BORN FREE TRANSPORTS 3 CAPTIVE LIONS VIA THE UK TO A NEW SANCTUARY LIFE IN SOUTH AFRICA

                  EMBARGOE FRIDAY 25^TH APRIL

Today, International Wildlife Charity, the Born Free Foundation, undertook a massive logistical operation to rehome 3 lions to their new home in South Africa.

The lions; Two cubs, Marina & Sarnia, originally abandoned in Bucharest and Brutus a male lion, confiscated from a French travelling Circus, were the subjects of a massive operation, with two co-ordinated Born Free Big Cat rescue teams deployed for their journeys via the UK to South Africa.

In Dec 2007, the Foundation was alerted to the tragic story of two 6 week old lion cubs. Marina & Sarnia were abandoned outside a central Bucharest Apartment block and left for dead. One of the cubs had severe enteritis, a potentially fatal condition. They were given temporary shelter by Monica Minciu from the Romanian Animal Welfare Group, APAR, and administered emergency veterinary treatment, whilst Born Free launched an urgent appeal in the British Media for their rescue. In February this year, the Foundation was able to fund their rescue and prepared the cubs for transfer to Guernsey to the GSPCA Animal Shelter, where they have been kept in quarantine, under the supervision of an expert team. Born Free’s vet and President of the GSPCA, John Knight said’ When we collected the cubs from Bucharest, it was evident that Monica had done an excellent job to ensure they were fit and well but there was more work to do. They were initially put on a special supplement for their future development and bone growth plus a diet of beef and special kitten milk replacer. In the last 3 months they have developed into healthy strong cubs and are adapting well and learning some of the things they need to know when they get to Africa. We are delighted with the progress they have made.’

The French Circus lion, Brutus, was an equally perilous and tragic situation. Brutus, a 6 year old male lion, belonged to the defunct Cirque Vitalis. No longer on the road and performing, Brutus spent 4 years caged and shut in an obsolete ‘beast wagon’, in the tiny hamlet of St.Denis d’Authou, in France. Brutus was hidden from view and his health was rapidly deteriorating. Fortunately, the plight of Brutus had reached the attention of French Animal Welfare groups SPA & FAA, who co-ordinated efforts with the French Authorities and the Born Free Foundation for Brutus’s release. Finally, In Dec 2007, and despite resistence from the owner, the French gendarmes accompanied the welfare organisations and Brutus was seized and relocated to temporary shelter at the Refuge de L’Arche.

On the move

The cubs’ journey from Guernsey to the UK was completed in less than 8 hours. On Thursday, they received their final health checks, worming, de-fleeing and routine checks for parasites, before being loaded into their transport crates. This morning the convoy travelled by sea, courtesy of Condor Ferries, from Guernsey to Weymouth and arrived at Heathrow early morning.

Preparations for Brutus’s journey from France began late Thursday afternoon. The Born Free Vet sedated Brutus and undertook a thorough examination, administering an anti-inflammatory drug to ensure he would not stiffen in his crate on the long journey and treating him for external and internal parasites. Once crated, Brutus was given a reversal agent, to bring him round from the Anaesthesia. The experience was a special moment for 2 Thomsonfly cabin crew; who were on site as part of a major ‘in flight’ fund-raising initiative, by their passengers, to fund Brutus’s rescue. In the early hours of Friday morning the entourage, travelling in a Land Rover convoy, reached the port of Cherbourg, before being driving onto a Brittany Ferries cross channel ferry to Poole in Dorset, where they continued their journey to Heathrow.

All 3 lions are now receiving final checks at London Heathrow Animal Reception Centre, before being flown to South Africa, courtesy of Kenya Airways, who have re-instated on the London route one of their Boeing 777 aircraft to facilitate the move.

The rescue teams, headed up by Born Free, Campaign’s Director, Alison Hood, commented, ‘ This has been an amazing co-ordinated effort in support of the Welfare of the individual animal. It has united Animal Welfare groups Europe-wide, the public, Media and Corporates in their support. All 3 lions had a potential death sentence, which we were able to stop and now there is an opportunity for them to have as rich and as natural a life as we can make possible in the African bush. It has been heart-warming and a privilege for the Foundation to make this a reality for these lions’.

The lions and Born Free team, accompanied by Coronation Street Actress and Born Free patron, Helen Worth, will be scheduled to arrive at Jo’burg Airport on Saturday morning, where they will be flown, courtesy of Star Gate Aviation and with thanks to Hanger 8, down to Shamwari Game Reserve - their final destination.

Their new home

On arrival at Shamwari, a 25,000 hectare wildlife reserve, the lions will be released into two 3 acre enclosures, at the Born Free Jean Byrd Education and Rescue Centre. Born Free’s second centre in operation at Shamwari for rescued  Big Cats. The first, the ‘Julie Ward Centre’, was named in memory of the young British woman, Julie Ward, murdered in Kenya. The Centre’s collectively now house 13 Big Cats.  Brutus and the cubs will be released into separate hospital camps for observation before their eventual release into the main enclosures.

The rescue operation has again put captive wild animals in the spotlight. In France there are over 200 travelling circuses with wild animals, while in the UK there is still reluctance from the Government to ban the use of wild animals in circuses despite the overwhelming public support for a ban.

To win a chance to see Born Free’s work in action and visit the Big Cats at Shamwari, in a prize draw, Join Born Free today for just £2.50 a month!

Help us to support Big Cat Rescue and Conservation work around the world www.bornfree.org.uk or call 01403 240170

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT

SHIRLEY GALLIGAN, PR DIRECTOR 0207 792 9668 MOBILE 07773 848352

ANGELIQUE DAVIES, PR OFFICER 01403 240170 MOBILE 07747 441447

Born Free www.bornfree.org.uk

Editors Notes:

• The Born Free Foundation is a dynamic international wildlife charity, devoted to compassionate conservation and animal welfare. Born Free’s Big Cat project is dedicated to helping lions, tigers and leopards in need.  Born Free rescues lions, leopards and tigers from tiny cages; gives individual big cats lifetime care at sanctuaries in South Africa and India  http://www.bornfree.org.uk/who-we-work-with/corporate-sponsorship/
• Kenya Airways, as part of their commitment to corporate and social responsibility Kenya Airways work with various organisations throughout the world to raise funds for worthy causes.  Born Free is one of the lucky charities to benefit from their generosity.  Since March 2006 Kenya Airways have contributed airline flights for a number of Born Free’s events and rescues. For further information visit: www.kenyaairways.com

·         Land Rover In 2002 the Born Free Foundation became one of Land Rover's Global Sponsorship Partner's under its Fragile Earth policy.  This policy shows Land Rover’s commitment to the environment through sponsorship of leading environmental organisations. For further information visit:  www.landrover.com

·         Thomsonfly.com (formerly Britannia Airways) has worked with Born Free since 1995. They have raised over £2.5 million for Born Free, through their inflight coin collections and staff fundraising. For further information visit: www.thomsonfly.com

·         Brittany Ferries is pleased to be associated with the Born Free Foundation. For  further information please visit: www.brittanyferries.com /tel: 0871 244 1400