On More4 (17 August 2020 at 9pm) there's a programme called Inside the Zoo - Down Under.

The programme focuses on how vets from the Taronga Zoo tried to save wildlife as large bushfires devastated Australia.

Find out how the Zoo helps conservation and what you can do to help Act for the Wild here

The majestic Asiatic lion once roamed across Asia and the Middle East and Asia. But, by the early 1900s, the species had suffered from hunting – so much so that only about 20 remained in Western India. 

Today, numbers are increasing and now there are about 600 Asiatic lions in the Gir Forest.  The problem is that they are very vulnerable to forest fires and to disease.

ZSL is working with the Wildlife Institute of India and the Gujarat Forest Department to ensure the wonderful Asiatic Lion has a future.

4 ways ZSL are helping Asiatic Lions in the Gir Forest

1. Conservation support including training wildlife rangers and training them in using the SMART tool, which was developed by conservation organisations to establish effective patrolling systems, monitor wildlife populations and movements and identify threats such as poaching or disease
   
   
2. Veterinary support – lions have got stuck down wells and come into conflict with people, and the ZSL staff have taught vets vital lifesaving techniques such as how to intubate anaesthetised lions to help them breathe
   
   
3. Working with the Sakkarbaug Zoo where about 40 Asiatic Lions live – some have been injured too much to return to the wild or for other good reasons they live at the zoo. ZSL and the staff at the zoo share best practice and knowledge about the Asiatic Lions.
   
   
4. Education is vital to engage local communities and help them appreciate the importance of lion conservation.

Can I mention also the Lion Trust (who are specialist fund managers) who sponsor ZSL’s Asiatic Lions Campaign.  We need more businesses to get involved like this.  Thank you to the Lion Trust. 

Find out more about the work ZSL is doing with Asiatic Lions here.

World Lions’ Day is ROARING towards us (it’s on 10th August 2020) and in doing some research for this website to put up something about it, I have as always found myself getting very immersed in some of the fantastic work that charities are doing.

One of the amazing programmes I found out about today was about a very special dog called Kura and Kura’s Pride. 

Kura lives with the team working with the charity Ewaso Lions, who promote wildlife-human co-existence.  They believe "the long-term survival of lions and other carnivores depends on finding ways people can coexist with them".

Kura  turned up in the charity’s camp on the day of the Kenyan National Elections back in 2013.  He was lost and lame and looking for somewhere safe to stay.  And 7 years on, he is still with the camp!  

And now Kura is heading the Kura Pride initiative, which is working to improve domestic dog welfare in Northern Kenya.  

During the period October 2019 and June 2020, Kura’s Pride and partners managed to vaccinate over 2,600 animals against rabies and distemper.  These two disease harm people and wildlife so it’s a wonderful thing to get the jabs done. 

This video tells you more about it.  I was struck by how happy everyone looks, dogs and people.

Kura is the Director of  Emotional Stability for the charity Ewaso Lions.  As such, he warns everyone of poisonous snakes and leopards nearby, and of course he loudly announces any visitor to camp.

Find out more about Kura's Pride

Find out more about Ewaso Lions

The WWF Malaysia and Maybank are celebrating tigers from 29 July to 31 August 2020. 

They are kicking the event off on Global Tiger Day (29th July) and finishes on Merdeka Day and the idea is to get us all to #KeepRoaring for the Malayan tiger.

There are now fewer 200 Malayan tigers left.  And as WWF Malaysia point, out, we all need healthy forests - and forests need tigers. 

#KeepRoaring to save Malayan tigers, save our forests, and save ourselves by taking action!

They are us all to donate, to learn about tigers, to spread the word, and to pledge to save the Malayan tiger from extinction. 

Pledge your support to make tigers a national priority so that decisions on policy, allocation of resources, enforcement and land management favourable for tiger conservation can be made and implemented.

PLEDGE FOR TIGERS HERE

Bears About the House is on BBC2 again on Wednesday 22 July 2020.

Last week, we heard about Mary, a sun bear who was rescued by bear charity Free the Bears, and Giles Clark.  She was tiny, malnourished and close to death and she needed 24 hour care.

Visit Free the Bears here.
Please donate if you can and spread the word.
Thank you!

Bears About the House is on BBC2 is on July 15 and 22 at 8pm!  Don’t miss it!  There are record bear rescues, the first release of rehabilitated wildlife, many sanctuary developments and some devastating losses.  

On 22^nd July, Giles and his team head out to rescue David and Jane.  They are two five month old terrified moon bear cubs who were taken from the wild.  They go home with Giles Clark to have the 24/7 care.  

There’s more news on Mary as she graduates from the nursery into her permanent home, taking a confident and determined approach with her. 

And there’s devastating news as the team comes to terms with a break in and a theft.  

The quarantine building is finished and the sanctuary is able to receive bears from bear bile farms in Laos, which the government there has committed to closing once they have somewhere that the rescued bears can go.

Don’t miss it – and if you can make a donation, please donate.

If you’re outside the UK, the series will reach you later this year, and meantime, lots of never before seen clips of Mary will be on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube.

Filming wasn’t easy, as BBC Earth shows….

Visit Free the Bears here.

Donate to Free the Bears here

The charity is registered in Australia and in the UK.  There are a number of ways to help – just visit the website – including becoming a bear carer, sponsoring a bear, giving a gift to the bears, and a gift to bear lovers (humans) and of course donating.