An Update From Lionsrock...

It has been many months since we said our goodbyes to Hope, Arandas, Muhawish, Amra and Khawla but we are thrilled when we recieve updates about how they are getting along.

The latest update shows that there have been many changes for our 5 friends, the biggest being the introduction of a new member to their pride - no other than our sweet Saba who joined the pride in June.

Below is the full update we recieved from our dear friend Hildegard Pirker at Lionsrock...

The 5 cubs, which had to be sedated for their relocation in the new enclosure, were darted and given first a thorough examination. As we had seen over the past months since they arrived, Hope and the smallest female Khawla developed sometimes severe limping most likely as a result of malnutrition, which we treated with oral medication. So it was the best opportunity while sedated to treat all of them with a boost of all the vital vitamins and calcium to improve their condition and prevent future problems in their growing development. The sedation was soft and not long after we placed them in their new enclosure, one after the other started waking up. While they were still dizzy and unstable on their feet, we could see that all of them immediately recognized that Saba, who arrived only 2 weeks ago, was now between them. Saba, which was since his arrival had been separated from the group, could now be inspected closely. Saba himself was also keen to finally smell and groom his new friends and kept following everyone excitedly until he made physical contact with each one of them. Hope was a little confused about this attention to the newcomer trying to get between Saba and the younger cubs, when she felt the introduction became to rough. Arandas on the other hand, as the 'biggest' male in the small pride, felt that he had to challenge Saba first, showing him his male qualities, before he decided that Saba was no threat to his pride and could become his friend.

At the end of the day, after exploring their new home, the group settled at their new little house, providing them shelter and safety for the night.

 

The next morning the group was already waiting keen for us to bring their food. Without any problems they came in the feeding area to have their first meal in the new home. The feeding showed that Saba was fully accepted by the group, as all of them fed peaceful together.

Seeta was all the time close at the fence watching their every move following them up and down the enclosure. Today she seemed to have overcome  her curious excitement and settled calmly on her favorite outlook spot. As I mentioned in my last email, she is really amazing and when we put her meat with the next feeding in the feeding area, she did only hesitate a view seconds before she came in to fetch it  with trustful calmness.

We couldn't be happier with the news that everyone is doing well and that Saba, for the first time in his life, has a family which he may now call his own. As for Seeta...the picture says it all!!

Stray Animal Control Programme

For years, as in many other countries, the authorities dealt with stray dogs by using poison or shooting them. This, of course, does not solve the problem, all it does is create space for different dogs to take over the area and multiply.

The Stray Animal Control Programme is a long term programme which is designed to reduce the number of stray animals in a humane way. The process involves catching the animals, marking the area where they are from, performing castrations and vaccinating them for rabies whilst also tagging the dogs so they are not re-caught, and then releasing them back to exact area where they were caught. This ensures that no new animals move into the area, ensures that the animals are healthy and reduces the numbers as they can no longer mate.

In Jordan, this all started with Dr. Chinny Krishna of the Blue Cross of India. India was responsible for 55% of human rabies across the world. Once the programme was started in 4 cities in India, the incidence of rabies over 5 years was reduced to 0 and the number of stray dogs declined. Dr. Krishna visited Jordan in 2009 and met with a number of officials who all agreed that this seemed to be the best way to go.

In May of 2010, a team from Vier-Pfoten (Romania) came to Jordan to initiate the programme. The team spent ten days in Jordan where they started the programme and trained the Jordanian teams. There are two centres for the programme, New Hope serving Amman and the Jordan University of Science and Technology serving the North. The operations are under full swing and within one month of the programme starting the number of dogs who had been operated on had reached just over 200. This may not seem such a large number in view of the overall problem, however with the small number of vets who are able to perform the operations we are very pleased with the overall numbers. The vets are getting more confident each day and the operations are moving faster.

We are also very fortunate that international vets are volunteering their time to come to Jordan to assist in the programme. This enables out vets to continue their training and gain new methods of operating as well as having extra pairs of hands to help! We look forward to even more volunteers!

Jordan is the very first country in the region to adopt this programme at a National level and we are very grateful to all who are working so diligently to make this a success.

To our international and local partners for helping to get this programme up and running and to all those who have volunteered - thank you!

Another goodbye...

In the very early hours of the 23rd of June we met at the New Hope Centre to load and bid a final farewell to Seeta, Saba and the three spotted African Hyenas who would be travelling home to Lionsrock South Africa. It was very bittersweet, as this time we would be saying goodbye from Amman as none of us would be travelling with them. However we couldn't be happier as we knew that they were going to the best possible place!

All the animals, except for Saba, were darted and loaded into the crates...

Saba calmly went into his crate as if knowing, though the journey may be long, he was off to a better place and sat waiting patiently to be loaded onto the vehicle on the first leg of his trip home.

The hyenas started to wake up before we loaded them and we were very pleased they remained calm throughout the whole ordeal!

Our friends at Aramex had come to our rescue yet again and sponsored the trip. Without them this would not have been possible and we were very proud to have them on board as our partners.

We loaded the crates into the vehicles, and after a last check of water, locks and the like we said our final goodbyes.

Each minute of the day and that night felt like an eternity as we waited for news of their safe arrival to South Africa. Finally at 1:00pm on the afternoon of the 24th we got word that they had arrived and all were well and safe! Pictures quickly thereafter...

En Route to Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary amid the World Cup mahem!

Seeta takes her first steps into her new enclosure.

She settles in well next to her future companion Simba!

The Hyenas waste no time stepping out of the confines of their crates into the freedom of their new home.

As for Saba; he was given a warm welcome by Hope, Arandas, Muhawish, Khawla and Amra (although Khawla did try to show him who the boss is!)

This is Arandas saying hello to Saba. They will be together on Monday 28th June, as they are still getting used to each other!

Although we are reminded every day of those who left us as we pass the empty enclosures at New Hope, however we are filled with joy and emense gratitude knowing that they are safe and free at Lionsrock.

Another failed attempt at a "zoo"...

We had received word a few weeks ago that there was a request submitted to the government for the licensing of a new zoo in the north of the country. The government refused the licence due to the terrible situation we already have in the present zoos. Obviously we couldn't have been happier with the decision. A few days ago however, you can just imagine our surprise and actual horror at the news that they had gone ahead anyway and opened the zoo!

We immediately jumped in the car and headed up north to make sure this was true, hoping that it was just a terrible rumour. Unfortunately it was true and although the zoo had not been completed, there were some animals in already. One dog, two monkeys, a goose, ducks, chickens, guinea fowl, rabbits, porcupines and a vulture. There were other enclosures still under construction and as we understood the plan was to have lions, tigers and hyenas. This deal had been struck with one of the already existing zoos who were going to sell the animals to this one.

I won't even begin to explain the conditions the animals were in; I will leave it for you decide if it is right through the pictures below...

As you can see from the pictures above, there was no water, the animals were living in their own filth and there was no shade or enrichment for them. After a few phone calls to the government bodies responsible, the decision was taken to immediately close the zoo and confiscate the animals. Thanks to the very quick action and response of the teams, the animals left the zoo that evening and were rehomed at the appropriate facilities for care and rehabilitation.

The two monkeys came to the New Hope Centre where an enclosure was quickly converted in order to provide a safe haven for the newest guests!

On being released into their new temporary home, the little two spared no time in discovering their new area and seemed to enjoy the fact that they were able to climb on natural branches again. It was a joy to watch.

The commitment and quick action of the government and the response of the teams and the RSCN means that these animals will now have a chance at a good life and those who think they may get away with doing things they want without the proper approvals will also learn that rules and regulations are applicable in Jordan!!

Riding and Massage Therapy for Horses...

An ongoing programme of great importance to PAF is the therapy and rehabilitation for injured, traumatised and retired horses as well as alternative riding methods which resolve problems for horses and riders. These methods do not include physical or mental domination of either party by the other.

 

The riding program is based on balance and heart to heart communication between rider and horse. No forceful aids are used; instead the horse is allowed to mirror the strength and weakness of the rider. In turn the rider reciprocally guides the horse to find his or her physical balance and confidence. This method of riding is used as a way of rehabilitation for previously lame or injured horses, as well teaching people a new and deeper approach to the work with the horses.

 

Along with the riding program there is also a massage program involving approximately 100 horses. In the photos two former polo mares are receiving treatment. The massage is used mainly for treating chronic or acute injuries, but there is also a program for the well-being of old horses, rescue cases and pregnant mares.

The film says it all...

On the 15th of May 2010, three hyenas were released into the wild. The film here says it all...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E8ts4USCDU

A Second Chance...

Just a few months ago we were shown footage from the local zoos of a set of wolves showing extreme streotypical behaviour. This included throwing themselves from wall to wall within their enclosures, pacing one specific line within the enclosure hour after hour, and also the fear and panic at the sight of anyone approaching them was all too apparent. This is all caused by stress enduced by maltreatment and confinement.

In January 2010 these seven wolves were confiscated from the zoos and began their road to recovery. We, at the New Hope Centre, have been fortunate enough to have been a part of that recovery. Watching these animals learn to trust, watching them learn to play, their joy at having food provided daily, and watching the knots of stress in their bodies fall away as they basked in piles of straw in the sun. Their recovery was so succesful that it was seen as time to release them into a larger enclosure allowing them to live as natural a life as possible and form their own pack.

A location was chosen for the pack and work quickly commenced, and within a short time we were ready...

After a final check of the enclosure and the finishing touches, the wolves arrived and we gathered for the release, anxious to see how they would react to their new home. The first to be released was Bint Awa, who wasted no time at all and once her crate was opened ran clear to the end of the enclosure and disappeared between the trees.

The rest were then released and one by one they disappeared off to explore their new environment. Jack took his time to leave the safe confines of his crate, but in the end Lucy came back to check on him and managed to coax him out, much to our relief and delight!

We watched with pleasure as the wolves ran around, hardly able to contain their own joy at being able to run, the feeling of earth beneath their feet, the trees high above them. They were able to hide if they so wished or come out to say hello; our main aim was to provide an area for them to live as safely and as close to how they were born to as we possibly could. Watching them we knew we had achieved our aim...

We left the pack that evening with a warm glow in our hearts, knowing that we would forever remember how, what to us may seem like such a small thing, such as space, freedom, company and respect; to others means a second chance at life...