Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild

In conjunction with the Federal Democratic Government of Ethiopia Wildlife Conservation Authority, Born Free Foundation and Born Free USA are developing plans to construct a Wildlife Rescue, Conservation and Education Centre 30km from Ethiopia’s capital city, Addis Ababa.

For detailed information on Ensessakotteh, click here.

One of the main features of the Centre in Ethiopia will be:

Wildlife Rescue:  Born Free will aim to provide rehabilitation facilities or lifetime care for wild animals confiscated from illegal trade and ownership as space, finance and expertise allows.  At present, if the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority discovers an illegally held animal, they are unable to confiscate it since there is nowhere suitable for them to take the animal.

Also, located within Addis Ababa is a zoo which houses over 20 lions.  As a symbol of Ethiopia, the lion is revered, yet within the zoo the lions lay on concrete floors, in small barred areas with no enrichment.  The Centre which Born Free is planning hopes to offer an opportunity to these lions to live in large, grassy and naturalistic enclosures, giving them the respect they deserve.

In addition to providing refuge for rescued animals, Born Free will incorporate Conservation and Education within the Centre’s core principles. 

Wildlife Conservation: The Centre will provide capacity building for the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority and Regional Wildlife teams including training and helping develop public awareness campaigns, along with provision of enclosures for confiscated animals. The Centre will provide a veterinary clinic where injured wildlife can be treated before release back into the wild. In conjunction with Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), one of the first scientific research programmes planned will be a National Large Carnivore Survey to identify key areas for protection and target hotspots of carnivore-human conflict.

Environmental Education: An environmental education centre and holistic educational programmes will offer both ‘outreach’ (taking environmental education classes to schools) and ‘centre-based’ programmes for schools, nature clubs, colleges and universities.

Situated on an impressive natural, part-wooded site of 77.489 hectares, the Centre will also present the natural and cultural heritage of Ethiopia, and offer a truly memorable and educational experience for the population of Addis Abeba and the Regions as well as international visitors.

His Excellency, President Girma Wolde-Giorgis and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development have both pledged their support for this project and we are very grateful for all the help and assistance which has been given in the planning stages of the Centre.

Born Free Ethiopia became a legally registered non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Ethiopia on December 10th 2007.

You can support the building of the Sanctuary here

Stephen Brend, the Project Director of Born Free Ethiopia is writing a blog on the development of Ensessakotteh.  The blogs will be detailed in Born Free's website news pages and displayed on Born Free's project blog at Wildlife Direct - http://bornfree.wildlifedirect.org/.