BUS RUNS OVER TSAVO LIONESS

 STOP THE SERENGETI HIGHWAY

http://www.facebook.com/pages/STOP-THE-SERENGETI-HIGHWAY/125601617471610

 

A lioness was on Sunday night killed by a speeding vehicle on the busy Nairobi-Mombasa highway [in Kenya]. Witnesses said the lioness, which died on the spot, had her teeth, eyeballs, claws and tail were taken away by unknown people.

Parts of her skin were also removed. Several wild animals have been run-over on the highway by wreckless driviers, especially on the stretch between the Mtito Andei – Bachuma Gate, which goes through the Tsavo National Park.

Two days ago, a buffalo was killed in the same area. These incidents have prompted wildlife coservationists to ask that speed bumps be laid down in key spots on the highway.

“We have put up notices on the highway warning drivers of the presence of wildlife but many of them do not obey the road signs.Many people have died in the area after hitting big wild animals like the elephants,” said Wilson Korir, the KWS assistant director in charge of the Tsavo conservation area.

Korir said elephants, buffaloes, hyenas and zebras are the most killed by speeding vehicles in the highway. “We suspect the lioness was killed by a bus. Its very rare to find lions being hit by vehicles in the area,” he said. The assistant director warned those who made away with parts of the lioness that they will be arrested and punished.

“Its illegal for one to possess game trophies. Anyone found with the stolen parts will face the law,” Korir said. The carcass was taken to Tsavo East by KWS rangers. It was recently reported that poachers had began harvesting wildlife body parts for witchcraft.

Story above from the THE STAR December 18, 2012
http://the-star.co.ke/news/article-99883/bus-runs-over-tsavo-lioness

 

As 2012 comes to an end, Cee4life would like to remember some extraordinary animals.

As 2012 comes to an end, Cee4life would like to remember some extraordinary animals. We humans are always so quick to pat ourselves on the back and say “good job”. But out there in the world are creatures that paved the way for future animals, who’s very being and story changed things forever.

This year we met 4 beautiful cheetah cubs, the Mara Cheetah Cubs, and Tumbo the disabled cheetah cub

. We fought hard for the Mara cubs freedom and release in to the wild, we lost. They became captives. We fought for Tumbo to live an ethical life cared for by the family who loved him and raised him, we lost and Tumbo became a captive.

These cubs went into the Nairobi Animal Orphanage and film of vulgar handling, (abuse) of the wild Mara cubs was released, and then the little girl died…. xo. Tumbo the once free roaming cheetah cub was locked inside a tiny enclosure, nothing of how he had lived.

WE cried out, together we cried out.

But somewhere along the path, something happened. With all the media, all the outcry, a change was made. Now, inside the Nairobi Orphanage the surviving cubs are being cared for a little more ethically.

We here at Cee4life, want to thank these extraordinary innocent cheetahs, for paving the way to more ethical care. We want to thank them for enduring the unendurable, for existing so humans would be forced to make a better environment for future animals. We want to send them all of our love, and We promise, that we will always watch over them, and we will Never Give Up xoxo Sybelle, Donna, Dawn, Ledonna, Scott, and all at Cee4life

cee4life

http://www.facebook.com/cee4life.org

Sybelle (Cee4life) Poem for Tumbo

 

Sybelle (Cee4life)

Poem for Tumbo

October 10, 2012 at 1:42 am (Interviews)

When I was born, I was not strong

I tried to run, but my legs were wrong

My mother, my siblings had to say goodbye

The predators would kill them, if for me they had to fight

I sat in the grass and night time fell

Shaddows moved, a friend? I couldnt tell

In the morning sunshine, I heard children talking

So I sat up high, I began calling

They carried me gentley to a house nearby

A kind lady smoothed me, and looked into my eyes

“Hello little one, help is on its way”

Now I had a home, a safe place to stay

As I got older my legs became more bent

But I still swam and rolled and leapt

These things that walk around on two legs

Were pretty nice and made sure I was fed

There was a favourite place where I could be king

On top of the anthill, I could see everything

I might have been bent and strange in shape

But I galloped, not ran, through all the landscape

When my legs got tired, two hands carried me

The pain would ease, until I would sleep

These strange two legged things it seems

Was what I had for my family

One morning I woke up and the Lady was crying

There were three other people, a small cage, I felt I was dying

They took me away, I feel so ill

I look out the cage to see my last anthill

Where am I now, where is my home

My river, my grasses, my mountains are gone

Im crying now, my legs hurt so bad

What did I do that made them so mad

Now days and nights flow endlessly

I try to be quiet, but my legs hurt greatly

Where are two hands to comfort me

I wish someone would help me

We hear you calling Tumbo, we’re trying hard

Please be strong, the world hears your heart

If you get lonely, look to your left

The two Mara boys will be your friend

You see, some people dont understand that animals feel

They dont know a small cage is not what you need

There’s thousands of people who love you Tumbo

We will be your voice, we promise, we wont let go

Please sign and share Tumbo’s petition – http://www.thepetitionsite.com/962/725/234/tumbo-this-disabled-cheetah-cub-of-kenya-cee4life/

 

{Payment KWS Received for this “Confiscated Cub”}

 

 

Tumbo was found alone and crying, 5km from Lemartis camp by a group of children herding goats. They brought him to Lemartis to seek help for him, Lemartis obliged. KWSwas informed immediately of Tumbo’s presence. It was March 2012. Lemartis took Tumbo to Niarobi Vet (name withheld at this point) where Tumbo had his hips and pelvis radiographed and was diagnosed with severe calcium deficiency.

He was immediately started on dietary supplement Calphos (calcium) and a specialised exercise and diet regime was in place. Additionally, he was vaccinated against Rabies, Cat Flu, and Feline Enteritis. Tumbo was allocated a 24/7 carer at Lemartis who implemented the Veterinary exercise regime of walking distances each day and swimming. On these walks, Tumbo would be walked past various tourist venues, one being Micato Safari’s. As Tumbo grew a little older, Lemartis became aware that Tumbo’s front legs were worsening and took him back to the Veterinarian. Tumbo was then diagnosed with “Bilateral Valgus deformaties of both carpi, probably due to Short Ulna Syndrome”. On the 23rd August 2012, Tumbo’s Veterinarian advised and recommended URGENT SURGICAL INTERVENTION. Lemartis gave KWS a courtesy call to reassure them that Tumbo was not being used as a tourist attraction. KWS in return told Lemartis that they were coming to confiscate Tumbo. Lemartis provided KWS with all Veterinary information and went into negotiations, desperately trying to save Tumbo from the Nairobi Orphanage. The Veterinarian wrote a letter which included the vital need for urgent medical care in addition to providing Tumbo with a humane facility at Lake Navisha for Tumbo to recover from his operation and live a humane existence. KWS ignored it. Tumbo was confiscated and taken firstly to the Nairobi Vet section of Nairobi Orphanage. Lemartis went into negotiations. Then something strange happened, Cee4life was informed that a KWS employee indicated to Lemartis that if they paid $3000 for Tumbo, it may ensure he goes to the ethical and humane Lake Navisha. The money was paid, however, it was not Lemartis who paid it, it was the giant tourism operator Micato Safaris. Days went by, and after repeated phone calls and email correspondence from Lemartis ( and getting no written correspondence back from KWS) it was verbally told to Lemartis over the phone that Tumbo was now a captive inside the unethical environment of Nairobi Orphanage. His operation is ignored, he is heard to be crying consistently. There is no answer or justification of why Tumbo is not allowed to be treated humanely for his condition. This is unacceptable. This horrendous situation begs the questions – Will KWS ignore professional Veterinary diagnosis and recommended program for health and humane care for Tumbo? Will KWS released Tumbo for his recommended URGENT SURGICAL INTERVENTION? What has the $3000 given Tumbo because for every animal confiscated off people, there is NO requirement to pay a fee. Was the $3000 payment legal? And did an employee at KWS coerce and lie to Lemartis to get money? Cee4life will do our best to get the legal and professional medical care implemented for Tumbo and try to get him to a humane facility, but when you are up against a Government body that seems intent on ignoring any ethical animal care, it is very difficult. Please help spread Tumbo’s plight around the world, Time is running out for him. Please bring down the power of the people around the world for this disabled and very in need little cheetah. Sybelle (attached is the payment KWS received for this “Confiscated Cub”

 

Cheetah Cub, KENYA

 

cee4life

http://www.facebook.com/cee4life.org?ref=stream

 

 

A few weeks ago, the Kenyan Wildlife Service came and took another Cheetah Cub. This Cheetah Cub requires 24/7 specialized medical care. This Cheetah Cub was receiving that specialized, however after repeated plea’s to allow this cub to stay where it was (under ethical care) KWS refused and took this little cub and placed it inside of Nairobi Orphanage. This cubs name is Tumbo,

this cub was never caged. As you can see by this photograph, Tumbo has a medical condition in his legs which need specialized care which included walking long distances each day. Right now Tumbo is in a small cage and has been crying consistently since his arrival a few weeks ago. This was not made public as extensive efforts to keep him where he has lived since birth have been carried out have been ongoing, which included the need for an urgent operation on Tumbo. In the last few hours it has been confirmed that KWS will not release Tumbo, even for his operation. Money has changed hands in this situation. Its not good. Cee4life is now in the process of compiling a report on Tumbo. All support is appreciated.