BORN FREE FOUNDATION
KEEP WILDLIFE IN THE WILD
Showing posts with label Lions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lions. Show all posts
2011-03-02
African Impact - Lion Rehabilitation Volunteer Project, Zimbabwe
The involvement of volunteers on the project is paramount to achieving our aims on all fronts. You can expect days to be long, but you will also be able to end each day knowing that you have given something back to Africa; having made a difference to the animals and people that you come into contact with.
We currently have the following ALERT research and conservation programs available on our project:
- African Lion Rehabilitation & Release into the Wild Program
- Influence of age and gender on the activity budget of captive bred lions
- Factors influencing the variation in mane development in captive bred lions
- Hunting strategy in captive bred lions
- Spoor as indicator of age in African lions
- Large predator assessment in ZNP
- Sable habitat selection in ZNP
- Biodiversity monitoring in ZNP
- Ground hornbill status assessment in ZNP
- Invasive of alien plant species removal in VFNP
- Biological monitoring in VFNP
- Waterhole restoration in ZNP
- Wildlife / human conflict mitigation
- Urban agriculture
- Conservation Education
As a volunteer you will work with the CCWA research team and National Park rangers on any number of conservation activities that may include some or all of the following, based on National Parks needs at the time of your placement:
- Assisting in the development of a new waterhole and renovation of a tourist observation tower;
- Camping out overnight to conduct a game census to see what animals come to drink; you may see herds of elephant and buffalo or maybe an elusive leopard;
- Conduct surveys of tourist movement patterns within the Park to assist in better management of the area to reduce soil erosion from the numerous vehicles in the Park;
- Assist in controlled burns as part of the ongoing bush fire management scheme;
- Conduct surveys of the wild lion population, tracking spoor (the signs left behind by an animal as it moves through the Bush, such as paw prints); taking photographs for identification; and recording important information so we can gain a better understanding of the species within the Park;
- Carry out snare sweeps to remove the wires set by poachers to illegally catch the animals that inhabit the Park;
- Work with local communities to mitigate lion / human conflict.
The Victoria Falls National Park contains abundant birdlife and a vast array of plants and animals. Your work here will include:
- Catalouging the rich diversity of wildlife within the Park so that a more accurate record is kept of the range and extent of different species;
- Removing of the non-indigenous plants – this can be hard work as many of the species protect themselves with formidable spines and thorns but it vital work to ensure the ongoing health of the eco-system;
- Maintaining tourist facilities to ensure that visitors can continue to enjoy this world heritage site in safety.
African Lion Conservation - Zambezi National Park - Conservation, Victoria Falls
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| Video right below |
CLICK HERE TO WATCH
2011-03-01
Born Free: KING OF THE JUNGLE IN TROUBLE
.::BORN FREE::.
Born Free Foundation
Here, you can see a video of a Rescued Lion released by Born Free at their sanctuary in Shamwari. His name is Sinbad.
KEEP WILDLIFE IN THE WILD
Lions in crisis: Born Free calls for UK Government to follow United States' initiative
African lions are under serious threat. Unless current trends are reversed, it’s possible that within the next few years the continental population of wild lions, already down to less than 40,000 animals from nearly 76,000 in 1980, will collapse. Ten years ago, lions inhabited 30 African countries. That number is now down to 27 and it is likely that they will disappear from more countries in the years ahead unless action is taken now.
Today, the Born Free Foundation and Born Free USA, together with representatives of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), The Humane Society of The United States/Humane Society International and Defenders of Wildlife, have submitted a Petition to the United States Secretary to the Interior calling on him to designate the African lion as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The US is the single biggest importer of wild lion body parts and trophies and may be responsible for 50% or more of the lions that are killed for trophies each year. Listing under the ESA would prohibit the general import of lion trophies into the US unless it could be shown that the importation enhanced the species’ survival or was for scientific purposes. This single measure could dramatically cut the number of lions shot for ‘sport’ by US citizens.
Will Travers, CEO of the Born Free Foundations explains: “The pressure on lions comes from all sides. Loss of habitat due to the impact of a sub-Saharan human population that is predicted to grow from 518 million in 1990 to 1.75 billion in 2050; loss of the wild animals that lions naturally prey on, due to the ravages of the commercial bushmeat trade; the impact of deadly diseases often transmitted from livestock or companion animals; retaliatory killings – the spearing or poisoning of lions after they have attacked livestock; and high levels of unsustainable trophy-hunting and body part trade.”
Although the US is the largest importer of trophies, Europe is not far behind. Between 1998 and 2008 lion trophies were imported into Spain (958), France (565) and Germany (525) amongst others. During the same period, the UK imported 87 lion trophies. The impact of an ESA listing and strong lion-protection measures in the USA could be undermined if trophies continue to be imported into the European Union.
Will Travers concluded: “Today, the Born Free Foundation has written to the UK Government’s Minister for Biodiversity, Richard Benyon, asking him, on behalf of the British Government, to intercede with our European Community colleagues to immediately review the comprehensive body of evidence that has been submitted to the US Department of the Interior as part of the ESA Petition and take urgent action to end the import of lion trophies sourced from wild animals into Europe.”
Links:
Born Free USA (The Endangered Species Act Protection for Lions page)
Born Free Foundation
Here, you can see a video of a Rescued Lion released by Born Free at their sanctuary in Shamwari. His name is Sinbad.
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