HEAR THE ROAR ISSUE 7

AUTUMN 2022

ISSUE 7

• T HE POSITIVE POWER OF THE PRIDE • W HO'S THE LION IN YOUR LIFE?!

• M AKE YOUR OWN LION MASK

Plus, all the latest Born Free news!

2022: YEAR OF THE LION

E M O C L E W this issue, Born Free is Welcome to Hear the Roar!! In the Lion. celebrating our special Year of years, caring for lions and “I have been with Born Free for 22 from appalling conditions leopards who have been rescued tres. Watching them as and now live at our two rescue cen is just amazing, seeing their they settle into their new homes , exploring, scent marking different personalities coming out rs. and roaring, claiming what is thei e than just a job, it has become Caring for them has become mor cruelty that affects wildlife, personal. My mission is to stop the all. ting safe environments that benefit domestic animals and humans, crea life in the wild!”

Thank you for helping us keep wild Glen Vena, Animal Care Manager

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Species Spotlight

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Born Free News

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Tarnya’s Corner

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at Born Free, Shamwari, South

The Positive Power Of The Pride Paws For Thought

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An Entire Species In Your Classroom

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Roar For Nature

Africa

CONTENTS 14

Wildlife Heroes

16

Lion Of My Life

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Ambassador Column

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Quiz Time

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Make A Majestic Lion Mask

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT SPOTTED HYENA • •

•

•

• •

Spotted hyenas are found in savannahs across much of Africa.

These amazing carnivores hunt for themselves, and also feast on prey animals killed by other predators (scavenge).

Highly sociable, they live in large groups known as clans. Clans are usually led by an alpha female.

Famous for their unique laughing call which they use to communicate with one another.

They might look like dogs, but are more closely related to cats!

Hyenas are very important to their ecosystems, helping keep their habitat clean.

© georgelogan.co.uk

HELPING HYENAS

Four species of hyena live wild today: the spotted, brown, striped and the aardwolf.

All hyena species face threats to their survival, including habitat loss and persecution.

But hope is not lost! Born Free works hard to protect wild hyenas, working with local communities in Kenya to help them live peacefully alongside these predators, as well as rescuing and caring for orphaned and injured hyenas in Ethiopia.

© georgelogan.co.uk

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BORN FREE NEWS A BIG WIN FOR ANIM

ALS

The UK governm ent now officially recognises anim emotions such als can feel as joy and fear.

An y future laws now consider animals have to and their welfare – amazing news !

© georgelogan.co.uk

EL EPHA NTS IN ZOOS

ed a report called In May 2022, Born Free publish that these A Legacy of Shame, highlighting l in captivity and wel e intelligent animals don’t cop g in UK zoos to calling for the 49 elephants livin e lifetime care. be the last, with the best possibl

© Brad Louwrens

FELINE FINE 2022 has been incredibly bus y for Born Free’s Rescue and Care Team! Four lions who use d to perform in a circus, a lion cub dumped in a cardboa rd box and four servals kept illegally as pets, are now living peacefully at their permanent sanctuary homes.

GORILLA

GUARDIA NS

YIPPEE FOR NEW NATURE GCSE!

up a brand Born Free has set forests of new project in the ruiting rec ’re Cameroon. We ardians Gu special Great Ape ious western to protect the prec ing there. lowland gorillas liv

When you reach secondary school, you could learn all about wildlife and conservation through a new GCSE qualification. Exciting!

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© R Griffiths/The

Mirror

Our Rescue and Care Coordinator, Tarnya, helps care for all sorts of UK wildlife.

“This male stoat was hit by a car.

Thankfully a passing motorist took him to a local vet. X-rays showed he had a fractured pelvis, but the vet advised that with cage-rest, his pelvis would heal.”

The injured stoat was cared for by our friends at Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue in Surrey, which has been supported by Born Free.

“Once he was fully recovered, the stoat was taken back to his home territory and released.” We do love a happy ending!

DID YOU KNOW: A GROUP OF STOATS IS CALLED A CARAVAN, PACK OR GANG. STOATS ARE OFTEN MISTAKEN FOR WEASELS. TO TELL THEM APART, LOOK AT THEIR TAILS - STOAT TAILS HAVE A BUSHY BLACK TIP.

STOATS ARE INCREDIBLE LITTLE PREDATO RS. RUNNING UP TO 20MPH THEY CATCH PREY, INCLUDING BIRDS, SMALL RODENTS AND EV EN RABBITS, WHICH ARE TEN TIMES THEIR SIZ E! 5

Lions have incredibly interesting and social lives. In fact, they’re the only truly sociable cat species in the world and they live in groups called prides, which can be made up of up to 40 lions.

LEADING THE WAY Female lions, or lionesses, hunt most of the food and help guard the pride’s territory. There is no dominant lioness, they all work together and help look after all the cubs, like a nursery, with aunts, cousins, daughters and sisters all pitching in! © georgelogan.co.uk

WHAT IS A PRIDE? e up of related It is a group of lions, usually mad or two adult male female lions, their cubs and one Each lion has a lions who have joined the pride. vital role to play in its pride.

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LEARNING THE ROPES Cubs spend their time playing, pouncing on each other and learning important skills they need to survive. They could grow up to be a master hunter, or leader of a pride. Part of the next generation, each cub is vital for the survival of these majestic animals.

HELP THE LIONESS FIND HER CUBS

© georgelogan.co.uk

PROTECTING THE PRIDE g the pride and A male lion’s main role is defendin be kicked out their territory. Dominant males can violent clash a in ated of the pride if they are defe n over by take with another male. The pride is then eventually leave to the victorious lion. Young males strong enough! find their own pride – if they are

When cub s are first born, females h ide them w h e n they go hunting to protect them from pred ators, and even othe lions. Help r the liones s get back to where s he hid her cubs.

Lions are perhaps the most formidable predator on the savannah, much of their success is down to working together, as a pride. Every individual lion is important and has its own special place within the family.

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Lions living in captivity have very different lives to wild lions.

Disruption to the pride In captivity, lions are forced to live close toge ther, often only in small groups and males cannot choose to leave to find their own pride. Throughout their lives, both male s and females are moved by people between different zoos arou nd the world, leaving their family behind them.

Food for thought Wild lions eat a range of different prey, feeding on the whole carcass, including bones. Lion skulls are perfectly adapted to help them consume their natural prey. Unbelievably, the skulls of some captive big cats have changed shape however, due to the food they eat! Their food is often softer and easier to eat than food they would find in the wild. If a captive lion was released to the wild, they may struggle to catch and eat their natural prey.

Space to move

Image © Joanne McArthur/BF

re, and lions travel be 1,000 square km or mo can ge ran e hom s de’ pri d A wil en smaller than ’s enclosure however is oft lion tive cap A . day a m up to 15k refore frequently pool! Captive lions are the an Olympic-sized swimming rcise. due to lack of space and exe overweight, with weak bones

Do you think they should be kept in zoos and safari parks?

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Animal Care Manager, Glen, wor ks with many lions rescued from poor captive conditions:

“We have seen so many big cats arriving at our rescue centres, sca red, lost, confused and afraid… But in wee ks we see them transform into mig hty cats that are vocal, walking with pride, their roars echoing across the vall eys.”

DID YOU KNOW? Captive lions often show signs of boredom and stress by repeatedly pacing up and down their enclosure’s fence.

You can help captive lions: •

s lions, or other wild Pledge never to visit an attraction that keep friends why. animals in captivity and tell your family and

•

Born Free by visiting If you see a captive lion in distress, tell us at www.bornfree.org.uk/raise-the-red-flag 9

SOME SPECIES ARE SO CLOSE TO EXTINCTION THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL ANIMAL LEFT COULD FIT INTO YOUR CLASSROOM (IF THEY SQUEEZED!).

Choose a Critically Endangered species from the list below, and see how many individuals are left on Earth. What else can you find out about them?

JAVAN RHINOCEROS 18 individuals

VAQUITA

18 individuals

ADDAX

BURMESE ROOFED TURTLE 10 left in the wild

ADDAX

as few as 30 left in the wild

MADAGASCAR POCHARD

as few as 20 left in the wild Going furthe

r:

If you wou ld like to g et the whole sch ool involv e d why not pick a spe cies that m ight fit into your school ha ll, like the Ethiopian wolf, with only 500 individuals left on Ea rth.

Then it’s time to fill your class with your chosen animal, by drawing or painting them, one picture for each individual left on Earth.

When you have finished, display your artwork, along with an explanation, so other pupils, teachers and parents can see how few of these animals remain and to encourage them to protect wildlife. *All numbers according to IUCN Red List August 2022

Like this activity?

Find lots more free, fun activities and lessons on Born Free’s online Education pages: www.bornfree.org.uk/education

R ROA E R U T A N FOR

Holly Eleven-year-old eco-warrior Holly completed fitness and reading challenges, as well as a ‘name the tiger’ competition at her school, to raise money for tigers.

“Since I learned there are only about 5,000* tigers left in the wild, I became determined to save them. I’ve raised over £600 for a Tiger Ambassador to keep tigers safe and help their population grow in India.”

Benjamin Instead of presents for his 8th birthday, Benjamin asked for money to help orangutans. His friends and family all pitched in and raised an amazing £350! “I have adopted pangolins and gorillas and this year raised £350 for orangutans! I love fundraising and even if I was offered a really cool job I’d say no, and I would protect animals instead!”

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*In fact, current estimates suggest that their may be as few as 4,000 wild tigers left.

Oak Lodge School With our support, Oak Lodge School ran a ‘Living With Tigers’ week. Classes created beautiful artwork, learnt songs and even performed a play about the challenges of living alongside tigers. The school loved finding out more about tigers, and how to protect them.

Emily Emily, aged 8, really went the distance, and climbed to the top of Mount Snowden, in the gusting wind and torrential rain, to raise over £300 for pangolins. “Not many people even know what pangolins are.

I am so upset about how they are treated so inhumanely.

Pangolins are a gentle, nonaggressive mammal. I want people to know what they are going through and what we can do to help stop it.”

What have you been up to for wildlife? Send your stories and pictures to education@bornfree.org.uk (Please ask your parent or guardian first).

For fundraising ideas visit: www.bornfree.org.uk/education-fundraising

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2022 is a year of action for lions, in honour of Bill Travers, our charity’s fearless Co-Founder and lionheart, who would have been 100 years old this year.

We caught up with Born Free Co-Founder Virginia McKenna OBE - who told us a little more about her late husband.

OUT BILL?

B TELL US A LITTLE A

on. During the aordinary pers Bill was an extr in the 9th he was a Major 2nd World War out those r really talked ab ve ne e H . as kh Gur . He was ver forgot them ne he ow kn I t days, bu iest when we man and happ a loving family found in 1957 e – a home we were all at hom live today. and where I still

WHY ARE LIONS SO IMPORT ANT TO YOU BOTH? Lions have always be en very special to us, as it was working with the lions when we made the film Born Fre e, that opened our eyes to the importanc e of the individual animal. Each one is dif ferent. Just like us.

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WHAT IS YOUR GREA

TEST WILDLIFE MEMORY WITH BILL?

It is hard to choo se one special m emory. But it has to be walking on the plains in the early morning in 1964, with the lio ness we would be working with that day (while fil ming Born Free).

Th e three of us in silence, and in ha rmony with natu re.

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HOW CAN YOUNG PEOPLE HELP WILDLIFE

do. Perhaps find a It is a wonderful thing to want to sympathise with. group that works on projects you als need you.

Above all, never give up. The anim

Please note: These photos were taken a long time ago. Today, Virginia, and all of us here at Born Free, agree that hands on or close contact with wild animals, in this or any other way, is not in their best interests.

Born Free was founded by Bill and Virginia, with their son Will, after the tragic death of a young elephant called Pole Pole (pronounced Pole-ee Pole-ee). She was taken from her wild herd aged two, and lived a miserable life in a zoo, where she died aged just 17 years old, much younger than she would have likely lived in the wild.

Images © Courtesy of Coumbia Pictures, Daily Mail, georgelogan.co.uk

Bill, Virginia and Will decided they must do something, and dedicated their lives to speaking out for wild animals, like Pole Pole, ever since.

Find out more about Pole Pole’s story in the next issue of Hear the Roar!!

DID YOU KNOW?

ELEPHANTS CAN LIVE FOR 70 YEARS OR MO RE!

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WHO IS THE ‘LION OF YOUR LIFE’?

Lions are strong, loyal and dependable. They care for others in their pride, and work together as a team.

IS THERE SOMEONE IN YOUR LIFE WHO’S ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU AND YOU CAN RELY ON? Maybe a family member, a teacher, or a special friend? We would love to hear all about them and why they are the ‘Lion of your Life’.

HOW TO NOMINATE THE ‘LION OF YOUR LIFE’ Write a short paragraph betwee n 100-200 words, explaining why your nom inated person is so important to you.

They could be featured in our next issue of Hea r the Roar!!

Image © georgelogan.

co.uk

Send your nominations to 31st October 2022. education@bornfree.org.uk by Terms and Conditions guardian’s • Make sure you have a parent’s, in your d sen to n issio or teacher’s perm us to nominations and postal • Please include a full name, age y entr r you address with t their • First names of those that sen s, will inee nom and in, nominations share, unless we ies entr e gsid appear alon e rwis requested othe for the • We will only use personal data in and ion inat nom this purposes of cy.

Poli acy Priv our with accordance g.uk/ For details visit: www.bornfree.or cy privacy-poli

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R O D A S S A AMB

N M U L O C 10-year-old Thea is Born Free’s youngest Junior Ambassador, but that doesn’t stop her! She has raised hundreds of pounds to keep wildlife in the wild, completing the Mini Great North Run, aged just six and running her own fundraisers with friends.

And Thea has a few thoughts to share with you all…

What do you think when you hear the word lion? Kings of the African plains?

Majestic hunters? Incredible manes? Large thriving prides?

What if I told you lion numbers have decreased by 90% in the last 60 years? Shocked? Me too.

Trophy hunting and habitat loss are just two of the many reasons for this dramatic decline.

Could you imagine a world without lions?

I couldn’t but one thing is for sure, it would be a very sad place to live. With only 20,000 left in the wild we must all help Born Free before it’s too late.

That is why I am supporting Born Free Forever, and you can too! Their amazing exhibition of bronze lion’s sculptures is travelling the UK in 2022. At the exhibition and online you can find out about the many lions they have rescued, from zoos, circuses and ‘pets’ and the amazing work they do to help wild lions. It’s so important we help raise awareness and raise funds to protect these iconic cats before they are gone forever.

No one can do everything but everyone can do something, so let’s all work together and roar for lions.

Find out more www.bornfree.org.uk/born-free-forever

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z i u Q time ILD HOW LONG CAN W FOR? ELEPHANTS LIVE

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ars A. Up to 20 ye ars ye B. Up to 45 70 years C. More than

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ONE OF THE REASONS SCIENTISTS THINK ZEBRAS HAVE STRIPES IS. . .

A. ...to make horses jea lous B. …to dazzle and co nfuse predators C. …so they can recog nise each other

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A GROUP OF LIONS IS CALLED A. . .

HINT:

ALL QUIZ ANSWER S CAN BE FOUND IN THIS MAGAZINE

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A. …twice their size B. …three times their size C. …ten times their siz e

A. …Proud B. …Pride C. …Prowl

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HOW MANY JAVAN RHINOCEROS ARE THERE LEFT IN THE WILD? A. 1,800 B. 180 C. 18

STOATS CAN CATCH PREY THAT IS. . .

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WHY DO SPOTTED HYENAS ‘LAUGH’?

A. To communicate with each other B. To show they are ha ppy C. They heard a good joke

Lions catch and eat a variety of large herbivores, including zebra. Scientists think one of the reasons zebras have bold stripes is to help to dazzle and confuse predators, giving them a greater chance of escaping.

Their stripes may confuse lions, but how many zebra can you spot?

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rever you Try and use reused materials whe eal box. can – for example an empty cer

You will need: • Cardboard, cut into a circle (about 20cm across) • Plain paper • Paint • Paint brushes • Scissors • Glue • Lolly stick • String (optional)

centre of your card circle. You 1. Cut out a large U-shape in the might need an adult to help you. gest any colours you like, but we sug 2. Paint your whole circle. Use or brown nose. yellow or orange fur, and a black create a lion’s mane using lots and 3. On plain paper, paint two ears of handprints. ints and ears and stick them to the 4. Once dried, cut out the handpr e, the colour facing outwards. back of the circle, around the edg dle. of the card circle to create a han 5. Stick a lolly stick to the back rs. string to create whiske Feeling extra creative? Use some

DID YOU KNOW? Lions used to be widespread across both Africa and Asia. Sadly, there is now only one remaining population of Asiatic lions living in the Gir Forest in India.

QUIZ ANSWERS

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1. C Up to 70 years, 2. B Pride, 3. C …ten times their size, 4. B …to dazzle and confuse predators, 5. C 18, 6. A To communicate with each other.

Total number of zebra = 42.

Learning about climate change this term?

THEN JOIN BORN FREE’S GREAT DEBATE. Delve dee per into th e issue of change an climate d decide w hether we to work w need ith nature to reduce , or even adapt, to its impact.

Your stud ents will d ecide.

Download our schem e of work for F REE from www.born free.org.u k/great-d ebate

AND GO GREEN WITH OUR ONLINE MAGAZINE! View, download and share our paper-free electronic version at: www.bornfree.org.uk/publications

Printed on recycled paper

Born Free 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!

Born Free Foundation, 2nd Floor, Frazer House, 14 Carfax, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1ER www.bornfree.org.uk +44 (0) 1403 240170

General enquiries: info@bornfree.org.uk

Education enquiries: education@bornfree.org.uk

The views expressed in Hear the Roar!! are not necessarily those of Born Free.

Registered Charity No: 1070906