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2004/05 Project News |
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We currently have an urgent appeal for funding support.
Amara is working with the Kenya Wildlife Service to coordinate and fund
the rescue, rehabilitation and eventual reintroduction to the wild of
three orphaned lions. With our successful support of the rearing and release
of two leopard cubs with 
Danny and Nana Woodley we are excited that there may be some hope for
these lions. This is a rare opportunity to truly make the difference in
the lives of three lions that without our help would be doomed to a life
in rusty cages in the Nairobi game park zoo. These are orphaned wild lions
that were found trapped in a pit in a small town in the north of Kenya
and taken to Nairobi.
We have discussed options for rehabilitating them with
numerous experts on lion reintroductions in Kenya. The idea is to put
them in a large remote holding facility in the vicinity of where they
will be released and feed them there until they are habituated to their
surroundings and can survive on their own. This can take from six months
to one year which means they have to be fed and cared for with as little
human 
contact
during this time as possible.
Amara has received a donation for a large freezer to store the meat and $2,500.00 from the Wildize Foundation in Aspen, CO. We still need about$5,000.00 more dollars to care for them during this period.
The plan is for Lori to help move them to the Laikipia
Plateau up north where they will be held in a large outdoor holding facility
that has specifically been built for them. Lawrence Frank from Berkeley
and the Laikipia Predator Project is donating radio transmitter collars,
so they will be darted 
first,
collared and then put in 3 separate cages for the move. A man named Claus
Mortensen who has worked with wildlife in the area for 27 years and is
currently monitoring seven wild lions will be in charge of the lions care
and eventual release and monitoring.
We are seeking donations of any amount to help with this
project. However if anyone would like to be the official sponsor (adoptee)
for one of these lions for $1,000.00 we will gladly send you a large picture
of the lion you sponsored, regular updates and progress of your lion.
Please help us return these lions to a free and wild life. We thank you in advance for your support.