The Black Rhino

  1989

You are looking at 50 million years of survival. Now, they are almost gone, because of the very thing nature gave them to protect themselves. Once the horn is removed, the Rhinos are not able to survive. Hunters use anything they can to remove the horn, while the Rhino is still alive. They even use chainsaws, so they take the horn more quickly, and then sell on the back market. And what for? The keratin, the daggers symbolizing masculinity. All kinds of ridiculous things like that.

They managed to put and entire species under extinction on nature and wild for money.

2011

I wish i could say things are different, but no. They are not.

Today, if you wish to see a Black Rhino, you can find them at reserves for animal rehabilitation or at ZOO's.

So many things have been done and yet, we were not able to save them. They are at the edge.

I don't think i really need to say anything else.

Just... We should be able to see them here, like this:

Born Free: A TRAGEDY FROM START TO FINISH

BORN FREE

KEEP WILDLIFE IN THE WILD

The Born Free Foundation is saddened to hear of the death of Knut, the young male polar bear at Berlin Zoo. 

Knut in December 2008

His short life was a series of tragedies from start to miserable finish. 

Knut was born in December 2006 at Berlin Zoo and, after apparently being abandoned by his mother, was taken for hand-rearing by zoo staff. Knut found himself at the centre of a publicity storm after animal groups in Germany apparently used Knut’s birth to highlight the fact that animals born at other zoos in Germany had been euthanased with impunity, and with heavy irony, called for Knut too to be euthanased. These misjudged comments led to an outcry that was picked up and amplified around the world in the media, so that the undeniably photogenic cub became an overnight sensation. 

Born Free called for the establishment of a Polar Bear Rescue Centre in Northern Europe where bears like Knut (that could not be returned to the wild) could spend their lives in as natural an environment as possible. Our recommendation was rejected.  

 Daily public shows were staged at the zoo, with Knut playing and interacting with his keeper, Thomas Dörflein. But of course, the cute factor apparently didn’t last long: reports of behavioural problems began to emerge. The snow-white fluff-ball of a cub became a grubby and possibly deranged young adult. In short: life in captivity began to take its toll. The shows with Dörflein were cancelled in July 2007 due to fears for the keeper’s safety, leading to reports that Knut was pining for human contact. German press reported that he “howls plaintively whenever he picks up Dörflein's scent, and has become so used to the attention of people that he also cries when no one is standing in front of his enclosure watching him”. Another keeper made the poignant comment: “he doesn't know that he's a polar bear”. 

Knut was an animal celebrity, worth huge sums to Berlin Zoo not for his value to conservation, but simply because of his ability to entice visitors through the gates. A legal battle over who owned Knut began between Berlin Zoo and another German zoo, which resulted in Berlin Zoo paying €430,000 to keep Knut. 

Will Travers, CEO of the Born Free Foundation said: “Perversely, in many ways Knut was valued far more in captivity than he would ever have been in the wild. In my opinion, this exemplifies much of what is wrong with zoos. While they may trade on their – questionable – commitment to conservation, the biggest fanfare from zoos is reserved for the birth of a baby: any baby, as long as it will bring in the crowds. Zoos are, and will always be, visitor attractions first, second and third, with lofty aspirations such as education and conservation coming way down the list.” 

Travers continued: “Let me be frank: I do not for one minute believe that keeping polar bears in captivity has any role to play in conservation, and furthermore I am all too aware, through recent investigations as part of our EU Zoo Inquiry 2011, of the behavioural and breeding problems associated with keeping this species in zoos. While we await the results of the necropsy which may shed some light on why Knut died, let’s use this opportunity to start to bring an end, once and for all, to keeping polar bears in captivity."

Born Free: JULIE WARD CENTRE DIARY 2011

.::BORN FREE::.

KEEP WILDLIFE IN THE WILD 

Written by Glen Vena

 

All is been going well and our cats are looking good.  Since the sad death of Pitou, our leopard rehomed from Monaco Zoo, it is still worrying for those of us who care for the cats, that you could come to work and one of them might not be with us any more, as happened to me with Pitou.  Most of our cats have been here with us for a long time and many are getting elderly so this is always on our minds. Most difficult part is how to deal with it and to move on.

I had a very interesting visitor from Australia and her name is Vanessa Russell.  Vanessa is an adoptive parent to our rescued cats and I spent the whole day with her and I learnt to appreciate even the smallest thing in life as it is very short. Vanessa Russell, she is a woman with a big heart and a spirit like a lioness, never giving up, whatever life throws at you.

We travelled all the way from the Paxton Hotel in Port Elizabeth to the Reserve, and we started our morning with a visit to the cats at the Julie ward Centre.  Here Vanessa met all our cats; she loved the triplets and Sinbad and was very impressed with the workmanship that was done to build Aslan and Stella’s new hospital quarters and camp.

We then went on a visit to the Animal Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) of Shamwari Game Reserve. There again we met all the animals that will soon be going back to the wild and here human contacted is very limited and on some occasions we had to look at the animals through peeping holes (that’s what we call them, you all might have a different name).

Then  lunch at Long Lee Manor. We had a great time and Matt our Manager was a really great host with his staff and that is what Vanessa said too.

After that we finished with a visit to the Jean Byrd Centre.  By now it was 3pm in the afternoon.   Vanessa loved the cats there too, and the only one she didn’t see was Kuma as he was a bit shy of the Avis Kombi that I was driving at the time. Then by 4.30pm we were on our way back to PE and Vanessa said it was nice being so fussed over.   Well all supporters get that treatment here and it is out of my heart.   I’m hoping to see Vanessa again soon when she comes over to South Africa.

SIRIUS – OUR LEOPARD REHOMED FROM MONACO ZOO

I see him only during feeding otherwise he makes use of the bushes in his camp; he is very shy and loves his privacy. 

SINBAD – OUR LITTLE LION RESCUED FROM ROMANIA

Sinbad has been very private too, lately.  He is okay though, I think he just wants his privacy sometimes like any other person would do. He still loves his food, and gets very protective over it, he will growl, mark his turf.  Other times he is very sweet and gentle, rolling around and sleeping on his back, all relaxed.  He is still The Man, guests love him to bits!

ACHEE AND MA JUAH – our lionesses with nutritional osteodystrophy from their poor early diets; Achee from a private home in romania and Ma Juah from a private zoo in liberia.

Girls are looking good, very relaxed. Ma Juah worried me the other day: during feeding she took a while before she came for her food, apparently she was at the bottom of the camp close to the platform where she sleeping.  I walked round the perimeter of the camp, trying to find her, and I didn’t notice she was following me! I was so close to calling Johan, our vet.  Then, Achee roared at the top of their camp, close to their hospital quarters and MJ roared right behind me – what a relief.  I gave her the food which she took immediately, and went off into the bushes to eat.  All good then, phewww!

LEOPARD TRIPLETS – found motherless in the Sudan

Alam, Sami and Nimira, they are always out and about.  They are starting to look really good with their on-going diet, even I can start seeing a difference in them.  Guests love them and they always put a smile on the kids’ faces, I really hope all the guests and school kids get the message behind what we are doing.  I try hard to make this clear, in the talks I give. 

These photos of Sami and Nimira, were taken by one of our supporters, Gill Greaves, on her recent visit.

Nimira

 

and Sami

 

ASLAN AND STELLA – our elderly lions rescued from Greek zoos

They are doing very well, eating well, and look great too. They are still enjoying their new hospital camps, so for me that is great news.  It is so much easier to manage them and to monitor their food in-take – especially important if the animals are elderly.  Johan and Murray, our vets, visited them along with our other cats and they both think Asland and Stella are looking well.  This is really good news to me, fingers crossed that all goes okay from here on.  I know our hot summers are hard on our elderly cats.

(I’m sorry I haven’t had time to take photos for this blog.  I will put in new pictures in February blog, keeping everyone in anticipation!  Glen )

BORN FREE ANIMAL ALERT

Have you seen animal neglect, suffering or cruelty whilst on holiday, or even in the UK? The Born Free Foundation works to alleviate the suffering of wild animals in captivity. Inform Born Free about animals in need, visit http://www.bornfree.org.uk/campaigns/ for more information.

Born Free: Jean Byrd Centre

Kuma - yawning!

.::BORN FREE::.

KEEP WILDLIFE IN THE WILD

 

 

 

1st November 2008

Temperature was 26ºC

Bongani - 8:15am 

Brutus was sleeping near the fence close to the water trough, he went to drink water from the trough and went back to sleep a few centimetres from where he was earlier.
The cubs were sitting in front of the deck in the shade provided by two shrubby bushes.
I only heard Kuma from the centre of his enclosure but could not see him
Shada was at the centre of her camp sleeping Jools was sleeping under an acacia tree to the right of the viewing deck and only Jerry’s mane was visible further behind her.
Marina and Sarnia - I fed them at 12:30pm.Sarnia took the first piece but Marina went to her and they wrestled for a short while before Sarnia came back to me to get her own piece. They sat there chewing the bones and eating the meat off the bones.

I later on found Kuma sleeping next to the fence that runs alongside Shada’s camp, with Shada was on the other side watching him. It was long since I have seen Kuma sitting with Shada so close.  Unfortunately when I got closer Shada walked away and Kuma sat up but again went back to sleep shortly after my arrival.

2nd November 2008 

The temperature was about 23ºC

Bongani - 8:15am

The regal Shada

Kuma – he was sleeping in his favourite spot at the centre of the enclosure.
The cubs were playing next to the fence when we got to them and they later on went to sit on the bottom left corner of their camp. While we were with Brutus’ camp they came over to drink some water.
Brutus – we saw him sleeping on the ditch in his main camp, facing upwards to the top of his camp.  He got up once as if he was listening to something and then went back to sleep again.
Jools – she was sleeping next to the shelter at the top of the main camp and Jerry - was not visible from the deck but later I found him sleeping under a bush.
Shada – she was also not visible from her deck then when we were on Kuma’s deck we saw her briefly walking from the centre of the camp to the thicket on the top right side of her camp and then she disappeared.

 

3rd November 2008

It was a bit windy in the morning, the temperature for the day was 21ºC

Bongani - Feeding

Brutus took a few steps with the meat in his mouth then decided to lick it for a few second before starting feeding on it.
We fed the cubs at the same time as the other adult lions; we gave them the heads of the cattle we were feeding with. The heads were a bit heavy but the cubs picked them up and ran away with them. We didn’t have much time to watch them feeding unfortunately, but we left them licking at these pieces of carcass.
Kuma - We gave him two pieces: some meat and some pieces of stomach.  He grabbed the meat, dragged it, and began to lick it. He was not really interested in the pieces of stomach; he smelt them and went back to the meat.
Shada – we gave her two portions of meat too. She took one and ran away with it but she didn’t return for the other one while we were with her.
Jools and Jerry - While we were busy feeding Jerry, Jools was pacing furiously next to the fence, watching us feeding her son. Jerry grabbed his meat and went to put it in the water trough and began drinking water from the trough. He again put the meat back in the trough and later on dragged it to the bush next to the water trough. Jools dragged her meat to a bush not too far from the fence and started feeding on it.

 

4th November 2008

Sarnia (l) and Marina - the cubs

There was a cold breeze early in the morning but at about 8:30 the breeze stopped and the temperature went up to about 25ºC for the day.

Bongani

The cubs were sitting in the shade by the deck when I was patrolling in the morning. I was later walking with Abagail and we watched the cubs drinking water from the trough.

It was nothing unusual until we saw Sarnia sticking her head under the water, she came back to take a breath and went back down again. On the second occasion I noted that the level of the water went almost up to her forehead or close to her ears.  She came back with a piece of insulated wire in her mouth!  She came towards us with it then dropped it about a metre or two from the fence. They spent the rest of the day inside the shelter at the centre of their enclosure.

 

 7th November 

Bongani

Jerry and Jools on a windy day

Cubs – It has been great to see them utilising the back of their enclosure with its more dense bushes and undergrowth as well as the shelter in the hospital camp, especial when it is very hot.  They are growing everyday and always happy and playful.

11th November

Temp 15ºC

Bongani 1400hrs - I took 8 students to see the cats.

Kuma - He was sitting on the big dead tree. As we approached Shada’s camp he came down and watched us.  Its been good to see him as he can  be scarce some days.
Cubs - They were fine just playing and followed us all the way to Brutus and Kuma camp, with the students taking lots of picture, as they are cute lionesses.
Shada - She was sitting as if she was expecting us!  She sat there, relaxed, just looking at us. After some time she moved and the students could see how big is she. She then went and lay behind a bush and looked at us from there.
Jools and Jerry - They were looking intently into Shada’s camp and she was looking back at them.
Brutus - He didn’t pay much attention to us, he was dozing.  He lifted his head to look at us then went back to sleep again.  His favourite spot recently seems to be lying in a furrow.  It used to be easy to check on him because you could see him from afar, now you have to get right close up to him. 

12th November

Weather - 40% rain

Bongani - As it was raining most the cats were all hiding under bushes and shelters.

Brutus was behind the hospital camp as it is thick with bushes in there. It was a surprise to see him there, away from his favourite spot in the open. He was there almost the rest of his day.
Cubs - They were sleeping behind the hospital camp as there is a big bush there where they could hide from rain – rather than using the little cave we had made for them which would be much more rainproof!   I fed them at about 9h00 in the morning and they didn’t even come to the fence they waited for me at hospital camp. We separate them most times when we feed, one in the hospital camp and the other in the main camp. Sarnia blocked Marina and she (Marina) jumped over her sister into the hospital camp and it was very funny.

13th November

Weather: Rain 50-60%

Bongani

Kuma - When the guests arrived we started at Kuma’s camp and it was exciting as he was visible. As we approached his camp he was patrolling around marking his territory, spraying urine all over. By the time we were on the viewing deck he was there waiting for us. The guests were so impressed as they did not see a wild leopard on their game drive, and here was Kuma very close to them. We then moved to Shada’s and left him playing with bones and rolling on the ground.
Shada - She was hiding on the tour but we could only see her head because she was sleeping and it was drizzling. When I checked her later she was in front of the deck and ignoring Jools and Jerry although they were watching her every movement.  She just sat next to the bushes away from their view and relaxed, gazing down at the public road. I have also noticed that if she in one position she will spend most time in that particular spot.
Jerry and Jools - We did not see them they were close to the hospital camp lying down. After some time they moved from there and they went to sleep close to Shada s camp. They saw Shada and started looking at her and she ran away to hide.
Cubs - It is always fun to see them although we didn’t see them as close as usual, they were far from us at the back of their camp. The guests couldn’t believe they are 1 year old because as we approach Brutus camp they came down close to us by the water trough. They were hiding in the shelter by the time the rain started and spent most of the time in there.  Normally they spend most of the day playing around, chasing each other all over the place.
Brutus - He spent some time at the back of the hospital camp, getting shelter from the rain in the bushes.When the rain stops, he went back to the front to his usual spot to rest or sleep there.

Brutus