south east catchment area, you may like to have a foster pen in your

© Fox Project

FACE TO FACE

garden. Assistance with cleaning, feeding and medicating causalities is required in our intensive care unit in Tunbridge Wells, Kent or become a rescuer and join our team of dynamic volunteers on the front line of our operations.

wildlife rescue centre. Our ideas of expansion and helping even greater numbers of foxes in need would be a real possibility not a pipe dream. We are also looking for more release sites – a garden that backs onto woodland where no shooting takes place and with no resident foxes would be ideal.

Rehabilitation takes place in late July to early September when groups of five cubs gradually disperse into new territories.

RESCUE & CARE nEwS in bRiEf

Gail and Wendy

Swallow sanctuary

Trixie’s taxi drama

After strong winds, these two tawny owlets were found on the ground in some woods near Horsham, UK. Our rescuer Tarnya Knight gave the pair initial care then took them to Folly Wildlife Rescue, Kent for rearing and rehabilitation.

A brood of young swallows was made homeless when a barn was cleared in Sussex, UK. Fortunately, the fledglings have flourished thanks to round-the-clock care and Folly Wildlife Rescue’s special food formula. They will be released soon.

A cab driver on his way to Heathrow, UK was upset to hit a pheasant. Imagine his surprise, returning to Horsham, to find the poor bird still stuck inside his car grill. Happily, after care, we could return Trixie to the wild.

AUTUMN 2019 | RESCUE & CARE 15

THE BIG PICTURE

THE BRUTAL

TRUTH

Dr Mark Jones Head of Policy & Veterinarian markj@bornfree.org.uk 16 THE biG PiCTURE | AUTUMN 2019

Every year, wealthy trophy hunters slaughter hundreds of thousands of wild animals claiming to support conservation. But the facts don’t add up, as Dr Mark Jones reveals.

M

ost right-minded people are appalled at the idea of wealthy, predominantly western hunters paying for the right to kill magnificent animals, in order to post pictures of themselves next to the dead bodies of their victims. And to then display the animals’ heads, skins or other body parts on their walls or in their trophy cabinets back home. But does the practice really benefit conservation and the communities that live alongside wild animals, as trophy hunters claim?

Poor local people can’t hunt rare species but rich westerners can.

And where does the money end up?

Recreational hunting has been going on for centuries, but the modern practice of trophy hunting emerged among the European elite during the colonial era, and in the United States in the latter half of the 19th century. Over subsequent decades, the desire among wealthy hunters to bag trophy animals had devastating impacts on populations of many emblematic and keystone species (essential for their ecosystem), particularly across South Asia and East Africa. Before hunting was finally outlawed in India in 1971, tens of thousands of tigers were shot by colonial and Indian elites, a massacre from which the species has never recovered. Populations of African rhinos were abundant and widespread before Europeans with guns arrived in the 19th century, devastating those populations for sport, for meat, and to obtain horns and tusks to trade for profit. Many other species suffered similar declines.

Modern day trophy hunters claim the often substantial fees they pay help fund local economies and conservation efforts. They also claim they provide an animal management service by removing problem animals (p20). Some even claim helping wildlife conservation

and local communities is their primary motivation. Nevertheless, every year trophy hunting continues to end the lives of hundreds of thousands of animals belonging to a wide range of species, many endangered. Claims for the economic, conservation and societal values of trophy hunting activities, and its sustainability, simply don’t stack up. With money to be made, animal populations are often manipulated and quotas set to maximise profits, recommended age and area-based limitations are frequently ignored, and hunting levels often exceed official quotas.

Estimates for the economic value of trophy hunting in Africa vary widely. In 2015, a report prepared for United States-based hunting organisation Safari Club International (SCI) claimed that trophy hunting generated £337m and supported 53,000 jobs across eight southern and eastern African countries. This figure is more than three times the estimate made in an independent economic study conducted two years later*. Whatever the true figure, it represents a tiny fraction (0.03%) of the gross domestic product of those countries, and of the money generated by non-destructive wildlife activities such as photographic tourism. Kenya alone, which prohibits trophy hunting, generates more than £1.6bn each year from ecotourism.

Most of the money generated by trophy hunting never reaches conservation authorities or projects.

The SCI report itself suggests less than 10% of the fees paid by trophy hunters goes to landowners and, given that these fees won’t necessarily go into conservation, the actual financial contribution to conservation is very small. An independent economic AUTUMN 2019 | THE biG PiCTURE 17

THE BIG PICTURE

You can’t kill the same animal twice, a live leopard supports ecotourism for years

report found hunting companies contribute, on average, just 3% of revenues to communities living in hunting areas. The vast majority of income goes to government agencies, outfitters and individuals located in national capitals or overseas.

A report prepared for the International Union for Conservation of Nature** concluded: “The socioeconomic contribution and the contribution to development of big game hunting is virtually nil”. Moreover, many jobs created by the hunting industry are poorly paid and insecure. Born Free’s own in-depth investigations in Zambia reveal how money from hunting licence and concession fees due to local community groups, rarely, if ever, reaches them. As a result, local people are overwhelmingly negative towards trophy hunting.

Far from removing surplus or problem animals, trophy hunters covet the largest trophies with the most impressive traits.

Removing these animals can have

profound impacts on the stability and genetic diversity of the populations to which they belong. Because hunters value rarity, disturbingly threatened species in need of the strongest protection are often in high demand, potentially pushing them further towards extinction. A United States House Committee report noted: “It is exceedingly difficult to prove that removing additional animals from a vulnerable and dwindling population would benefit the species”.

But the real travesty of trophy hunting lies in its inherent cruelty, and the intense suffering it causes. Most societies impose rules designed to reduce suffering when animals are deliberately killed. Operatives are usually subject to some degree of training and oversight.

However, the victims of trophy hunts, and their family members and groups affected by their loss, have no such protection.

Trophy hunters often pursue their targets

over long distances, luring them from the relative security of family groups, or out of the national parks in which they are protected. Hunters may not be expert shots, and since they will be seeking a good quality trophy, often avoid targeting the head of the animal, making a quick kill less likely.

In many instances, hunters may target their victims using bows and arrows, muzzle loader rifles or handguns, methods that clearly do not prioritise an instantaneous death. The use of such weapons is even encouraged by the big hunting organisations such as SCI, which offers awards for their use.

Perhaps the most cynical type of trophy hunting is so-called canned hunting, predominantly practiced in South Africa where thousands of lions and other predators are intensively bred for the bullet (p30). These animals, raised by hand from an early age, are cynically

TROPHY ITEMS FROM THREATENED SPECIES EXPORTED 2008-2017 37,933 27,972 African elephant 18 THE biG PiCTURE | AUTUMN 2019

Hippopotamus

16,715

Zebra

14,008

8,307

African lion

Leopard

SOUTH AFRICA’S SORDID INDUSTRY

Ecotourism generates 120 times more money and employs 132 times more people than hunting

Bred for tourist cuddles

exploited for profit at every stage of their often short lives. Many end up released into fenced enclosures, to be shot by hunters who want to bag a lion trophy at a knock-down price while avoiding the time and effort required for a wild hunt.

Canned hunting even divides hunting enthusiasts, with many pro-hunting organisations condemning the practice.

Psychologists suggest that, far from concern for wildlife conservation or local communities, the real motivation behind trophy hunting lies in the opportunity for hunters to show off their prowess to peer groups, at hunting conventions, and increasingly on social media platforms. Many trophy hunters covet awards from hunting organisations such as SCI, for the number and variety of animals they kill, or the antiquated and cruel methods they use to kill them, which only serves to emphasise their true motives.

In his soon to be published book entitled Trophy Hunting: A Psychological Perspective, renowned psychologist Professor Geoff Beattie describes his research into the motivation behind trophy hunting. Supported by Born Free, Professor Beattie‘s report concludes that lack of empathy, a degree of callousness and narcissistic tendencies, may all be typical characteristics of trophy hunters.

We will report on this publication in the November 2019 issue of Wildlife Times.

If wealthy people who can afford to trophy hunt really want to help conservation or benefit communities, they should resist their desire to kill.

They should instead donate their money to organisations doing real conservation and community work. Born Free is opposed to the killing of any animal for sport or pleasure. Trophy hunting is cruel, unethical and morally abhorrent.

The claims made by proponents for the benefits of trophy hunting simply don’t stack up. This outdated, damaging so-called sport must end.

Find out more Visit www.bornfree.org.uk/ publications to read Trophy Hunting – Busting the myths, also Truth Behind Zambia’s Trophy Hunting Industry, and Cash Before Conservation exposé of South Africa’s lion breeding industry.

Taken for walks

Then shot dead

*By Economists at Large, commissioned by Humane Society International **Big game hunting in West Africa: what is its contribution to conservation Images © www.georgelogan.co.uk, I Michler, Cruiser girl

Taken home as a grisly trophy

CONSERVATION SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

FAMILY MATTERS Every year, trophy hunters kill around 1,000 elephants. But what happens to those left behind? Penny Banham considers how such hunting impacts the herd.

T

he lives of elephants are wonderfully complex, with social bonds extending from family units all the way to larger clans. One elephant can know, recognise and have close ties with hundreds of others. A population is almost like a large organism, where individuals interact and respond to each other, fusing and dispersing in and out of groups.

But how are these bonds affected by trophy hunting? Evidence has repeatedly shown that hunts, as well as culls or poaching, cause behaviour changes and damage neurological and physiological development. Witnessing or hearing the death of another elephant, possibly a family member, at the hands of a hunter can leave an individual with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms.

20 CONSERVATION | AUTUMN 2019

Places where elephants once felt secure are no longer safe and this fundamentally alters how they behave. They may display abnormal behaviours including hyper-aggression, depression, aberrant startle responses and asocial activities.

And the damage does not end there.

Elephants learn from older herd members and negative behaviours can be passed down generations, meaning the effects of traumatic events are long lasting. These elephants can be labelled problem animals and can be targeted for trophy hunting, thus perpetuating the cycle of trauma and death.

But trophy hunters also hunt older and more experienced bulls, whose tusks, the supposed trophy, are the largest, but whose repository of knowledge is irreplaceable. When large bulls are

removed, social dynamics for every elephant in that population change. Often in their prime, they are crucial to females as potential mates, and without them to keep young males in check, youngsters may become aggressive and destructive.

Coupled with the effects of trauma, these young males may threaten humans and other wildlife. Numerous cases have been documented where they have killed rhinos and hippos in acts of unprovoked aggression. Again, these elephants are branded problem animals and may become the target for trophy hunters.

The effect of a trophy hunt is not limited to the death of one individual, it triggers a cascade of negative events. The culture of an entire population can shift due to the loss of ecological and social knowledge after the death of older, more

experienced elephants. Young elephants are bereft of unique behaviours, vocalisations and information which, for generation after generation have formed their rich cultural environments.

Ultimately, elephants left behind are irrevocably defined by their trauma.

Free from the pressure of culls and hunting – illegal in Kenya – and largely spared from poaching, the elephants of the Amboseli ecosystem appear happy and healthy. Subjects of the longest running study on elephant behaviour, by the Amboseli Trust for Elephants, which Born Free has supported since 1992, they have contributed much to our knowledge about the peaceful lives of these animals. But this contrasts sharply with the elephants of Babile Elephant Sanctuary, Ethiopia. Victims of intense

poaching, these elephants are skittish, aggressive and regularly come into conflict with people.

Trophy hunting is claimed to be a tool to manage a surplus of elephants and enhance conservation via increased revenue. But this is a simplistic and naive view, which comes at the cost of protecting the cultural integrity of a population. If proponents of trophy hunting do discuss elephant trauma, it is dismissed as insignificant and irrelevant. It is time we all recognise animal culture and the effect people are having on it, before it is lost.

Penny Barnham Conservation Project Officer penny@bornfree.org.uk

MY

We need to recognise elephants’ rich culture before it is lost.

VIEW

After a decade focussed on conservation of great apes, joining Born Free opened my eyes to the plight of lions, tigers, elephants and giraffes; all being killed in their wild habitats.

Threats and solutions vary, but they have one thing in common: they need conservationists – our time and expertise, our hard slog.

I’m part of Born Free’s conservation team, committed to giving all we can.

Sometimes this requires us to read literature, to seek lessons learned and apply the best interventions. We write reports, funding proposals, research papers and manage budgets. We may be required to think strategically or scientifically, and often outside the box.

Sometimes we visit the beautiful wild places and (if we’re really lucky) see the animals we work to save. And we talk, to our partners across the world, to local people, to the conservation community, to you – to communicate the most important messages.

A conservationist’s toolkit must be varied. Animals are struggling in the face of adversity in the wild and each of us, whatever our skills, must do all we can.

Dr Nikki Tagg Conservation Programmes Manager nikkit@bornfree.org.uk

Born Free promotes Compassion Conservation – every animal counts!

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

AUTUMN 2019 | COnSERVATiOn 21

CAPTIVITY

Want to change minds and stop suffering? Our new online platform allows you to report animal abuse and warn other people to stay away. Sarah Jefferson reports.

O

ver 100 million people visit cruel wildlife attractions every year, often unaware of the suffering behind the £200bn industry.

Born Free has received tens of thousands of reports about wild animals in captivity in the past 35 years.

You tell us about poor conditions in zoos, abuse in elephant camps, exploitation in circuses and dolphinaria, and much more, explaining you wouldn’t have visited had you known how animals were treated. Captive suffering is clearly a massive problem on a global scale and, with your help, Born Free is committed to stopping animal cruelty.

Your reports help us identify issues, take action and, where possible, help individuals. But we want to do much more to raise awareness and empower people to speak out. We recently connected with award-winning photojournalist Aaron Gekoski, who investigates abusive wildlife tourism.

“What I witness is shocking and incredibly distressing. Many animals are mistreated, yet tourists are unaware of the abuse. I wanted to create a platform for people to share reports and highlight welfare problems, a little like TripAdvisor, but focused on wildlife. Change is possible when people vote with their feet and don’t visit these places.”

Aaron’s vision was a perfect fit with Born Free and we have given our online reporting system a fresh new 22 CAPTiViTY | AUTUMN 2019

look and name, Raise the Red Flag.

Supported by British Airways Holidays (p24), the system allows you to report eye-witness concerns. The forum shares information and gives advice on taking positive action. Our interactive Red Flag map highlights reports – just click on a flag to see welfare concerns identified at locations around the world.

Your reports can result in animal rescue and rehoming, such as lions Raffi and Anthea, moved from a small cage in Tenerife to our sanctuary in South Africa. Or dolphins Misha and Tom rescued from a dirty swimming pool and rehabilitated back to the wild in Turkey. We’re currently arranging for Simon, a young orphan chimpanzee caged as a pet in GuineaBissau, to go to a sanctuary in Kenya.

seen elephants in chains, orangutans in circus-style shows, tigers jumping through hoops of fire, or lion cubs used as props for photographs? Watched a bear pace back and forth in a barren cage, or visitors tormenting meerkats at a local zoo? Now you can Raise the Red Flag!

You can help Spread the word and send your reports to www.bornfree.org.uk/ raise-the-red-flag, call 01403 240170, or send me a letter.

Although Born Free can’t rescue every animal we hear about, every single report we receive provides invaluable information.

Thanks to you we help countless animals by informing relevant authorities, sending detailed reports – often using your photographs as evidence, calling for inspections and improvements, and lobbying for policy or legislation change.

We carry out our own investigations, steadfastly visiting zoos, dolphinaria, circuses and other captive facilities.

The scale of individual suffering and exploitation is immense. But every one of us can play a part in making the world a better place for wild animals while they are in captivity. Have you

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

YOU SPEAK OUT

Germany: “The

jaguar paced

constantly.”

ed scared of us.”

olves seem

Lithuania: “The w

rete.”

Spain: “The orca jumped onto conc

Indonesia: “T

igers had to le

ap high podium

s.”

re dragged on chains.”

Morocco: “Monkeys we

Images © A Gekoski/Caters News, J McArthur/BFF, www.georgelogan.co.uk

AUTUMN 2019 | CAPTIVITY 23

CORPORATE PARTNER

TAKING ACTION

TOGETHER W

e are delighted to announce British Airways Holidays has joined Born Free as a corporate partner. Amongst other projects, this new partnership will support our Raise the Red Flag initiative (p22). “We are thrilled to partner with Born Free,” says Catherine Onions, Head of Customer Service and Quality at British Airways Holidays. “We look forward to working closely with your respected organisation.”

The global holiday company is renowned for offering customers unforgettable holidays and firmly believes the best place for wild animals is in the wild. “It is important our customers can make informed decisions on the holidays they choose,” Catherine explains. “When Born Free told us about Raise the Red Flag it was obvious that supporting this initiative means our customers, and visitors 24 CAPTiViTY | AUTUMN 2019

around the world, will have the mechanism they need to make informed choices about visiting any animal-based attractions. We are really excited Born Free has the knowledge and expertise to be able to do something when they receive reports of mistreatment.”

British Airways Holidays is also working with us on its new animal welfare policy, which brings increased focus to its commitments. This includes not offering attractions that promote animal performances, swim encounters, rides, interactions and attractions centred on wild animals in captivity. “British Airways Holidays are really standing up for wild animals by taking this approach,” says Dr Chris Draper, Born Free’s Head of Welfare and Captivity. “We’ll support them as they develop their welfare policy.

Everyone on the team is really looking forward to the partnership developing.”

Catherine Onions

The new partnership will also enable the expansion of the Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa. More news on this exciting development in our next issue! Welcome to Born Free, British Airways Holidays, we are honoured to have you with us! CK Find out more For more details about this exciting partnership please visit www.ba.com/animalwelfare.

For corporate partnerships, contact hitesh@bornfree.org.uk

TAKING ACTION

TOGETHER

CELEBRITY PATRON

W

e are overjoyed BBC radio and TV presenter Mollie King has joined Born Free as our Anti-Captivity Patron. She will work closely with us to highlight our work. “Mollie is perfect to help raise awareness,” says our CEO Howard Jones. “She is committed to our core mission to Keep Wildlife in the Wild and well-known as a successful presenter. We look forward to her encouraging people to become involved with Born Free.”

Mollie is “…absolutely thrilled to be joining Born Free.

Your team do such worthwhile work, from rescuing animals and lobbying governments, to protecting wildlife and helping communities understand conservation, to engaging younger people into protecting natural habitats. You do so much, and all with the ultimate goal of keeping wildlife where it belongs, in the wild.

“A few years ago I had the privilege of going to Arcturos Bear Sanctuary in Greece with Born Free.

Seeing how badly bears had been treated, some even forced to dance on hot stones, appalled me. Luckily, Born Free could offer three orphan cubs sanctuary there, but I realised how much there is to do. I’m so grateful you exist and humbled by the work you do.”

Mollie is a firm believer animals shouldn’t be exploited and will start her patronage by supporting our Raise the Red Flag campaign. “I want to do all I can to shine a light on wild animals in captivity. From zoos to tourist encounters, to people keeping wild animals as pets – seeing an animal locked up breaks my heart. That’s why Raise the Red Flag is such a great initiative and why I’m really proud to be helping. I can’t wait to get started and am very excited about the things we have planned over the next year!”

Images © A Gekoski/Caters News, J McArthur/BFF, A Strutt

Find out more Visit www.bornfree.org.uk /raise-the-red-flag Claire Kidd Relationship Manager clairek@bornfree.org.uk AUTUMN 2019 | CAPTIVITY 25

MY

VIEW

Our work continues to end such outdated exploitation.

For over 13 years, I have had the

enormous privilege to work as PA to Virginia McKenna OBE (p28). Since my first day, her tireless and

undaunted commitment has been an inspiration. I have terrible memories

of visiting London Zoo as a child. The appalling sight of elephants, blank-

faced, pacing their concrete prison,

and giraffes cooped up in tiny indoor enclosures, made me realise the pointless futility captivity had

Every day we are confronted with

suffering in captivity, from elephants still languishing in UK zoos to

performing tigers in circuses. For me, one of the worst is the breeding of lions for trophy hunting (p30). I

cannot understand the mentality of

heartless hunters who get pleasure

CIRCUSES

© D Ranzijn Int Circus Photography

reduced their lives to.

THE END IN SIGHT?

killing a beautiful creature.

In May 2017 I had the most amazing opportunity to travel with two

rescued lions, Ciam and Nelson, to

Born Free’s sanctuary at Shamwari, South Africa. To witness them

experience their natural environment for the first time was unforgettable.

They are clearly the lucky ones. We must fight for all wild animals until captivity is a thing

© J McArthur/BFF

of the past.

Sarah Stead PA to Virginia McKenna sarah@bornfree.org.uk 26 CAPTiViTY | AUTUMN 2019

Numerous countries around the world have banned wild animals in circuses, while England has lagged behind.

Happily, the situation now looks set to change. The current licensing system ends in January 2020 and the government seems determined to bring about a ban before then. At last. There is overwhelming evidence of compromised animal welfare in training, performance, transport and housing – all part and parcel of circus life. It’s unacceptable to force animals to live this way for our entertainment, and there’s also evidence of frequent physical abuse.

Dr Chris Draper Born Free’s Head of Animal Welfare and Captivity, spoke to a House of Commons committee in May to support a Bill to ban wild animal circuses in England. Also giving evidence, but against the ban, were representatives of the circus industry.

Their comments made clear they truly see nothing wrong in the living

conditions they subject animals to – they maintain these meet welfare needs. But how can a beast wagon or trailer meet even the basic essentials for a wild animal? A lion, tiger, camel or zebra?

How frighteningly little circus owners understand the nature of these animals.

Fortunately, committee MPs appear unconvinced by their arguments and, as we go to print, the Bill to ban is passing necessary parliamentary stages. We all hope it becomes law without delay. And the rest of the UK? Scotland brought in a ban in May 2018 while the Welsh government have just introduced their own Bill. In Northern Ireland, there is significant political uncertainty and the introduction of such legislation is on hold. Born Free will renew calls for a ban when the situation changes.

Tricia Holford Captive Animals Officer tricia@bornfree.org.uk

Born Free is the voice for captive animals worldwide

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

CAPTIVITY ELEPHANT-FREE UK

Thanks to everyone who supported our Elephant-Free UK campaign. Nearly 3,000 of you wrote to the British government asking for the species to be phased out in the UK – so no more imports from the wild or other zoos, no more attempts to breed. Plus, we want an end to cruel bullhooks and elephants being kept alone. We often hear people say “at least zoos keep elephants safe from hunters and poachers”. However, while elephants in the wild are certainly at risk, zoos don’t hold the answer to their conservation.

Elephants in zoos face different, but significant, risks.

Jangolie was caught from the wild in 1971 and kept at Flamingo Land, UK, before being sent to Chester Zoo. Here she lived for 20 years before being sent to Madrid Zoo in Spain for a year, then to Selwo Aventura Zoo, Spain. Such

You can help There’s still time to help – visit www.bornfree.org.uk/elephanttake-action

Take Thi Hi Way, caught from the wild in 1982 and living at Chester Zoo, UK. She killed her first calf after birth, her second survived only a year, her third collapsed and died aged 21, her fourth was sent to Budapest Zoo in Hungary and her fifth was stillborn. Her sixth, seventh and eighth calves all died of

Thi Hi Way’s story is heartbreaking

© S Jefferson/BFF

TAKING ACTION

repeated transport and upheaval for a sensitive and complex animal. Just two heartbreaking stories amongst the dozens of case studies here in the UK. It’s time to end such needless suffering and phase out the keeping of elephants in zoos. TH

elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus aged just two or three, and her ninth was born in 2018 and lives with her at Chester Zoo. We recently watched Thi Hi Way abnormally swaying and headbobbing repetitively.

© Elaine

© J McArthur/BFF

CAPTIVITY nEwS in bRiEf

Big step back

The show’s over

More good news

How disappointing. Edinburgh Zoo is planning a new giraffe enclosure, 15 years since it last kept the species.

Giraffes might encourage visitors, but they fare poorly in captivity, often behaving abnormally.

Fantastic news, Canada has passed a bill to end keeping whales, dolphins and porpoises in captivity. We’re delighted – these intelligent, far-ranging animals don’t belong in fish tanks, performing inane tricks for misguided audiences.

Barcelona Zoo is to phase out breeding species that aren’t destined to be released to the wild. Breeding in zoos without any prospect of release offers no conservation benefit and condemns animals to a lifetime in captivity.

AUTUMN 2019 | CAPTiViTY 27

CAPTIVITY

LISTEN TO THE ANIMALS The recent death of three giraffe, an escaped group of chimpanzees… Belfast Zoo is in the news for all the wrong reasons.

Virginia McKenna paid them a visit.

28 CAPTIVITY | AUTUMN 2019

I

t is never a happy task when I write about a visit to a zoo. I realise I am extremely lucky to have been able to see animals in the wild from time to time, over the past 54 years. Seeing those same species in captivity – sometimes in truly deprived and sad conditions – is never a positive experience. Earlier this year I went with Born Free colleagues to Belfast Zoo. It had been in the news over recent times with stories of animals escaping and criticism of the way some species were kept. We decided to see for ourselves.

The site of the zoo is very attractive, set on a hillside with lush vegetation, trees, shrubs and wide pathways. Unfortunately, no such glowing description could apply to the animals’ environment.

We knew the zoo’s two Asian elephants had come from captivity (a circus, Hanover Zoo) so it was not surprising both exhibited stereotypic behaviour.

What was surprising – indeed shocking – was their small area, no shade (artificial or natural), no visible water to soak in, nothing to pick up or put down or ‘play’ with. It was deeply depressing.

The giraffe compound was no better.

Three had died earlier this year. Seven stood before us – sharing a single feeder

– some were head-twisting. One continuously licked the wall of the giraffe house and another tongue-played.

They shared their open enclosure with two Grant’s zebra and ostriches.

Just existing.

We continued our walk round the zoo with deepening sadness. Our visit to the gorillas and chimpanzees did nothing to change this. Not that their areas, both indoor and outside, were small. They had large enclosures with a choice of climbing poles and space to move around. But – forever? One of the chimpanzees was stereotypically grooming. A mature gorilla, leaning against the back wall of the indoor area, held up a branch with a few leaves on.

Resignation, boredom, hopelessness.

That was the message I took from him.

It is not possible to mention everything – but to end here is a little list. Colobus monkeys – forest dwellers – in a treeless area, a male and two female lions in about one third of an acre and nowhere to hide. Sea lions – some swimming stereotypically. Small bird cages at the top of the zoo – I was deeply shocked.

A palm cockatoo, solitary in a bare cage, perched on the only pole with no

visible drinking water, an Amazon parrot in similar conditions, apart from being given a small dead Christmas tree.

On our way back down we saw a solitary giant anteater with severe stereotypical behaviour – endlessly pacing. To round off this depressing picture, we learned that the zoo is apparently subsidised by ratepayers to the extent of £2m per year.

The zoo’s assertion they ‘have breeding programmes that aim to boost the number of endangered animals’ is no justification for what we saw. Let us listen to the message the animals themselves are trying to give us.

Virginia McKenna OBE Co-Founder & Trustee

TripAdvisor reviews: “The animals looked miserable.

Heartbreaking.”

“Please close this nightmare.

Total disgrace.”

“We came away as depressed as the animals.”

Images © Jaffa600, David in Lisburn, T Coughlan, Ertrusia UK

One giraffe repeatedly licked the wall The lions had nowhere to hide

Another constantly twisted its neck

Sea lions swam stereotypically

A resigned, bored, hopeless gorilla An anteater endlessly paced

EDUCATION

ACTION FOR LIONS I helped rear cubs so they could be shot by hunters

Lion cubs belong with their mothers in the wild.

Volunteering can be life-changing, but what if it’s for all the wrong reasons? Laura Gosset speaks with Beth Jennings, Founder of Claws Out, who helped rear lion cubs for the canned hunting industry.

“In 2015, I was 21 years old and working in a solicitors, about to embark on a five-year law course. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to have a few weeks off before studying began. Being an animal lover, volunteering was the obvious choice. I wanted to make a difference to a species in need and, after looking at gap year trips, I found Live with Lion Cubs in South Africa.

“The trip brief described spending two weeks raising orphaned lions, preparing them for release into the wild. I’d be bottle feeding and bathing the youngest cubs and preparing chickens to feed the older lions. A dream come true! But within days I noticed red flags. Five 10kg cubs were kept in a small crate overnight. All piled on top of each other with no access to food or water. We were told to smack the cubs on the nose if they misbehaved – something I couldn’t do. None of this seemed right, so after lots of digging I came across organisations campaigning against not only the lion park where I was, but the scores of others in the country.

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

LATEST NEWS Our new kids’ magazine Download your free copy of Hear the Roar from www.bornfree.org.uk/ publications – we’d love to hear what you think, so please email: education@bornfree.org.uk

“I found out that thousands of people, just like me, head to South Africa to lion breeding parks each year. Parks claim to release orphaned lions into the wild, but none of them do. Instead, handreared animals are sold into the canned hunting industry where hunters pay to

shoot them within a fenced enclosure.

The truth was heartbreaking. It completely changed the course of my career.

“I launched a blog, Claws Out, to raise awareness so that other people wouldn’t make the same mistake. I felt so guilty and knew I couldn’t come home and do nothing, knowing the cubs I raised might be dead within a year.

Claws Out later became a part of the charity IAPWA* and we’ve recently launched a documentary in partnership with Born Free and Olsen Animal Trust.

“When asked how to spot an unethical volunteering opportunity, my advice is simple – stay away from anywhere that offers hands-on interactions with wild animals. Ask yourself why you would be allowed to handle animals that should be in the wild. If you’re unsure, ask the experts. Your moment of happiness is not worth a lifetime of suffering.” *International Aid for the Protection and Welfare of Animals

Find out more Visit www.bornfree.org.uk/volunteer for genuine volunteer opportunities, and visit www.bornfree.org.uk/ beth-jennings-interview to find out more about Beth’s experiences and view her Claws Out: Truth About Cub Petting film.

Images © www.georgelogan.co.uk, B Jennings

Are you a school teacher?

Join our Great Debate, launching in September 2019, when we’ll discuss Plastics: Whose Responsibility?

Register interest at: www.bornfree.org.uk/ great-debate

AUTUMN 2019 | EDUCATION 31

RECENT EVENTS & A SPECIAL INVITATION “It was such a pleasure to recently meet some of you at two memorable events.

On 18th June over 100 guests, including our Patron, actor Dan Richardson, enjoyed Hannah Shergold’s Wild Collection at London’s La Galleria. I am fascinated by Hannah’s vibrant paintings of endangered species, she has a unique talent. Her exhibition ran until 29th June and raised over £46,000 for Born Free – extraordinary.

We are hugely grateful to Hannah for her amazing support.

“Then on 22nd June our Patron, the celebrity auctioneer James Lewis, hosted a magical Out of Africa evening at Bakewell’s stunning Holme Hall, with guests including actress Rula Lenska, wildlife artist Gary Hodges and actors John Altman and Dan Richardson. The event began with a procession of African dancers, joined by life-sized elephant puppet Oona – star of Michael Morpurgo’s Running Wild.

James had just completed a non-stop 24-hour auction in aid of Born Free and, in total, over £100,000 was raised towards lifetime care for the Lions of Lyon (p12).

James’s devotion to our charity never ceases to move me.

Our CEO Howard Jones welcomes Hannah to our offices

“If you missed out on these wonderful evenings, there is still time to book your ticket for our 35th Anniversary event The Wind of Change in London on 6th September. I would like to personally invite you to join me and my son Will Travers at this gala evening, which will be a special opportunity to share our hopes for a kinder future, meet new people and, perhaps, make new friends.”

Virginia McKenna OBE Co-Founder & Trustee

Virginia gree

ts Oona the

elephant

“What a complete joy to meet so many of you in June at my In Conversation about Compassionate Conservation evenings. First off was Edinburgh and a wonderful night at Henderson’s restaurant organised with the help of our remarkable supporter Donna McKenzie. Guests joined me for delicious food and, after dinner, I looked back over 35 years of Born Free and talked about some of the crucial issues wild animals face today.

“Two days later I visited Gateshead and the Sage music and arts centre. I was joined on stage by the most special of guests, my ever-inspiring mother Virginia McKenna OBE. It gave us both such hope to see how passionately you care about Born Free’s work. We felt newly energised to know how deeply committed you are to supporting our vision for a better world for wildlife.

“Talking of commitment to Born Free, I was thrilled to join a sell-out audience at Godalming’s Wilfrid Noyce Community Centre for Mark Lee Davies’ evening of dance, yoga and theatre.

Mark and his talented performers wove a heartrending and thought-provoking story of animal exploitation. With a charity raffle, Born Free merchandise and light refreshments, the evening raised nearly £2,000. Thank you Mark for all you do to help Born Free help the animals!”

Will Travers OBE President & Co-Founder

32 EVENTS | AUTUMN 2019

Virginia a nd Will me et amazin supporter g Thea Cain e at Gates head Images © www.georgelogan.co.uk, Lisa Daniels Photography, www.whitehat-se.co.uk, A Strutt

Our heroic Patron Jam es Lewis

35th Anniversary Gala Evening Friday 6th September 2019 The Landmark Hotel, London Tickets £185

der Will and Community Group Lea gh bur Donna McKenzie in Edin

Join our Co-Founders Virginia McKenna OBE and Will Travers OBE, with Founder Patron Joanna Lumley OBE, for a spectacular evening at this sumptuous venue. A unique opportunity to hear our plans to ensure a future for our planet’s wildlife and pledge your support. Includes drinks reception, three-course gourmet dinner, live entertainment and celebrity auction – lots include an exclusive afternoon tea with Virginia and Joanna.

SPECIAL GUESTS INCLUDE:

Founder Patron Joanna Lumley

BBC broadcaster Mollie King

Will and Joanne strike

a pose with Mark Lee Davies

Find out more If you can join us or would like to get involved do get in touch!

Joanne Bartholomew Events Manager joanne@bornfree.org.uk

Youth Ambassador Bella Lack

Disney actor Dan Richardson

Classical soprano Katie Marshall

Visit www.bornfree.org.uk/events/the-wind-of-change

IT’S A WILD LIFE Celebrating individuals who use their creative gifts to support wildlife.

Critically acclaimed photographer George Logan is a multi-faceted talent with a passion for wildlife. A long-time supporter, he regularly shoots our campaigns.

G

eorge Logan is passionate about shooting wildlife – with a camera! “I’ve always loved animals,” George explains. “When young, I used to go to the zoo at every opportunity, but could never understand why I always left feeling sad. I do now! Photography came along in my early teens, a hobby soon became a passion. I started to take pictures of animals living around me in rural Scotland. Africa came a little later.”

We wouldn’t be where we are without George’s generosity, he enhances every Wildlife Times with dazzling animal portraits, not least the species closest to his heart. “I’m fascinated by lions. Their complex pride structures, the way every meal becomes a life-or-death drama.

The sheer grace, beauty and ferocity of females on a hunt. They are incredibly beautiful to photograph. I think I’m obsessed… I do love other animals too!”

Not just a world-renowned, award-winning photographer, George’s work as a concept artist is impactful and thoughtprovoking. “After gaining some successes with conceptual photography, I started to look at ways I could apply my style to wildlife conservation… something I’ve always been passionate about. I wrote to Virginia McKenna in 2009 saying I’d love Born Free to be involved with my Translocation book project (featuring African animals superimposed on Scottish landscapes) and have worked closely with you ever since.”

34 wiLD LifE | AUTUMN 2019

George’s evocative images are used for multiple Born Free campaigns and projects, from calendars to billboard posters. “The Homeless Animals campaign, created with Katy Hopkins and Steve Hawthorne at WCRS in 2010, was loosely based on Translocation. We highlighted habitat loss by putting destitute animals into urban settings. Our Born to be Free wildlife trade campaign in 2015, illustrating the horrors of trophy hunting and bushmeat, played a major role in achieving a new EU action plan. Result!”

George regularly comes along to film our rescue missions. “The Lions of Lyon (p12) had such an awful start… I’m told the photography and video we shot has contributed greatly to the appeal to get them home to Africa – and that makes me very happy. It breaks my heart to see big cats confined to tiny spaces. When you see a lion, or cheetah or leopard in the wild, wonderfully free, it only reinforces how wrong it is to keep them captive.”

Born Free’s remarkable relationship with George is ongoing, with exciting projects in the pipeline. “Having created an antitrophy hunting campaign (p1-8), I’m just back from Kenya where we were focusing on anti-poaching initiatives. We also have a major project we’ve been working on all year. We can’t say what yet, but it’s going to be great!”

All will be revealed in November’s Wildlife Times. George was talking to Celia Nicholls.

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