Born Free

Category: Lilongwe Wildlife Centre | Date: Mar 31 2009 | By: bornfree

On Monday 9th March we had a chance to visit the release site for primates rescued and rehabilitated by the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre.

Kasungu National Park is a 3-hour drive from Lilongwe, and in contrast to the sun and heat that accompanied us on our journey, the preceding days had brought heavy rains to the park, giving life to lush, emerging vegetation across the picturesque landscape.

Chosen for the availability and variety of food and water resources required to sustain primate troops, the release site is situated several kilometres inside the park boundary, far from human habitation.

As we drove through the park, I was struck by the distinct lack of sightings of other wildlife, so readily visible in other, similarly vegetated parks in East Africa. No antelope, no monkeys, even relatively few birds. Poaching has hit Malawi’s wildlife hard, but hopefully with renewed efforts to strengthen anti-poaching patrols, in tandem with the research team monitoring the Centre’s released primates, all species will be sufficiently protected to repopulate this eerily quiet wildlife haven.

Informed by the research team that the released troop was only a few hundred metres away, we sat quietly, anticipating their appearance.

As we waited, I photographed some beautiful butterflies, until hushed but excited words indicated the arrival of some of the baboons.

Bobby John was first to show himself, picking his way slowly through the long grass, pausing occasionally to chew a stem but never taking his eyes off us.

He was soon joined by Brenda, subtly disguising her attempts to share Bobby John’s meal with a kiss (see photo).

He was having none of it, and sought sanctuary on top of the Land Rover amidst the legs of the watching researchers. He even braved a look up Murray’s shorts!

Whilst cute to watch, this gesture highlighted the attachment that has grown between these baboons and humans during their rehabilitation – something that will hopefully lessen as the troop becomes more independent.

Before we left the baboons, I was particularly pleased to catch sight of the troop’s second-in-command, Chris, who strode out of the bush with purpose to ensure all was in order in the absence of Jack, the Alpha male.

As we set off to leave, I remarked to my colleagues how extraordinarily adaptable these animals have been, to have recovered from, in some cases, years of captivity, neglect and abuse, to now appear almost indistinguishable from monkeys born in the wild.

It is testament to the dedication of the team at the Centre and the researchers now tracking their progress, and a sighting of a pair of kudus before we left the park, underlined that not only the Centre’s released monkeys, but all the other wildlife of Kasungu, can thrive if given the chance. 

Chris Wright, Programmes Officer, Born Free Foundation

One response so far

Category: Lilongwe Wildlife Centre | Date: Mar 30 2009 | By: bornfree

I must admit, I had been a little apprehensive about the workshop.  By the very nature of the work the sanctuaries do, they need to be managed by strong-willed people who have to deal with the authorities, staff problems, finances, fundraising, suppliers etc before they even start with the animals; a 24-hour day is usually not long enough! And more often than not, when an animal arrives at a sanctuary, it’s got problems, either physical or mental. To deal with this the sanctuary team need expertise, determination and patience – and when they ‘invest’ in an animal in such a way, they usually also develop a strong bond with the individual.

So, getting our teams together round a table to talk about the problems and challenges they face and the best way to do things, from building an enclosure to running an education programme, could have been challenging. But no, the workshop went extremely well and after two-and-a-half days, we developed the necessary Working Groups to help lay down what we hope will be the path to best practice in all areas. While animal care is paramount, the other groups, from education through to accounting, all play a vital part. It will be a balancing act, stretching resources to help as many animals as possible, but without selling anyone short; allowing visitors to view the rescued animals to educate them about the threats faced by wildlife, but without depriving them of their often much needed privacy and freedom to choose where they spend their days – out of or in view! 

By June we hope to have our Born Free Sanctuaries Operation Manual complete – and of course these things only work if they are used!  So, along with the manual, we have created a network of support amongst our sanctuaries and field workers, which we hope will develop into a strong and unified group of people working in different areas with one ambition – to provide a better life for wild animals in captivity and for the lucky ones, give them the skills for a life back in the wild, where they belong.

Alison Hood, Programmes Director, Born Free Foundation

No responses yet

Category: Lilongwe Wildlife Centre | Date: Mar 27 2009 | By: bornfree

At the beginning of this month, I spent five days (5th to 10th March) attending a People And Wildlife (PAW) workshop at Lilongwe Wildlife Centre in Malawi.

The contribution of various participants from different countries, working under different conditions was very informative. They brought much-needed knowledge on various topics such as animal care techniques, community participation in conservation, fund raising and business planning! I was particularly impressed with the animal welfare presentations from experienced professionals who gave thorough explanations of the various ways to assess and ensure quality animal welfare.

Of particular importance to animal welfare, were the facility designs. They also demonstrated practical ways of checking the health status of animals ranging from reptiles to big mammals. As if to underline the point, during a break in the seminars, we were able to observe the vets examine a hyena that had been suffering with an injured ankle!

By the end I realised that animal welfare does not depend on elaborate mathematics, delicate and expensive instruments or complex computer analysis packages - the paraphernalia that people can often associate it with.
Animal welfare can, more simply, be realised by observing the five freedoms of life, namely:
o Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition- fresh water and diet to maintain full health and vigour must be provided
o Freedom from thermal and physical discomfort- an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting/nesting area should be in place.
o Freedom from pain, injury and diseases- prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment
o Freedom to express most normal patterns of behaviour- by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and the company of animals own kind.
o Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment that avoid mental suffering
These freedoms are recognised both in national and international legislations, but sadly they are not always fully respected.

This workshop was timely for me, as it came at a time when Born Free Kenya is in the process of assessing the status of captive facilities through our country. The knowledge and ideas I have acquired during my stay at Lilongwe will go a long way in simplifying the assessment process, and hopefully allowing us to close down those facilities that do not provide adequate welfare for their animals.

A big thanks to the logistic team and all the participants for actualizing the workshop.

Manoa David, Research Assistant, Born Free- Kenya

One response so far

Category: Lilongwe Wildlife Centre | Date: Mar 26 2009 | By: bornfree

Hot on the heels of Bella’s arrival from Romania and release into her new enclosure, Born Free teams from South Africa, Zambia, Kenya and Ethiopia converged with a sense of anticipation at Malawi’s Lilongwe Airport. Warmly welcomed by staff members from the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, we were taken to the delightful Sanctuary Lodge, the creation of Mark and Angela Sprong The Sanctuary Lodge is a classic mix of comfort and style - not to be missed if visiting Malawi.

This was to be the first Born Free Foundation Wildlife Centre workshop: a chance for established sanctuaries to exchange ideas with new sanctuaries; for policies and standards to be discussed; and for animal care, community, environmental education and business experts to present their experiences and recommendations.

A gathering of like minds is always inspiring, and any social mix is interesting when only some of the group know one another.

The workshop participants had years of specialised knowledge to share:

Shamwari Wildlife Centre, South Africa: Abagail McNichol (Centre Manager), Dr Murray Stokoe (Veterinary Consultant), Christine LeRoux (Education Officer)

Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, Malawi: Lee Stewart (Centre Manager), Dr Richard Ssuna (Veterinary Manager), Andrea Durcik (Primate Release Project Manager), Mike Waterland (Volunteer Construction Project Manager), Clement (Community Outreach Officer)

Born Free Foundation Kenya: Manoa David (Project Assistant)

Lunga Luswishi Primate Release Project, Zambia: Cosmas Mumba (Primate Release Researcher)

Born Free Foundation Ethiopia: James Young (Project Director)

Born Free Foundation UK: Alison Hood (Programmes Director), Tricia Holford (Rescue Coordinator), Chris Wright (Programmes Officer), Andrina Murrell (Programmes Officer)

Independent Consultants: Dr John Knight (Veterinary), Dr Cheryl Mvula (People and Wildlife), Tony Wiles (Big cat rescue and care), Donnamarie O’Connell (Representing Lilongwe Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

To give us the Malawi point of reference, Lee (Lilongwe Wildlife Centre Manager) took us on a tour of the Centre. It’s remarkable what has been achieved in so short a time. Since I am just beginning the process of starting the Ethiopia Wildlife Centre from scratch, it was particularly good for me to see the design of the enclosures, the night rooms, the fencing specifications as well as a great opportunity to see how useful shipping containers are as temporary offices, stores and food preparation areas. On the tour we were passed by a couple of American visitors who could not sing their praises enough for the Centre. They voiced what we were all thinking!

The Workshop group returned to the Lodge for a delicious supper. Despite the many miles people had travelled, a combination of meeting like minds and the anticipation for the workshop kept the bar staff busy for several hours… 

One response so far

Category: Lilongwe Wildlife Centre | Date: Mar 25 2009 | By: bornfree

We all held our breath as Bella emerged slowly from her crate, one foot at a time, stepping onto the soft sandy soil.  Standing alongside her crate, on the other side of the fence, was Virginia McKenna and Wildlife Centre supporter Sue Alves.  They had had the honour of opening the crate to give Bella her freedom, and had waited patiently for 40 minutes for Bella to feel comfortable enough to emerge.  Now the waiting was over.

c. Sunday Mirror/R Leon 

Bella stood outside and looked at the trees around her, and then left and right at the few people standing quietly along the fence line.  Then a strange thing happened: Bella walked over to Virginia McKenna and looked her straight in the eye.  Many of us watching said that the intense exchange seemed endless, although in reality it only lasted several long seconds. 

c. Sunday Mirror/R Leon

Perhaps it isn’t so strange.  Many of us who spend time with dogs will have experienced the recognition they seem to have of the stranger who has experience with their kind.  Perhaps Bella could sense this familiarity and understanding Virginia McKenna has with lions. 

Perhaps it is merely because Bella is only long-sighted in her remaining eye and was trying to focus on the first human nearest to her. At the time though, many felt it was a spine-tingling moment, only broken when Bella turned to sniff the air.

c. Sunday Mirror/R Leon 

She then walked steadily across the freshly-cleared earth towards the trees, and with one final backwards glance over her shoulder towards Virginia, Bella melted into the trees.  She walked through the trees into open ground by the fence and we left her to explore her new world in private.

3 responses so far

Category: Lilongwe Wildlife Centre | Date: Mar 24 2009 | By: bornfree

For Bella, the journey from Romania to Malawi had been a long one, in real terms, and metaphorically. Only two days prior to her arrival at the sun-drenched Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, she had stood on concrete in a snow-covered zoo, deep in the Transylvanian mountains. The contrast could not have been more stark, yet her journey to a better life had begun earlier still.

In Buhusi zoo, where she had been incarcerated in deplorable conditions for the first seven years of her life, a cataract in Bella’s eye had been allowed to deteriorate so much that it threatened not only her sight but also her survival. During 2008, a team of vets from the UK tested their expertise to the limit, successfully removing her untreatable left eye, and later restoring her sight in the other.

Bella spent the next three months recovering at Brasov, until at last she was passed fit to withstand the lengthy air travel that stood between her and a new home in Malawi.  When we arrived in Romania a couple of weeks ago in the midst of winter, we were met by sub-zero temperatures and flurries of snow that served to underline the incongruity of keeping a lion captive, so far removed from the tropical climate enjoyed by her wild counterparts.

c. Sunday Mirror/R Leon

As evening drew in and the light faded, Born Free’s vet, John Knight, began the process of sedating Bella. Unfazed by the glare of torchlight, and the assembled Romanian Press, she succumbed calmly to the effects of the drug, allowing us to lift her onto a stretcher, administer a few final veterinary procedures and load her into her travelling crate.

c. Sunday Mirror/R Leon

Watching the truck containing Bella slowly rumble its way out of the zoo onto the mountainous road to Bucharest, I allowed myself a brief moment of reflection as I looked at her empty cage, with a small sense of triumph. I tried to picture where she had come from and where she soon would be.

A sleep-deprived twenty-four hours later, having driven to Bucharest and flown to the UK, we found ourselves amongst yet more Press, eager to catch a glimpse of Bella in the shadow of the mighty 747 Kenya Airways aircraft into which her crate was carefully loaded. I stood on the tarmac beside Virginia McKenna, Born Free’s founder, sharing the sobering thought that there are so many more wild animals in desperate need in captivity, but drawing strength from the fact that we were improving Bella’s life immeasurably.

c. Sunday Mirror/R Leon

Try as I might to sleep on the flight to Lilongwe, I remained restless, anxious for the moment when Bella would take her first steps onto African soil…

Chris Wright, Programmes Officer, Born Free Foundation

6 responses so far

Category: Lilongwe Wildlife Centre | Date: Mar 23 2009 | By: bornfree

March the 3^rd, some time around midday is the time everything had to be completed. Months of hard work by Born Free and Lilongwe Wildlife Centre across three countries will come together at exactly that moment. I just had to make sure Bella’s new home was ready here at the Centre in Lilongwe. This was something I and the now thirty strong construction team were well aware of! The arrival day was never going to be quiet, something always comes up at the last minute. Everyone else had gone to the airport and I remained to make sure all was ready.

After erecting 400m of 5m high electrified fencing, landscaping the size of two football pitches and building a solid night room with bed and en-suite drinking facilities, we had one more job to do… dig a 2m x 0.8m hole which we could reverse the truck into and slide off the 500Kg crate carrying Bella. After the last 3 months that was almost easy. A few hours and it was done.

At 11am I did a last full walk around with Jam our head foreman, checking the fence, locking the doors and preparing the gates. Then the moment of realization came. It was done. Well, all done except one thing.

This one activity I had been saving to the very last. Putting up the ‘Born Free Lions’ sign above the entrance of Bella’s night room. The construction team members gathered round, I handed the sign up to Jam and he hammered in the two nails fixing the sign. The job was finished and it was 11.45am, 3^rd March 2009. Plenty of time to grab some lunch before she arrived.

I got the call at 2pm. Bella is here! We will be there in ten minutes! I took up position at the enclosure, waiting for them to arrive. First I see our truck moving very slowly along the dirt road with the hazard lights on, almost at walking speed. I see John, Tony, Richard and Lee holding onto a big white crate. The truck pulls up. Bella has arrived!

Then I feel a bit sad, the realization that I can no longer walk in to what has been my home for the last 3 months. The enclosure was no longer mine; it had been handed over to a lion.

But then I felt better, Bella deserves a home like this and what a great home it is!

Mike Waterland

Lion Enclosure Project Manager

One response so far