Born Free

Category: Born Free, Lilongwe Wildlife Centre | Date: Oct 22 2009 | By: bornfree

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of volunteer Dave Moulds, the Wildlife Centre now boasts a flash new kitchen area for volunteers to use during their stay. As you can see from the photos below, every care was taken to ensure the new construction blends into the natural environment as discreetly as possible. Using the existing trees as the shelter’s primary supports minimised the need to bring in wood from other sources. Where wood was needed, it was sourced from timber farms in the north of Malawi.

The installation of electrics around the camp has turned the dark nights into this wonderful nightscape, keeping the larger animals at a distance and making a lot easier for volunteers to prepare and eat at the camp.

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Category: Born Free, Lilongwe Wildlife Centre | Date: Oct 14 2009 | By: bornfree

On Monday 12th October, a lorry load of recycled office furniture and supplies started its long journey from Swindon to Malawi as part of a joint project between the Born Free Foundation and the Green Standards Trust.

The recovered materials, which include everything from printers, computers and furniture to brooms, books, binoculars and veterinary supplies, started their journey in Swindon, where the Green Standards Trust has been gathering donations from various companies and Born Free supporters. In total, about 27 pallets, weighing over 20 tonnes, were loaded on board the 40ft container.

Of the office equipment, Ellen Winter, the overseas project manager for the Green Standards Trust, said “It could have ended up in landfill so it’s a real win, win.”

All being well, the container should arrive at the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre in the next 6-8 weeks.

Using recycled and donated equipment will save the Wildlife Centre considerable funds in equipping an on-site Office, Veterinary facility and Education Centre that are all to be built in the near future.

Chris Wright, Programmes Officer for Born Free, said: “There is a great threat to the animals in Malawi and education is a major issue. People aren’t aware of the impact that taking these animals out of their environment can have and they don’t know how to care for them, causing sever welfare problems. Wildlife can be seen as pests – they can harass people and spoil their crops. Rather than shoot them or trap them as pets we’re trying to encourage people to consider ways that they can mitigate that conflict and live side by side without fatal consequences for wildlife.”

The Wildlife Centre and Born Free would like to offer our sincere thanks to those generous supporters who have donated their time, equipment and finance to the delivery of these much-needed items.

Tags: Born Free, Lilongwe, Malawi, monkeys, primates

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Category: Born Free | Date: Oct 09 2009 | By: bornfree

Again, our supporters amaze us and donate their hard-earned money to our conservation projects, and regularly too.Thank you so much Brenton and Wanda for your donations, they really are extremely appreciated.Many, many thanks and we will do our best to continue to supply you with interesting blogs which will detail the projects you contribute to.THANKS TO ALL OUR READERS AND DONORS!

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Category: EWCP | Date: Oct 06 2009 | By: bornfree

“We are against rabies! Dhukkuba saree ni balaaleffanna!” A small band of demonstrators is marching towards us, placards waving, fists raised. It’s not quite a G8 protest, but this group is equally fervent about their cause. Rabies must be eradicated in their town!

It’s September 28th, Rabies Day 2009, and the Dinsho Primary School, situated on the boundary of the Bale Mountains National Park, has organised a demonstration to show their commitment to stamping out rabies in the area in order to protect the endangered Ethiopian wolf. The children, ranging in age from eight to 15 years old, made their own posters and banners highlighting the cause, and after marching through the town chanting their slogans, ended up in the grounds of the school where a presentation had been organised by some of the other pupils.

This included a poetry reading by one of the students, as well as a play written and acted out by three pupils to highlight the dangers of rabies within the community and the threat the disease poses to the Ethiopian wolves.

Rabies is transmitted by domestic dogs from the villages surrounding and within the National Park, and is fatal to the wolves. Outbreaks have occurred in 2003, 2008 and most recently in May 2009, and have caused significant losses to the wolf population in the Bale Mountains. The Rabies Day event, coordinated by the EWCP education officer, was attended by local community administrators and elders, as well as other EWCP staff and school pupils. Not even a sudden downpour could dampen the enthusiasm of the children, and they made sure that everyone understood their message: “Save the Ethiopian wolf! Jeedala fardaa haa kunuunsinu!”

You can also help save the Ethiopian wolf by donating in the box to on the right of this page!

Tags: ethiopia, Ethiopian wolf, rabies

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Category: Born Free | Date: Oct 05 2009 | By: bornfree

A big thank you goes to Wanda from the Born Free projects for her lovely donation!!  All your contributions are appreciated, from reading and commenting to donating!Thank you so much!

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