Hailu (c) Born Free Foundation
Born Frees Bid To Build A Future For Wildlife
6 years ago 
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International wildlife charity Born Free has launched an appeal to raise vital funds to expand facilities at its Wildlife Rescue, Conservation and Education Centre in Ethiopia.
On the front line of fighting wildlife crime, Ensessa Kotteh, near Addis Ababa, takes in wild animals confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade, or found orphaned or injured. The centre has already rescued more than 200 animals including lions, cheetah, hyenas, birds of prey and primates. Nearly all of these animals were rescued from traffickers who take animals from the wild and attempt to illegally smuggle them out of Ethiopia to sell as exotic pets.
Ensessa Kotteh urgently needs new facilities to cope with growing demand because very few of its residents can be released back into the wild. Born Free’s Build a Future for Wildlife appeal is aiming to fund an additional veterinary centre and to upgrade primate facilities at the centre.
Born Free President and Co-Founder Will Travers OBE said: “Every successful rescue means another life to care for, but Born Free never forgets the individual and with your support we can give these animals a life worth living. We fight wildlife crime so that one day Africa’s threatened animals will no longer need our care. Until that day, Born Free must continue to rescue new victims of this illicit trade and give them the safety, security, respect and care they deserve.”
Two of Ensessa Kotteh’s newest residents include Hailu the cheetah who was confiscated from illegal wildlife traders near Jijiga, eastern Ethiopia, and Kera the gelada who was found on a roadside wearing a tight collar and lead after being kept as a pet for several months.
For more information on Born Free’s Build a Future for Wildlife appeal see: http://www.bornfree.org.uk/give/a-future-for-wildlife/
For more information on Ensessa Kotteh see: http://www.bornfree.org.uk/about-us/born-free-ethiopia/ensessakotteh/
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