Pride Of Kenya Lions Prowl Streets Of Nairobi

Kenya Tue 01-09-2009

Pride Of Kenya Lions Prowl Streets Of Nairobi
By Born Free Foundation

At a ceremony this week 2nd Sep 2009, The Minister for Wildlife and Forests, The Rt Hon. Dr Noah Wekesa, Director of the Kenya Wildlife Service, Dr Julius Kipng’etich, CEO of the Born Free Foundation, Mr. Will Travers, and other dignitaries, officially ‘unleashed’ the Pride of Kenya lions.

Conceived by the Born Free Foundation and Wild in Art, Pride of Kenya is a spectacular public art event, featuring fifty of the world’s most colourful and unique lions, aimed at bringing public attention to this increasingly threatened species and raising funds for lion conservation and protection.

“Kenya without wild lions would be a tragedy. If we can make room for animals like elephants and lions - species that require so much undisturbed space – we can also make room for thousands of other, smaller, but no less unique, creatures as well.

In order to do that, we must also make sure there is space for them in our hearts and that is exactly what Pride of Kenya encourages us to do.“ Minister Wekesa stated at the ceremony which was held at the main gate of Nairobi National Park.

The fifty lions will now be scattered through the City of Nairobi creating an exclusive City Safari – the first of its kind in East Africa.

One of the lions by artist Andrew McNaughton

Nation Media Group, one of the event sponsors, will be encouraging citizens to see if they can spot all 50 lions wherever they are ’on the prowl’ and to enter competitions with prizes.

Kenya Data Networks (KDN), the leading network operator in East Africa, is supporting Pride of Kenya by developing and hosting the website (www.prideofkenya.co.ke) and has sponsored 2 lions. “We took up this initiative, not only to sensitize the community about the plight of lions in Kenya but also to draw attention to issues of conservation at large.

This is a major problem that if not quickly resolved will lead to many Kenyans not only loosing their jobs in the short term but also destroying our beautiful country.” said Vincent Wang’ombe, Chief Marketing Officer of KDN.

He further added that “There is an urgent need to sensitize the public and push for formulation of national guidelines on lion conservation and management in the long-term, and this is the passion that led us to participate in this project”.

Will Travers, CEO of the Born Free Foundation, an international wildlife charity, commented: “I have never seen anything quite like it! This event demonstrates to the world that Kenya is bursting with artistic talent and creative flair. These lions are the ambassadors for their species which sadly, in many parts of Africa, is now under threat.”

Dr Julius Kipng’etich, Director of KWS agreed, and went on to say: “There are only six countries in Africa with 2,000 or more wild lions. Kenya is one of those countries. They are one of the Big Five. They are what many international guests come to see and they are part of our natural heritage. KWS and Born Free, along with all our other partners, are dedicated to making sure that they stay wild and free as nature intended.”

The lions will be on display until the end of October, when they will be brought together for one last time as part of a gala auction to be held at the Headquarters of the Kenya Wildlife Service on 6th November.

Virginia McKenna OBE, one of the original stars of the classic wildlife film Born Free will be coming to Kenya to attend this very special event, which also marks the 25th Anniversary of the Born Free Foundation, the wildlife charity she founded in 1984 with her late husband, the actor Bill Travers.

Funds raised by the auction and Pride of Kenya will be used to support lion conservation projects in Kenya as well as the other work of the Born Free Foundation.

CONTACT DETAILS

www.bornfree.org.uk

For more details contact Alice Owen on 0735200200 or Wanja Kimani on 0722524837 or go to the Pride of Kenya website on www.prideofkenya.co.ke or the Born Free website on www.bornfree.org.uk

Tickets for the Gala Auction on the 6th November are available on a strictly first come first served basis. For details call Wanja Kimani on 0722524837

About Born Free Kenya

Born Free Kenya is a dedicated and hard-working team based in Nairobi, headed up by Born Free East African representative, Alice Owen. Working on conservation and animal welfare issues in Kenya, the Born Free Kenya team tackles diverse issues from removal of deadly bushmeat snares and human/elephant conflict resolution to working with communities to improve health, education and environmental protection.

Reflecting the values of Born Free Foundation, Born Free Kenya seeks to protect threatened species and keep wildlife in the wild. Visit http://www.bornfree.org.uk/about-us/born-free-kenya/ for more information.

About Born Free Foundation

The Born Free Foundation is a dynamic international wildlife charity, devoted to compassionate conservation and wild animal welfare. Born Free takes action worldwide to protect threatened species and stop individual animal suffering. Born Free believes wildlife belongs in the wild and works to phase-out zoos.

We rescue animals from lives of misery in tiny cages and give them lifetime care.

Born Free protects lions, elephants, tigers, gorillas, wolves, polar bears, dolphins, marine turtles and many more species in their natural habitat, working with local communities to help people and wildlife live together without conflict. Our high-profile campaigns change public attitudes, persuade decision-makers and get results.

Every year, Born Free helps hundreds of thousands of animals worldwide. Visit www.bornfree.org.uk for more information.

About Wild in Art

Wild in Art is dedicated to the promotion of art through the use of its unique animal sculptures as a three dimensional artist’s canvas. Through the creative use of its animal sculptures, Wild in Art believes that it can raise awareness of the challenges facing many of the world’s animal species.

Wild in Art specialises in working in partnership with cities, towns and villages in the creation, promotion and management of mass public appeal art events. Wild in Art takes a strategic approach and works with key partners in regeneration, tourism and culture to ensure that their social, economic and cultural objectives can be fulfilled. Visit www.wildinart.com for more information.

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