Elsa’s Pride Is A Symbol of Hope for All Lions

This feature was published in My Weekly, a magazine with 271,000 readers across the UK, on May 7, 2019

All lion photos by Simon Wachira

Cubs at seven months old

Life is not easy for lion cubs. 
The vulnerable youngsters are surrounded by dangers every day in the wild and have many survival skills to learn before becoming capable adults.

Threats to their survival are both human and natural; vicious snares set by hunters of bush meat, male lions who will kill cubs not their own offspring and packs of marauding hyenas.

Elsa’s Pride is a family of lions living around a dramatic formation of rocks known as Elsa’s Kopje in the heart of Meru National Park where the courageous George and Joy Adamson pioneered the protection of lions in Kenya some 50 years ago.

The ever-changing pride currently consists of three males including alpha male, ‘Mfalme’ and three females and their three cubs, all about seven months old.

One of the females in Elsa's Pride

The two males of Elsa's Pride

Protecting Lions

Protecting these three playful little scallywags so they survive to adulthood at the age of three is a massive challenge for the team of rangers with Kenya Wildlife Services in partnership with Born Free Kenya.

Elsa’s Pride has special significance for the Born Free Foundation, with headquarters in West Sussex, as the little pride honours the original Elsa, the famous loveable lion cub hand-raised and released to the wild by Joy and George.

The Adamsons were portrayed in the classic movie Born Free by British actors, Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers. The actors were so smitten by the beautiful lions during filming, they became pioneering wildlife conservationists and created the Born Free Foundation.

The lion population in Kenya has been decimated since the Adamsons’ glory days when more than 20,000 lions roamed the diverse and abundant habitats of Kenya. The country’s lion population has been reduced to just 2000. These magnificent apex predators have tragically joined the endangered species list.

Simon is Devoted to Caring for Lions

Simon Wachira, in the field, dedicated to wildlife conservation 

Simon Wachira, a research technologist with KWS for the past 13 years, has been meticulously monitoring the lions in Meru National Park, observing their behaviours and collecting and analysing scat and hair samples and identifying individual lions from their unique whisker patterns.

As a scientist he explains: “We do not interfere when male lions are fighting. We just observe because this is the natural order. But our vets will treat injuries inflicted from these savage clashes.

“We are carefully monitoring the cubs and observing them as they grow up and learn hunting skills from their mothers and father. We want them to grow and flourish and breed so the number of lions will increase.”

Simon was destined for this important work. He reflects: “I have been passionate about animals ever since I was a kid. I love my job. I enjoy watching the cubs playing together. The whole pride is so affectionate. The way the mothers groom the cubs is delightful to watch.

Simon is dismayed by the fearful myths surrounding lions.

“I am curious about why humans fear these amazing animals. I’m never scared of the lions. Lions can smell adrenalin. I stay very calm and sit close, observing them for hours. They know me and will rub up against the vehicle to greet me when I arrive.

“We are educating the young generation of Kenyan school children about the importance of wildlife conservation and we’re hopeful about the future of our lions.

“We also educate the local communities about co-existing with lions and respecting their habitats. The Born Free team has been clearing the lethal snares from the park.” 

At 35, Simon is devoted to protecting all three prides of around 70 lions that live in the 336 square miles of wilderness cradled by the beautiful Nyambene Hills with 13 life-giving rivers including the mighty Tana running through the arid savannah.

A Pristine Paradise

The lions share this paradise with herds of elephants, rhinos, giraffe, zebras, buffalo and waterbucks, a vast variety of antelopes from impala to elands, baboons and monkeys, warthogs, hippos and crocodiles and hundreds of species of exotic birds.

Games drives of international tourists explore this diverse and pristine national park, less known than other reserves such as the popular Maasai Mara. Revenue from visitors funds KWS to protect the delicate eco systems and precious wildlife.

I visited Meru National Park from my home in Kent to see the birthplace of the lion conservation movement, and the rocky outcrop where the legendary Elsa would climb half way to the top to languish in the shade and gaze out across her territory.

Me and guide in front of Elsa's Kopje

Me on the rock wall in front of  Elsa's Kopje

Animals in the Wild 

My game drive was thrilling! There is something magnificent and awe-inspiring about seeing wild animals in their natural habitat, at peace with nature and undisturbed by humans.

As an avid fan of the delightful Born Free movie since childhood, I was elated to be in the wilderness where the rescue and release of Elsa began a worldwide era of empathy and love for lions!

Dramatic Baobab tree

On the day of my game drive, the grasslands, spiky Acacia bushes, Baobab trees and towering Doum palms were brittle with thirst and the animals, large and small, were seeking relief from the sweltering heat in the shallow watering holes.

But that same night the longed-for rain arrived and the staff at the Ikweta Safari Camp rushed outside to dance in the wind, feel the cool raindrops and breathe in the revitalising freshness of the gift from the night sky. And the parched landscape was instantly transformed to green.

Nature has the power to revive and renew. Hopefully humans can also help return the lost lions of Meru. 

 Support Wildlife Conservation

Born Free Foundation raise funds to monitor and protect the lion population of Africa through their adoption programme. Lion lovers can adopt Elsa’s Pride for as little as £3 a month (£36 a year) by visiting bornfree.org.uk/adopt

Simon is in desperate need of a wildlife camera to record the behaviours of the Meru lions, which will assist in vital research and protection of the species.

Ikweta Safari Camp offers luxurious “tents” – beautiful rustic rooms made from a combination of solid brick structures and canvas – with giant comfortable beds and bathrooms with a bush view. The spacious restaurant offers superb cuisine while the shimmering pool provides serenity and respite for guests between game drives. 

Former UN senior advisors, Susan and John Nkinyangi established the idylliccamp in 2012 to encourage more people to explore the under-rated Meru National Park.

Susan explains: “We provide middle-range, affordable accommodation - between the extremes of high end and low end - to meet the need of travellers who dream of going on a safari adventure.”

Njeru’s Passion

Mr Justin Njeru has devoted his life to coffee farming in the lush tropics surrounding majestic Mount Kenya.

But the first time he tasted his own quality coffee was when I visited from the UK and stayed at his hotel and gave him a bag of freshly ground beans grown on the slopes of Mount Kenya that I’d bought from a supermarket in London!”

Sitting together on the shady balcony of the Snow Peak hotel, he slowly pushes down the plunger and chuckles with glee at the irony!

At the age of 76, married to wife Sylvia for 47 years, father of six and grandfather of 13, Mr Njeru has a renewed sense of purpose!

Revenge is Sweet

He is finally defying the British colonialists! And the taste of revenge is sweet!

He explains that in the 1950s the British rulers made it illegal for the local people in the fertile coffee-growing region of Meru to drink their own coffee.

Instead the lucrative product was exported for the burgeoning mass markets in the UK and profits were greedily grabbed by the wealthy elite.

Hard-working Kenyan coffee farmers were paid peanuts!  

He reflects: “I remember when coffee was first introduced to this area, people, even the growers were not allowed to drink coffee because it was not available in the shops. The only way one could drink coffee was to use crude means like grinding the beans with stones and boiling it. If you were caught you would be prosecuted. You would be taken to the Chief and punished.

“Our coffee was all being exported. It was for export to Britain, for the white man.”

Passion of a Lifetime

Mr Njeru grew up learning every aspect of coffee growing from his father. He has witnessed green berries turn into ruby cherries for countless seasons and he’s harvested and processed millions of sacks of beans.

“When coffee was first introduced in 1950 my father planted coffee. We didn't have farm implements so the children would dig the holes and watch as the trees were planted. So I developed an interest in growing coffee as a child. It has been my life-long passion.”

He nurtures 15,000 trees spread over 17 acres of idyllic farmland of volcanic red soil, basking under blue skies of endless sunshine and generous rainfall, producing the finest coffee in the world.

A Champion of the Growers

He has championed the rights of hundreds of coffee growers in the region as Chairman of the Mount Kenya Fine Arabica Coffee Growers’ Association. And yet, even today, 56 years after Independence from British Rule in 1963, farmers are still exploited by the middlemen and paid peanuts for their delectable beans.

“Growing coffee is very difficult and the regulations are stringent, especially during harvesting. You must take only the ripe berries of the finest quality.

“The coffee grown in Kenya is mostly Arabica which is better in quality because of the aroma and the acidity. And growing Arabica is more demanding, the care is more tender, than growing Robusta coffee.

“We are proud that Kenyan coffee is renowned as the best in the world.”

Justice for Justin

While coffee connoisseurs around the world are insatiable for their daily caffeine fix, the farmers of Kenyan do not receive a fair price for their top quality product, their arduous labour and their loving dedication to perfection.

But all that can change. Justice for Justin and his fellow coffee growers is possible if they can by-pass the controlling grip of the Coffee Board and sell directly to independent buyers from other countries.

Talking about his hopes and dreams, he states: “Growers should be allowed to do their own marketing and sell to the willing buyer. We are fighting for the right to sell our coffee freely.”

“Development in this region is all pegged to coffee as a cash crop. Coffee has supported education by building schools and allowing parents to pay school fees.

“I dream of processing and exporting my own coffee as a finished product, rather than a raw material, at fair price.”

As international trade markets relax, there is hope that Kenyan farmers will finally receive a fair price for their quality coffee, their expertise and their labour.  And maybe the local people will even get to enjoy a freshly ground brew of this elixir of life. 

Talented young film makers Victor and Mike made this delightful film about Mr Njeru's passion for coffee growing  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9CYFSDaq9o

Brave Lion Cub Finds Freedom

This feature was published in the Real Life section of My Weekly Christmas magazine December 2018. I wrote the story on behalf of Born Free's Chris Draper based on my interview with him describing his emotional experiences of transporting little King to freedom. 

A Lion Called King 

Born Free wildlife expert, Dr Chris Draper shares his emotional story of returning little King to his African homeland.  

King the lion cub was rescued from a filthy dog crate in a Paris apartment, the victim of the illegal pet trade.

Born Free first got wind of his sad plight after he’d been taken to a refuge in Belgium and we decided to relocate him to his African homeland.

When I first saw King in Belgium he was traumatised and terrified of humans. Just a few months old and shaking with fright, he bolted up a branch and refused to come down.

A few weeks later it was a different story. After care from expert staff, he trusted that we wouldn’t hurt him. He became less fearful and much more alert, interested and playful.

The epic journey to our big cat rescue sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape of South Africa was a profoundly emotional experience, a highlight of my 18 years working with many species of animals.

It was the first time I’ve moved such a vulnerable animal over this distance and with so many hopes riding on the outcome.

I had the comfort of knowing King was going to an idyllic habitat but the poor little chap didn't know what was happening! We tried to make the transport as comfortable as possible. But it’s never going to be a natural experience for a big cat to travel in a truck and fly in a plane!

The gruelling transportation stretched over two days and began on the hottest day of the 2018 summer. King was loaded into a cool, sturdy crate and we travelled by lorry across Europe and crossed the English Channel by tunnel to London.

At Heathrow Airport, I waited with King in the cargo area and checked on him on the tarmac as we loaded him into the hold of the plane. I was as nervous as if he was my own child!

Passengers of that Kenya Airways flight were unaware as they drank their G&T that a little lion cub was travelling just a few feet below them!

We flew through the night to Nairobi and on to Johannesburg where our precious cargo was transferred to a light plane to fly to Port Elizabeth.

Finally in the last leg of the incredible 6,200 mile journey, we travelled by road to Shamwari.

Freedom for King 

Next morning at first light we allowed King into his new home. It was such a joyful experience.

We can get strange reactions from animals as they’re released from a travelling crate. Some refuse to leave the crate and some are disorientated. But King jumped straight out and bounded into his new home. He had never felt grass before and never explored such a vast open space.

The other lions in the neighbouring camps came over to have a look at the little newcomer and started calling to him. We expected him to run in fear but he approached the fence and studied the big male lions. He wasn't fazed at all. Such a brave little lion!

Everyone was exhausted but relieved and elated! We watched the happy cub for hours, mesmerised as he played with leaves and twigs!

Our dedicated animal care team loved him straight away and I knew he was going to be well looked after.

Since then I’ve had glowing reports about his progress. King is thriving alongside other rescued lions and leopards, now living in our sanctuary in natural habitat under the African sun.

The big cats live in massive natural enclosures. We don't want to keep them in captivity but they would not survive in the wild having not learnt hunting or other survival behaviours from their mothers.

For many of our cats at the Shamwari sanctuary, the damage done by early physical abuse and neglect has caused lifetime health problems. One lioness has a wobbly head due to a neurological disorder. Others have stunted growth.

Lions are iconic to Born Free’s history however we help a wide range of endangered species around the world including tigers, cheetahs, elephants, primates, bears, whales, dolphins and many more.

Our adoption programme is vital. As a charity we rely on people’s generosity to care for King and other rescued animals at our sanctuaries, to campaign for change to the lives of animals in captivity in zoos, circuses and as ‘exotic pets’ and to support our work to keep wildlife where it belongs – in the wild.

African lions are facing a crisis with an alarming drop in their wild population over the last 20 years. King is a little champion, a symbol of hope for all lions.

Healthy and Happy King at 18 months old, enjoying life at the Shamwari Sanctuary, South Africa  

Protecting Animals

Dr Chris Draper, 42, and his wife Lianna have two toddlers and a rescued poodle and live in West Sussex near UK Born Free headquarters.

Chris is Head of Animal Welfare and Captivity with the Born Free Foundation, which works across the world to end exploitation of wild animals in captivity and the wild.

Legendary actors, Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna OBE and their son Will Travers OBE started the charity as Zoo Check in 1984. The couple became passionate wildlife conservationists after starring in the classic 1966 movie, Born Free portraying George and Joy Adamson and their pioneering work with lions in Kenya and the miraculous release of their hand-raised lioness Elsa into the wild.

For more information visit www.bornfree.org.uk

Adopt King for Christmas

By giving your family member or friend the gift of adopting King, you will help fund his lifetime care – food, veterinary care and enclosure upkeep.

For just £3 a month, or one payment of £36, they will receive an exclusive King adoption pack with a soft toy, King’s story, a lion fact sheet, certificate and glossy photo.

Available from www.bornfree.org.uk/adopt