Newz: November 2007

THE ZOO NEWZ
The Lion’s Roar, A Laura Simms Community and Compassion Initiative
Saving Animals in Need and
Changing the story a community tells about itself

November 2007

NEWS FROM BUHUSI To those of you who have supported THE LION'S ROAR intiative to help rehome the desperately in-need animals of the closed Buhusi Zoo in Northern Romania, we have immense appreciation and hopeful news. We also have a great need still! We are calling upon you to help us in any way you can: financial support, contacts, ideas and perhaps some well used time.

This summer four of the five bears at the Zoo were moved to the sanctuary in Brasov. They are still in temporary enclosures awaiting release into the main area of the Refuge. However, the holding area is a far cry from the squallid, concrete cages where they spent the last twenty years of their lives. They have grassy mounds, fresh water for swimming, bathing and playing, and trees to climb in a large area. They are doing well, gaining weight and strength.

Wtih the incredible hard work of our UK partner Jane Sanderson, Born Free, and Animal Protection of Romania (APAR) devoted director Monica, three of the healthy lions were moved from small concrete cages to bush like huge enclosures in Shamwari Reserve in South Africa. We are posting photographs so you can see where they now live. The two boys share a large area with their mother all of whom were born in the Buhusi Zoo. Their spines are lengthening, they are gaining weight and health and little by little are starting to relax, play and enjoy the water, the hills overlooking a great vista, and the platforms for height and bush for shelter. They have won the hearts of the keepers who find them interested not only in each other and other lions, but enjoy the company of those that feed and care for them.

WE have just heard that the one winged stork, the little baboon family (the female is pregnant again), the pony and the goats are all leaving for the much better zoo in Berlad. In Berlad they will have grass and larger enclosures, some proper care and better food, and will be part of the renovation project to rebuild the zoo and provide compassionate habitats of good size.

The cats and dogs, who have been caged at the zoo have been inoculated and received passport to travel to the UK where homes will be found for them. We are waiting to hear about the possible rehoming of the horses by a Horse Protection agency, also in the UK.

However, we have now to immense task of finding a solution to rehome the three lions. Please read about these precious creatures who have lived in cramped spaces, suffer from disabilities but are loving and deserve a decent future. We also have nine dingos who live in decrepid spaces. They have spent their whole lives in captivity. In the last few years, we have proided some medical help and better food for these rare wild dogs and have no doubt that they can live playful and good lives given space and shelter with proper care.

Ursula, the Tibetan female bear, who is almost blind, is now moving through the expanded space provided with the removal of the other bears. She is tender and friendly, often hand fed. However, her cages are dirty, in ill repair. We hve heard from WSPA, who has generously created the refuge that she will be moved this spring! We need to provide her with care, food, activity and some basic repair to the cages through the winter months.

NOW IS THE TIME TO HELP. We are almost raching our goal of rehoming all the animals. But the last may be the hardest. We may have to buy an enclosure for the dingos at a zoo, and build a special refuge for the three lions. We need to feed the remaining animals this winter, provide hay, and medical assistance. Your donations are needed and appreciated. Gabi, who was born in Buhusi, and whose sister Alina is our on the ground remarkable contact are working on creating a photo display so you can see the animals in their new homes, and revisit the animals we need to help.

DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE IN THE US. Every penny is used for the animals, veterinary care, and needed repairs. Each time that our partner Jane Sanderson has been able to spend several weeks at the Zoo, we have been able to make improvements, insure proper care and further the cause of animal protection in Romania. We would like to raise funds for Jane to return again this Easter. It will be hopefully Lions Roar's last visit. This time we would like to send her with the chance of staying in a hotel with good meals and transportation so that she does not return sick, and can give all of her time to the aid of the animals.

IF YOU HAVE TIME TO WRITE TO ANIMAL ORGANIZATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE DINGOS AND THE THREE LIONS or have contacts worldwide, please let us know. We are a small organization who volunteer to help the zoo.

Not only does the success of this endeavor bring solace to the animals. It literally removes them from the torture of inadequate food and a caged existence, but it helps a country trying to recover from the lack of care and hope that grips people exposed to long years of poverty, the aftermath of communism and lack of vision for the future. We have done everything we can to keep the community, particularly the children of buhusi , partners in all that we have done.

Thank you,

THE LIONS ROAR team

Laura Simms
Jane Sanderson
Sue LeBoutillier