Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild

December 2006:  

A Consultative Meeting on Captive Wild Animals in Ethiopia held in The Agricultural Research Institute in Addis Ababa. The meeting sponsored by United States Agency for International Aid (USAID), Ethiopian Wildlife Association, Wildlife Conservation Department, African Parks (Ethiopia) PLC, the Regional Environmental Office for East Africa at the US Department of State in Ethiopia and the Italian Development Cooperation.

At the time of the meeting, there were two cheetah and two lions in private or Embassy compounds in Addis, 18 lions in the Addis Zoo from which reports had emerged stating cubs were being poisoned, and several other lions, primates, antelope and birds in other locations around the country. Many of these wild animals were being kept in very poor conditions.

The recommendation of the Meeting was that a new wildlife rescue, conservation and education Centre be created in partnership with the Ethiopian Wildlife Department.

The Centre would provide larger and improved enclosures for existing captive wild animals and include expert veterinary care and facilities to care for captive wildlife as well as new orphaned or injured wildlife. Selected areas of the Centre would be open to the public which would offer centre-based and outreach environmental educational programmes to raise awareness of conservation and animal welfare issues.

2007:  

During 2007, Born Free Foundation HQ representatives made several trips to Ethiopia to ensure the progress of the Centre, including meeting with His Excellency Girma Wolde Giorgis President of the Democratic Republic of Ethiopia who pledged his full support to Born Free Foundation and agreed to provide temporary enclosures for two captive lion cubs in the Presidential Palace grounds.  Born Free Foundation accepted the invitation of the Ethiopian Wildlife Department to create the Centre.  President Girma helped Born Free to identify the 77ha (191 acre) site just 23 km to the west of Addis that had been previously used by a Government Ministry for many years. The complicated and lengthy land title transfer commences. The process takes a year and a half!! 

August 2007:  James Young appointed by Born Free Foundation as Country Representative and Project Director to assess and finalise the Centre site, project manage construction and establish Born Free Foundation Ethiopia in partnership with Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority.

2007-2008 

Centre project proposal finalised and approved by Federal Government. Born Free Foundation Ethiopia registered as a non-profit organisation with a Memorandum of Understanding signed with Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority. Board of Directors elected, office rented, bank account set up, etc.

2009

April 3, 2009 The skill and commitment of the Office of the President negotiates a final land agreement acceptable to both Federal and Regional Government. The land agreement grants the land to Born Free Foundation Ethiopia for an indefinite period in order to establish a wildlife rescue, conservation and education centre. The agreement is signed by Born Free Foundation Ethiopia and Land and Environmental Protection Bureau of the Oromiya Regional Government in the presence of His Excellency President Girma Wolde Giorgis.

April 22, 2009 Representatives from the two towns on either side if the Centre site (Holeta and Menegesha) meet with representatives from Born Free Ethiopia to formally demarcate the boundary of the site as the official handing over of the land.

The Wildlife Rescue, Conservation and Education Centre can now be designed and constructed. Soon Born Free Foundation will be able provide improved conditions for captive or orphaned wildlife in Ethiopia.

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If you think you can help or would like more information please contact Andrina Murrell at andrina@bornfree.org.uk.

If you would like to donate to the Centre, please click here