Blog

Dear Friends,

August has not been a good month for elephants in Namibia. 

Last week, Born Free, along with colleagues from 10 other organisations, sent an urgent message to the Namibian ministry, asking them to immediately suspend all trophy hunting of the rare and unique desert-dwelling elephants.  Regrettably, we received no response to this letter, not even an acknowledgement.  We have since learned that 5 of these desert elephants have now been killed, for the purpose of decorating the trophy hunter’s living-room walls.  Their lack of respect for such intelligent creatures is beyond words. 

Sadly, the nightmare continues.  Just this morning I read an article describing an elephant that was shot in Namibia’s Caprivi region.  Apparently a well-known “problem animal” this elephant is reported to have been shot dead last week in front of a group of horrified tourists.  It seems clear that something is seriously amiss with Namibia’s elephant management strategy.  I don’t have any details other than those presented in the article, but I do intend to investigate this further. 

Finally, Namibia’s authorities have just announced a complete ban on the sale of ivory ekipas (tourist trinkets), on the basis that current legislation is not effective in monitoring the sales.  While this is, in itself, an excellent (and long overdue) step, I wonder why the international CITES community, who approved these sales in 2004, don’t appear concerned about this.  Namibia told the CITES Parties in 2004 that it would develop a rigidly controlled registration system for these ekipas sales.  Why, four years later, are they only just admitting that this never happened? 

Blogging off,

Will

Zoos and circuses often claim that what they are doing is really helping conserve wild animals.

The recent announcement by the Riverbanks Zoo in the USA concerning the birth of their four lion cubs, is yet another example.

But this time it elicited a letter to the Editor of the Times & Democrat newspaper from our colleague, Adam Roberts, Senior Vice-President of Born Free USA.   His letter says it all!

“Challenge is to make lions’ lives worth living
Tuesday, August 12, 2008

It is hard to allow a dose of reality to interfere with the frivolity surrounding the announced birth of four lion cubs at the Riverbanks Zoo, but there is surely more to the story than the excitement over the new arrivals. (“4 new lion cubs at zoo get names,” Aug. 5).

The simple act of animals procreating in captivity is not a feat in itself. The challenge is giving those animals a life worth living. Wildlife, including African lions, belongs in the wild. In captivity, they will live in an urban jungle that does not appropriately replicate their natural wild habitats.

Breeding and keeping lions in captivity may be fun for zoo visitors, but it’s not real conservation.

Real conservation is aimed at addressing the persecution and threats facing lions in the wild. Lion habitat and prey are declining, hundreds of lions are killed each year for sport by western hunters and still others are killed for meat and body parts. In the last three decades alone, the continent-wide population of lions across Africa has declined by an alarming 70 percent.

It is up to us to make sure that lions are protected in the wild as our top priority. How sad it would be to someday realize that lions are gone from Kenya, but are alive and caged in South Carolina. That’s not a world I want for my daughters, and I encourage all of your readers to do what they can to conserve lions in the wild.”

Blogging off

Will

While the Westminster authorities seem content to allow the use of wild animals in circuses to continue despite overwhelming public and Parliamentary opposition, an increasingly long list of countries and municipalities around the world have taken a stand against this outdated practice.

News reaches us that that Raul Alcaino, Mayor of Santiago, Chile, has recently decided to ban all circuses using animal acts to “prevent animals from being cramped together and taken away from their natural habitat.” I would like to extend the thanks of the Born Free Foundation to Sr. Alcaino for his prudent and compassionate decision.

Blogging off

Will

P.S. You can pass on your thanks to the Mayor via the following email addresses:

alcalde@munistgo.cl
santiago@munistgo.cl
cultura@munistgo.cl

A remarkable video documenting a reunion between a lion named Christian and two men who had cared for him early in his life has been making the rounds on the internet and in the media and I wanted to share some additional information about this story because it is very personal to me and central to the being of Born Free Foundation as an organisation.

This lion used to live in my garden.

Christian was bought from Harrods pet store in London and came, via a furniture shop and my garden in England, to live in Africa (Kora in Kenya), where he was returned to the wild by the world-famous George Adamson.

My late dad (Bill) filmed this great adventure.

The film is extraordinary and exemplifies the spirit that underpins Born Free - every individual matters. Even way back in the 1970’s, this was our way of giving Christian a shot at freedom.

This is part of the Born Free legacy. If it wasn’t for Born Free, the film, my dad and mum (Born Free’s founder, Virginia McKenna) would never have met Ace and John (the two young men in the clip) who would never have brought Christian from London to my garden. My dad, Bill, would never have negotiated with the Kenyan government for Christian’s return to Africa. We would never have had this memorable and inspiring story - and Christian would never have had his freedom.

Today, the Born Free Foundation (and Born Free USA in the States) carry on the spirit of Born Free - helping wild animals in need, fighting injustice, cruelty and neglect and working to change animals’ lives for good.

Support Born Free by joining us and you can become part of the Born Free family. To watch the clip, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adYbFQFXG0U (please note “Ace” is incorrectly named Ace Berg in the clip - his name is in fact Ace Bourke)

Thank you. Do share this story and film clip with your friends. And do join us.

Will Travers
CEO
Born Free Foundation

P.S. Born Free does not advocate the keeping of any wild animal as a ‘pet’. Christian’s story was from another era and was unique. Today we must do all we can to ‘keep wildlife in the wild’.

John Rendall is based in the UK and still supports wildlife conservation both with Born Free and with the George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust. Ace now lives in Australia.

Christian lived the life of a free, successful lion, in and around the Kora area until he was seen no more. It was assumed by George Adamson that he had crossed over the Tana River and out of the Reserve.

Dear Friends

I was wondering about this today… why?

Well let’s imagine that the EU - including the UK - recognised that an increasingly rare fish species - found only in EU waters - was subject to high levels of illegal trade. Let’s imagine too that the EU felt that the best way to protect this species was to prevent all further trade. It might be anticipated that other countries, such as all the African countries (none of which had this fish species) would support the EU in its effort to prevent the fish from becoming extinct. That’s what you’d do right? Support the EU in its effort to prevent further decline. It’s polite, respectful and appropriate.

Now imagine that those same African countries decided that they did not want any further trade in ivory to be legalised. That they wanted their elephants to benefit from maximum protection and that to do so, trade in ivory with a fabulously wealthy state known to be a major illegal ivory trade destination would have to be shelved. Wouldn’t you expect the EU to show respect and support Africa in their endeavours?

WRONG

The EU has no elephants but continually acts as if it does and consistently ignores the views of the many (majority) of African elephant Range States who want no more trade. Why? I don’t know. With power comes responsibility and, frankly, that’s in very short supply here in Geneva.

Oh, and by the way, after yesterday’s high-risk vote approving the inclusion of China as an ivory stockpile trader, two female Chinese nationals were intercepted at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, caught in the act of smuggling nearly 40 pieces of ivory out of the country.

It’s endless and it’s going to get worse - and the CITES Standing Committee has just, in my view, made things a whole lot worse.

Blogging off

Will

If you would like to find out more about the work Born Free undertakes with elephants please click here

Below is the Born Free Foundation press release on this issue. More to follow later:

BLACK AND WHITE AND RED ALL OVER.

THE ILLEGAL TRADE IN IVORY AND ELEPHANT POACHING

It’s crunch time for elephants (again!)

The decision by the Standing Committee of CITES (Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species) to approve China as a ‘trading partner’ for over 100 tonnes of stockpiled ivory from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe has left many conservationists and wildlife managers stunned and appalled.

“Unbelievable, naïve and deadly.” Stated Will Travers CEO of the Born Free Foundation, a member of the Species Survival Network. “It was bad enough when Japan was approved as a trading partner more than a year ago but approving China is, in my view, like pouring petrol on an open fire.”

The reasons why China should not have been approved are numerous:

• The lack of comprehensive internal law enforcement and trade controls
• The steady stream of illegal ivory shipments destined for China.
• The increasing involvement of Chinese nationals based in Africa in ivory trafficking
• The continued high levels of elephant poaching (estimated to be running at between 20,000 and 25,000 animals a year)
• The rising price of ivory (poached Sumatran ivory tusks have reportedly increased in value by 300% since 2005)
• The fragile nature of most African elephant populations (only half a dozen or so African countries have robust and significant elephant herds out of a total of 36 countries that are home to the species)

“Now, in addition to all these challenges and threats, we are faced with the prospect of China and Japan bidding against each other for the ivory stockpiles, driving up the price and heightening still further the incentive to poach and smuggle ivory” said Mr Travers, speaking from Geneva where the Standing Committee of CITES is convened.

Born Free and the SSN have comprehensive records relating to massive and entrenched levels of elephant poaching over the last 10 years. Together with other conservation groups, Born Free has consistently argued against any relaxation in the original ivory trade ban approved by CITES in 1989 following a decade when Africa’s elephant population fell by more than 50% from 1.3 million to 600,000. Today, elephant numbers are estimated to hover at around 475,000 – 500,000. Asian elephant numbers stand at a precarious 30,000-40,000.

The role of the United Kingdom and the EU has been subjected to significant criticism throughout this process.

“Overwhelmingly the UK public are opposed to any ivory trade but the UK government has steadfastly refused to take a principled lead on this issue, using the notion of EU unity as an excuse for lack of independent action. The UK has also continued to state that it supports sustainable utilisation of wildlife species, including the killing of species such as elephants.” Commented Shelley Waterland, International Trade Specialist with Born Free. “Quite clearly, today’s decision will encourage poachers, traders and traffickers and may well sound the final death knell for small, vulnerable elephant populations in West and Central African countries.”

It will also be shocking to many conservationists to learn that the decision to approve China as a trading partner was supported by WWF amongst others.

The illegal black market in ‘white gold’ seems set to cause parts of Africa to run red with elephant blood once more.

For some elephants E may well be for Extinction.

Dear Friends

Geneva - 14th July 2008 – 57th Standing Committee to CITES*

Once more elephants are top of the bill:  will China get to bid for 110 tonnes of ivory? 

A highly critical report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), a member of the Species Survival Network (SSN) (www.ssn.org) indicates that any move to approve ivory trade with China is dangerously premature.

• Ivory sales continue apace in Chinese shops
• Illegal shipments are being sent to China
• Chinese nationals based in Africa are implicated in illegal activities involving ivory
• The whereabouts of over 100 tonnes of ivory from the Chinese stockpile that allegedly went missing in the decade up to 2002 remain unknown.
• Such surveys that have taken place looking at the effectiveness of domestic law enforcement measures in China appear to be limited in nature.

Born Free Foundation (BFF) and SSN member organisations remain deeply concerned about the current situation which could see a bidding war break out between Japan (already an approved trading partner) and China (seeking approval) that could drive up the price of ivory, increase the incentive to trade and quite possibly accelerate poaching which would in all likelihood hit the most vulnerable elephant populations hardest. 

The elephant debate and decision is set to take place on Tuesday 15th July during the afternoon session.  Right now, I fear the wrong decision will be made: bureaucrats with little experience of what can actually happen on the ground, little understanding of the poaching phenomenon and little appreciation of the enormous challenges faced by elephant conservation authorities across much of Africa and throughout Asia and who are unelected and unrepresentative, will make the fateful decision.

May it be a wise one.

For many millions of people around the world are watching and elephants’ lives depend on it.

Blogging off,

Will

*Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

Dear friends,

Great news for great apes, and from an unexpected place!

Yesterday it was reported that the Spanish parliament has passed a resolution granting basic rights to great apes – the right to life, freedom, and not being tortured. This is groundbreaking stuff, especially from a country better known to animal lovers as the home of bullfighting. If passed as law – and it seems to have cross-party support – the implications would be very significant. Naturally it would make it illegal to experiment on apes in Spain, as it already is in the UK, although no such experiments are currently taking place. It would also make it illegal to use chimps in circuses and filming for adverts, TV or movies. This is great news, and comes at a time when the UK government still seems reluctant to use the recent Animal Welfare Act to prohibit the use of any species of wild animal in our circuses.

Opponents will no doubt decry this is ‘human rights for animals’ but really the apes are just getting what they deserve – ‘ape rights’. That means respect for them as the intelligent and sensitive beings that they are, and an end to the cruel and degrading treatment that they have suffered at human hands for far too long.

We hope that this move signifies the beginning of the end…

Blogging off,

Will

Well my recent blog about circuses (Sad Saturday) seems to have got people talking (we’ve posted some of the feedback on the site).

The bottom line is this:

Just because there are currently a small number of wild animals in circuses doesn’t mean we should ignore them. The ‘cage to stage’ process as one reader so eloquently put it, is not a life we should subject animals to. And it seems that the public are demonstrating their distain by staying away, despite the 2 for 1, half price and free ticket promotions used by some circuses to try and bring in the punters.

While (sadly) there are some MPS who seem unwilling to represent the view of the electorate on this issue – whatever happened to conviction politics – there are many who firmly believe, as I do, that there is no alternative to a prohibition. That’s what 80% of the general public say. Of course you can ,as one reader suggests, get a very different picture depending on who you are: if you ask people going to a circus with animals if they like animal acts, unsurprisingly most say yes!

If you decide to write to your MP about circuses – don’t forget to let me have a copy of the response. I am convinced that this issue can be brought to a logical, compassionate and just solution when MPs of all parties hear the voice of the people!

And thank you to all who have written in – whatever your opinion.

Blogging off

Will

Dear Friends

Well, I can think of better things to do but the Great British Circus with its lions, tigers, camels and llamas came to within a few miles of the Born Free offices in Horsham and so, last Saturday, I went to take a look.

It was the 5 pm performance and the Big Top was half-empty. Personally I thought it was a sad and depressing experience, not a lot of fun and not a lot of laughter. The one quality human act, a juggler called Gordon, was the only performance that really got people cheering. The tigers sat on their stools, rolled over on their backs, jumped through hoops and then left the ring. It was short and not particularly sweet.

Afterwards, I paid the extra £1 and went round the back. In their beast-wagons (although I am told by Jeff Link, a representative of the Great British Circus, that they should be called “homes”) the tigers and lions were eating and nearby was their “free-association enclosure” - or as we would call it an exercise cage - measuring about 25 ft by 25 ft.

It is hardly inspiring and certainly it is not a ‘crowd-puller’.

And it makes me more determined than ever to work with the many Members of Parliament and the millions of people around the country who feel, as I do, that wild animals in particular, should not be in circuses. I saw little that could possibly be regarded as educational. I saw nothing that persuaded me this was contributing to endangered species conservation.

I saw a tired and lack-lustre spectacle, a throw-back to another era – an era that is well past its sell-by date.

Blogging off

Will

Information on wild animals in UK circuses and what you can do