We have the Grand Canyon of soil erosion on the sanctuary which we will have to attend to in the coming months.   In fact it is going to take ages to get it right again.  The rains are just washing away more and more of the soil.   We are hoping that with volunteer help we will be able to reclaim the land the way it should be.  Overgrazing is very damaging in areas which have a delicate eco system.  We will be consulting with conservation officials to determine the best way to tackle this problem.

Because of the good rains that we have had at the sanctuary recently, the pomegranates have flowered and fruited for the second time.   We took Malena pomegranate picking so that I could take some of the fruit to the craft market on my return to Wilderness.

I came back to Wilderness and Chris stayed to sort out water pipes, fix the quad, repair the tractor and set up a watering system for the olive and pomegranate trees.
I wish I was there.  When I got home to Wilderness it was to find I also had no water.  It seems the pipes in Wilderness had burst too because they had also had a freezing cold evening.

Chris has an important meeting with the Conservation Officials for our area next week.  He will be meeting with them to give them a presentation on the work that we will be doing at the centre.   Permits are needed to establish a wildlife centre. 

We have an awful lot of work to get done to establish a wildlife sanctuary and rehab centre.  So we ask everyone to please help us with our new venture.  We have set up some super prizes which we would love to give away in our efforts to crowdfund for the new sanctuary.  http://www.cannedlion.org/crowdfunding.html 

To all of you who have already given us donations we thank you.   Your commitment and passion for our wildlife is truly wonderful.  We will continue to let you know as it all happens with lots of pictures and stories of our new adventure.   With your help we will be able to achieve great things for the wildlife in the Ladismith area.

Report by Malena Persson: CACH Scotland representative. 

I think back to May 31st, when I was playing the waiting game at the airport in London. I sat at the gate and the screen above my head showed Johannesburg. Only another hour to go before departure. It was in this moment I realized I was actually on my way to see lions up close. Until then the sponsorship and everything around it had been slightly surreal to feel true. But there I was. About to board a flight for a first visit to South Africa, and the big cats I adore. Being a Swede living in Scotland these exotic animals have always filled me with awe as I watched them on nature shows on TV, and their majestic presence on this Earth felt to me like something untouchable, something us humans cherished. Therefor it came as a chock a couple of years ago, that not only are lions endangered, but also they are being bred for the bullet in South Africa. Not being able to cope with that thought I had gotten involved with the efforts made to raise awareness on the issue, and end this horrible industry. And it was as a proud member of the CACH family that I now sat at the airport in London, about to hop on a plane on my first ever encounter with lions. I was going on a 2 week volunteer trip to Welgedacht, the sanctuary of Kevin Richardson; The Lion Whisperer.

Meeting Kevin was a great honor. He turned out to be this friendly down to earth person who joked a lot, and knew his way with words. During a walk with Bobcat and Gaby he sat at the back of the truck with us, and it was a true pleasure listening to him talk about his lions, and the mutual respect that builds the bond between him and them. It is here very important to point out to those who aren’t aware about Kevin’s ways that a walk with lions at Welgedacht differs from all other places in South Africa. It is an enrichment walk for the lions, an opportunity for them to get out the enclosures and take in new smells at the reserve. No other than Kevin gets to be near the lions. Us volunteers sat at the back of the truck (or inside it if we felt the slightest worry of having a lion running lose around us). The walk is to make the lions happy, not the volunteers. However, it is at the end of the day a sort of win-win situation. Because I found it extremely rewarding to watch the lions stretch their legs, and occasionally take a tumbling jump at Kevin. It was also an out of the world feeling to have Gaby the lioness coming up to the truck and sniff my back. For a moment there I’m sure I stopped breathing. No matter under what, a lion remains wild at heart. And it is time for us all to realize this and stop feeding our ego with an obscure wish to walk with lions, or play with cubs. These animals have roamed the planes of Africa as kings and queens – why do we suddenly feel the need to demean these amazing beings into photo props and oversized pets?

Volunteering at Welgedacht gave me an incredible insight into the day-to-day running of the sanctuary, and it was an honor to meet the staff there and see how extremely hard they work on a daily basis. It was interesting to learn about feeding procedures and it was during one of the meal preps that I found out the true consequences of cub petting. The meat for the two youngest lions was covered in medicinal powder and I asked how come. By now I think most people have heard about the rescue of George and Yame – the two cubs that were used for petting in Spain and were saved and brought to Kevin’s sanctuary. A lot of time has been put into mental and physical rehabilitation, and it has ensured that they today are two very happy boys, who lead a good life in South Africa. But their past still takes its toll to this day. George, the smaller of the two, has severe problems with his joints and still has to be medicated. He might never entirely recover. This is due to the poor diet of diluted milk they were fed to keep them tiny enough to be abused as props for photos with tourists. They were throw-away-cubs, and hadn’t they been saved then their story would have had a tragic end. George and Yame are today alive and rather well. But George needs his meds. During an enrichment walk with the boys it became evident why. Only after 20minutes or so, the wee lad had to sit and rest, the pain in his legs keeping him from bouncing along with Yame. It was very sad to watch and I can only hope that we one day will see the end of the cub petting industry which is causing such damage to cubs within, as well as outside, South Africa. 

Two weeks fly by when you sink your teeth into something you love to do. And I sure loved being at Welgedacht. It was an eye opener and I left with a heart full of love and respect for the animals there, and also with a great deal of new knowledge. Before returning back home I visited the new CACH HQ and finally got to meet Bev and Chris. After having represented the organisation in Scotland for a year it was such pleasure to meet the two lionhearts who started it all. I spent two nights in the beautiful mountains, staying amongst olive trees and aloe. I listened eagerly to stories of the past and the present. I left feeling wiser and more confident than ever. I can now say, without a doubt, that saving lions is not a hobby – it is a way of life. And I will walk this path until the world roars with us, and we ban canned hunting! 

PS. A little cute story to end my post. Upon my return to Scotland I had dinner with friends. We talked a little bit about my time in South Africa and touched the subject of canned hunting. Suddenly their eldest son, 8 years old, looked up and told us that he has an idea. This wee fella had come up with a plan, and a design, of a sort of airbag vest for lions, similar to the ones used in cars (but much more he powerful he strictly pointed out). And this vest would protect lions from hunters bullets, as well as the protecting lions from the pain of being shot at. Bless!

Jade reports
I hope this finds you well. Its that time again, for a little update on the adventures of George and Yame.

There hasn’t been too much excitement the past few weeks, with the boys still getting used to their enclosure after the fire swept through. They have a lot more place to run and play now which is a double edged sword. With the cold weather has come the aches and pains in Georges joints. The exercise is great to build muscle for support, but he tends to get over excited sometimes and overdoes it a little. I suppose Yame makes for an irresistible target in a chase, and lets be honest, who wouldn’t want to pounce on an unsuspecting sibling.

Regardless of this George has really started throwing his weight around, and often gets Yame on his back on the ground, talking all the while. The boys have been going for short walks frequently in the burnt area of the farm where the lack of vegetation has yielded a wide variety of interesting things for them to investigate… From warthog burrows, to old bones, and plenty of ground birds for George to chase. It is so wonderful to see them exploring their surroundings with confidence, and enthusiasm. Being more comfortable each time.

Both, though tough on the outside, are real softies and will rarely, if ever, pass up a chance to cuddle with us. Yame, weighing an impressive 100kg+ still thinks its ok to sit on your lap or lie all over you… which generally leaves us squashed on the floor, trying to breathe under his weight, but we wouldn’t change it for the world! Both extremely affectionate cats, and while Yame just wants to be loved, George takes the opportunity to grab onto your hair, and pull… not great for us ladies, but he seems to enjoy creating a new look with that extra something J

Life is definitely not boring with them. Two days back while cleaning out their waterhole, George found a way to get hold of the hose. He ran off with it, water spraying everywhere... I managed to get hold of the other end, and the tug-of-war began. Yame arrived to “help” running off with the middle bit in a completely different direction, getting George and I all tangled up. I won the fight in the end, with a hose that was only slightly worse off, and 2 exhausted lions. I have attached some pictures of our beautiful boys out on a walk with Lozanne (They grow up so quickly). Pictures courtesy of James Hail.

Letter by Gillian Shave
10 Mill Drive, North Rocks, NSW 2151

Dear Senator
I am writing to you in relation to the banning of the import of lion trophy into Australia ratified by the Honourable Mr Greg Hunt, Minister for the Environment earlier this year and the disallowance motion being tabled by Senator Leyonhjelm on Monday 15 June 2015.

If you vote to lift this ban then you will be personally supporting the captive lion breeders of South Africa, further you will be saying that the following things are more than acceptable;

1. Captive breeding of lion for the bullet, involving the removal of week old cubs from their mothers and their habituation, ensuring that they will never contribute to the conservation of their species
   
   
2. The killing of hand-reared lions, which do not display any normal fear of humans and are therefore sitting targets, a little like shooting fish in a barrel
   
   
3. The conning of young Australian (and other nations’) tourists into paying significant amounts of money to hand-rear lion cubs, ostensibly as a contribution to conservation
   
   
4. Supporting lion bone trade to Laos, Vietnam and China and the hoodwinking of those countries’ citizens when the processed bone is passed off as tiger bone in various products.
   
   

Further, you will be sending a clear message that the decisions of the following airlines to stop carrying lion (and other animal) trophies due to public pressure was incorrect;

South African Airways
British Airways
Lufthansa
Singapore Airlines
Emirates.

This is a turning point and you can personally send a message that the abhorrent practise of ‘farming’ lion and the ‘hunting’ of these unfortunate creatures has no place in a civilised world. Clearly, these initiatives are being taken because global public opinion against trophy hunting continues to increase.

Please cast your no vote in relation to the disallowance motion that Senator Leyonhjelm is tabling on Monday 15 June 2015, your voting public will have great respect for your courage.

I write in connection with the tragic incident that occurred at the Lion Park on Monday this week.   

Firstly I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the family of Katherine Chappell who was killed by a lioness while driving in Camp 2 of the park.  While blame is being apportioned to her because she had her window down, we should be considering the following facts:- 

1.       She was in the company of a tour guide who should have known better.

2.       The Lion Park promotes petting and walking with wildlife.  The impression is therefore given that these animals are no longer wild, but tame.  There are pictures up of Alex Larenty petting adult lions so an unsuspecting tourist could be forgiven for thinking that the adult lions are also tame.

3.       Lions in captive breeding facilities endure stress and boredom and, as a result, often exhibit behaviour that would not be seen in the wild.  Youngsters in the camps have been damaging vehicles, trying to open doors and generally behaving like delinquents.  Their food is delivered in a vehicle, therefore every vehicle could present an opportunity for a meal.  A few years ago I sent a mail to the then manager at the Lion Park, Earl Smith, raising my concerns that they were sitting on a powder keg and that an accident was going to happen.  The mail was ignored and this is the third incident there in four months.  What else will it take before drastic changes are made? 

The bottom line is that lions do not belong in captivity and they should not be exploited for human pleasure and gain.  By allowing tourists to pet and walk with wildlife, we are sending out the wrong message.  We are in effect saying that our wildlife is not wild anymore.  One only needs to access the internet to see how many incidents there are, many of them fatal.  We are ignoring the signs and putting ourselves in grave danger every time we interact with a wild animal. 

The lions in Camp 2 are locked in their night quarters at the moment.  The lioness in question has been placed in solitary confinement before a supposed move to the Hartebeespoort property.  More stress and more boredom for all of them.  Did they do anything wrong?  No.  They have been subjected to human interaction from a few days of age.  They have been used as a means to make money with no consideration for their wildness.  It is time the Lion Park took full responsibility for the situation.  Please don’t hide behind “we have signs up to keep your windows closed” yet allow visitors to treat lions as if they are tame pets.   

If playing with cubs and driving through camps of bored lions is all we can offer as “Gauteng’s No. 1 Tourist Destination” we have a problem.  The writing is well and truly on the wall.
Linda Park
Director
CACH