ASIATIC
LIONS:
FUNDRAISING
PACK
Thank you for choosing
to fundraise for the
Zoological Society of
London’s campaign to save
the Asiatic lion.
These lions need your help.
There are only around 500 Asiatic
lions left in the world. They survive
in one conservation landscape in
the westernmost corner of India,
around the Gir Forest. They’re at
risk from poachers, conflict with
people, natural disasters and
outbreaks of disease. Their natural
habitat is becoming more and more
dominated by humans. That means
they can be hit by cars or trains, or
run into altercations with villagers.
The time is now for us all to do our
part to help these beautiful animals.
2 About ZSL
3 How will ZSL help save Asiatic lions?
4 Did you know…?
7 Meet the team working for Asiatic lions
10 How you can fundraise
12 What will your money buy?
14 Fundraising dos and don’ts
16 What to do with your raised funds
2
About ZSL
What does ZSL do?
The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) protects
endangered species all around the globe, with
conservation projects and world-class scientific
research.
Animals of all kinds are losing their homes every
day. More and more species are becoming
extinct; however, we’re working hard to protect
their habitats and reduce the number of
endangered species. In partnership with zoos
around the world, we’re constantly developing
our breeding programmes and expertise in
animal care.
How will ZSL help
save Asiatic lions?
ZSL conservationists will partner
with government institutions in
India to help secure the future
of the Asiatic lion.
1.
We’ll increase patrol monitoring efforts
across the Gir Conservation Area (GCA),
inside and outside the protected areas
where the lions live.
2.
Zoo keepers and veterinarians at
Sakkarbaug Zoo will be trained in the
highest standards of lion care and welfare
for Asiatic lions. Their training will include
workshops delivered by ZSL staff in Gir, and
they’ll shadow zookeepers at ZSL’s London
and Whipsnade Zoos.
3.
We’ll improve the training of local staff so
they can safely transport lions and other
dangerous animals, such as leopards, away
from populated areas.
4.
We’ll upgrade the infrastructure to help care
for the lions’ health and wellbeing.
5.
We’ll help establish an effective exhibits
and education programme for local
communities and visitors to learn about lion
conservation.
Where does ZSL Work?
From national parks in Kenya to the forests of
Indonesia and many places in between. We have
conservation projects running in 50 different
countries across all seven continents.
Alongside our international projects, we welcome
over 1.5 million visitors every year to ZSL London
Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in the UK.
3
Land of the Lions
We’re building a new visitor experience and
breeding facility at ZSL London Zoo.
‘Land of the lions’ will inspire our visitors to
support us in our bid to save the Asiatic lion.
Asiatic lions have long lived in harmony with
human communities in India. We’ll bring the
lions’ story to life in new and inventive ways, to
give visitors an exceptional experience that will
stay with them forever.
4
5
Did you know?
There are only approximately 500
Asiatic lions in the wild, and the
majority live in an area that is smaller
than Greater London.
INDIA
The male Asiatic lion has a relatively
short, sparse and darker mane
compared to the fuller mane of the
African lion. As a result, the male
Asiatic lion’s ears tend to stay visible.
Asiatic lions are
slightly smaller
than African lions.
Unlike African lions, pairs of males
separate from females unless they’re
mating or hunting a large kill. Females
live in smaller prides than they would
do in Africa.
Asiatic lions used to range from
Turkey, across Asia, to eastern
India, but the rise in gun use across
the world meant that they were
hunted to near-extinction.
The remaining wild lions are vulnerable
to disease, natural disasters such as
floods, forest fires and earthquakes, and
potential poaching. They live alongside
a growing human population that also
needs the land for cattle and crops.
Meet the team working
for Asiatic lions
6
Did you know?
7
Gitanjali
Bhattacharya
Programme Manager –
South and Central Asia
INDIA
GIR
Conservation status
The Asiatic lion population has recovered from
the brink of extinction to around 500 (2015
count). The species is listed as Endangered on
the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Asiatic lions live in Gujarat’s largest tracts of dry,
deciduous forest, thorny forest and savannah.
There are five protected areas; the Gir Sanctuary,
Gir National Park and Pania Sanctuary form
the Gir Conservation Area (GCA), which covers
an area of 20,000 km2. This is the core habitat
for Asiatic lions. There are two satellite wildlife
sanctuaries, Mitiyala and Girnar, and there’s an
additional sanctuary in the nearby Barda forest.
But, human settlements are eating into the lions’
habitat. They’re now in danger from diseases,
forest fires and natural disasters, grazing, and
the cutting down of the forests for fuelwood and
other purposes. They’re also affected by tourism
and people taking religious pilgrimages.
Today, the Gir landscape is witnessing an
unprecedented change. That’s thanks to farming,
industrial and urban developments. Lions in
this human-dominated landscape use specific
habitat patches (refuge sites) during the day, to
avoid conflict with other animals and humans.
But these crucial refuge sites are often privately
owned. That means that they succumb fast
to urban development, leaving the lions with
nowhere to go.
A little about myself
Why I love my work
I grew up living next to an elephant reserve in
India which allowed me to spend my holidays
observing wildlife amidst some magnificent
forests. I studied wildlife biology at university
and went on to Columbia University in New York
to pursue a PhD focussed on gaining a better
understanding of rhino ecology.
I grew up watching elephants almost in my
backyard, and I have been studying rhinos,
tigers and other species for over 15 years. I am
very aware that future generations may never
get to see one of these magnificent species in
the wild, under the current rates of habitat loss
and poaching. I enjoy the challenge of ensuring
that these wonderful species can survive long
into the future in harmony with the local human
populations, as they have for thousands of years
in the Asian context.
How I’m helping Asiatic lions
I manage ZSL’s South and Central Asia
Conservation programmes. I coordinate the
Asiatic lion project on behalf of ZSL along with
our national partners the Wildlife Institute of
India and the State Government of Gujarat in
India. We work closely with local communities
to ensure continued local support for lion
conservation by strengthening existing
education programmes. We help improve the
welfare of lions held in captivity in Sakkarbaug
Zoo, improve conservation breeding protocols,
and build the capacity of local veterinary and
frontline staff for the safe capture, transport and
rehabilitation of conflict animals.
My most exciting experience
so far
We ventured into Gir National Park after a
heavy downpour one warm evening. We came
across a lioness with two cubs at a waterhole,
who tolerated our presence just a few hundred
metres from them for over an hour. With a
population just over 500, these two cubs play an
important role in ensuring the long-term survival
of lions in the wild. Sitting in the open-topped
jeep with the mellow evening sun bathing the
playful cubs, while they enjoyed the company
of their lion mum, will remain one of my most
magical memories.
8
9
Nic Masters
Tracey Lee
Head of Veterinary Services
A little about myself
I grew up around animals (goats and chickens
as opposed to lions…) and loved biology and
being outdoors. I went to Cambridge to become
a vet, but I always knew that I wanted to work
with wild animals. I wanted to contribute to the
conservation of species threatened by changes
going on in the world. Now I work as a vet at ZSL
and I actually get to do that! We look after the
health and welfare of animals in our two Zoos,
but we also get to provide veterinary expertise
to conservation projects abroad.
How I’m helping Asiatic lions
I’m helping to coordinate the Wildlife Health
components of the assistance that ZSL is going
to provide to the Gujarat Forest Department and
Wildlife Institute of India. For example, how do you
anaesthetise a lion in the safest possible way (for
the lion and the people!) so it can be moved away
from a village? Or, what infectious diseases might
these few remaining lions be exposed to that could
have a devastating effect on the population
(e.g. rabies from domestic dogs in the area)?
Zookeeper, Mammals
Why I love my work
A little about myself
Why I love my work
My job allows me to do something about the
worrying extinction of species happening in
the world. And, no two days are ever the same!
There are so many different animals at the Zoos
and I get to go abroad for work so it is always
stimulating!
When I was young, I was always at Twycross Zoo
which was close to my home. I would drag my
poor mum, dad and sister there most weekends.
I used to watch the zoo keepers and animals,
and wanted to do that job when I grew up. My
dreams came true when I started working at ZSL
London Zoo in 1990.
I love my job because I feel like I am helping
to save and protect some of the planet’s most
amazing animals. By doing my job, I am helping to
cement a future for critically endangered animals
by breeding them in captivity. I am so lucky to
manage the section I do; our animals are incredible
and every day they make you laugh. The keepers
on my team are a fantastic group of dedicated,
caring and professional people. They also make
coming to work every day fun. Where else are
you surrounded by water, plants and the sounds
of animals playing, eating and singing, and call it
work? It is a magical place to spend my days.
My most exciting experience
so far
Whilst I have worked a lot with lions in Zoos, and
seen African lions in the wild, I have never seen
an Asiatic lion in the Gir Forest. I suspect my
most exciting experiences are yet to come!
How I’m helping Asiatic lions
I’m a Team Leader at ZSL London Zoo. I attend
meetings with the Senior Curator and architects
and ensure the animal areas are designed safely.
I need to make sure the designs will work for
the keepers’ day to day management of the
lions. Also, I need to ensure it is comfortable
and stimulating for the Asiatic lions to live in.
We need to have the animals trained so they will
comfortably go into crates and be moved into
their new exhibit by December. This will give us
time to settle them in and get them ready for
the grand opening in Easter 2016. The keepers
are travelling to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo every day to
continue working with the lions, who have gone
on holiday there whilst their new home is being
built.
My most exciting experience
so far
Being able to kiss the furry cheek of a lion whilst
he was under sedation for a sore paw! I also
brushed his mane to get the knots out before
he woke up, he looked so posh – now that is
exciting!
10
11
How you can fundraise
Fundraising is lots of fun all
through the year, but you
might want to tie your event
in with World Wildlife Day on
Thursday 3rd March, 2016.
Here are some fundraising ideas
to get you started.
• Hold a non-uniform day where everyone at
your school or work place comes in their own
clothes.
• Or, hold a dress up as ‘something starting
with an L’ day.
• Have a festival with your friends celebrating
Indian culture, including the Asiatic lions.
Or, hold a Festival of Harmony to celebrate
humans and other animals living in harmony
with their environment.
• Hold a bake sale at your school or workplace
• Host a dinner party with your friends and
charge them entry to come!
13
Fly a lion keeper from Sakkarbaug Zoo
in Gujarat to London for special lion care
training at ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos
12
What will your money buy?
Your funds will help ZSL, the
Wildlife Institute of India and
Gujarat Forest Department staff
carry out their conservation
work and protect the Asiatic lion.
£400
£400
Petrol for
conservationists
for a morning
£4
Enrichment equipment for
one enclosure at Sakkarbaug
Zoo, to ensure that lions
have regular exercise
£40
Provide a GPS unit
for a Forest guard to
carry out daily patrols
Equip a Rapid Response
Unit to rescue and relocate
conflict lions
£400
Training for 25 Forest guards in
a state-of-the-art patrol-based
monitoring tool focused on lions
£4000
£400
Dart guns and anaesthetics to
safely immobilise and relocate
lions in a conflict situation
£400
A hand-held
device for
Forest guards
to record their
daily patrols
14
15
Fundraising dos and don’ts
As a charity, we’re governed by You could also visit www.charity-commission.gov.uk
or www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk
lots of rules and regulations.
Below you’ll find some basic
In aid of ZSL
guidelines to bear in mind when Thank you for raising funds for ZSL. Recently published
guidelines mean that we need to ensure that our
you’re fundraising. If you have
supporters understand that they are raising funds in aid
any queries, please contact ZSL’s of ZSL, but don’t represent ZSL. Please do not talk about
ZSL policies or stance on specific issues (for example
Community Events team at
in press releases, in publicity or other materials for
[email protected]
your event). Any enquiries should be referred to ZSL’s
Community Events team.
ZSL Logo
Please contact the Community Events team if you wish
to use the ZSL logo. Our team can send you the correct
logo. Please do not use the ZSL logo on any materials
you create yourself without approval from ZSL.
Insurance
Please remember that you are responsible for the
activity and for making sure that it is run safely and
legally. ZSL cannot accept any liability or responsibility
for anything that might happen to people or property
as a result of your fundraising activity. If you are
planning an event that involves the general public in any
way you’ll need to budget for public liability insurance,
which can be obtained from any insurer. If you are
holding the event in a place which has liability insurance
(such as a school or community centre etc), you should
check with them what cover, if any, is available under
their insurance and whether or not you need to
arrange extra cover.
Collecting money
If you want to collect donations at your event, please
be aware that public collections do need specific
permission and licences, depending on the venue.
We don’t advise that you ever collect money doorto-door or as part of a street collection, as it’s illegal
to do so without a licence. For your own protection,
if at all possible, make sure that you count collected
monies with another person present and have them
verify the total amount raised. Ask people who want
to make a donation by cheque to make it payable to
the ‘Zoological Society of London’ rather than to you
personally. Make sure any coins and notes donated are
kept in a secure place and is banked as soon as possible,
then write a cheque to the Zoological Society of London
for this amount to avoid sending cash in the post. Any
expenses to be received from your event should only
be deducted with the prior agreement of ZSL. Ensure all
funds that you have raised are returned to ZSL within 30
days of your event.
Take care
ZSL cannot accept responsibility for accidents, so
please follow these simple principles to make sure that
everyone’s safe while they are raising money. Contact
the British Red Cross or St John’s Ambulance if you
feel that first aiders are necessary. Always ensure that
children are safe and that you do not allow them to ask
for or collect money without an adult. Nobody should
carry out fundraising in an unsafe environment, so
assess any risks involved and make sure that those risks
are eliminated or minimised, both for yourself and your
helpers and for participants. If you are going to carry
money around, take care with your personal security.
Always use a safe route, take someone else with you
and carry a personal alarm. If you hire anybody to help
organise your event, or use facilities provided by a third
party, make sure that they have suitable experience
and their own insurance. Finally, remember that your
activity if carried out within the work-place must
comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974,
as well as all relevant legislation since. See www.hse.
gov.uk
Food
If you want to offer or sell food to the public, you should
check with the environmental health department of
your local council to see which food safety laws apply.
Lotteries and raffles
Legally, lotteries and raffles are defined in the same way
and the same rules apply to both. There are three types
of lottery:
Private lotteries
If you hold a raffle at your workplace or club, there’s
no need to obtain a licence. This is the type of lottery
we recommend, since it is easy to run and isn’t legally
complex. Just make sure that the raffle is only offered
on the premises. You must make it clear who is running
the raffle.
Small lotteries
If you hold a raffle as part of an event, but not the
main focus of your event, you can also run it without a
licence. With this type of lottery, there can’t be any cash
prizes and both the ticket sales and the announcement
of the results must take place during the event. No
more than £250 can be spent on buying prizes, but no
limits apply to the value of donated goods.
Public lotteries
If you hold a larger raffle that is open to members of the
public, it must be registered with the local council. Due
to the legal issues and extra complexity, we suggest that
you avoid organising this type of raffle. Please note that
ZSL cannot supply prizes for lotteries and raffles.
16
What to do with your raised funds
By Post
Gift Aid
Complete our sponsorship form and return to:
The Government allows charities to claim back
tax on donations from UK tax payers. Please
encourage family and friends to tick the Gift Aid
box on the sponsorship form and remember
to send in the sponsorship forms after the
event. By ticking the box headed Gift Aid, your
sponsor(s) are confirming that they are a UK
Income or Capital Gains taxpayer. They have
read this statement and want ZSL to reclaim tax
on the donation detailed, on the date shown.
They understand that they must pay an amount
of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in the
tax year at least equal to the amount of tax that
all the charities they donate to, will reclaim on
their gifts for that tax year. They understand that
other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not
qualify. They understand the charity will reclaim
25p of tax on every £1 that I have given.
Community Events Team
Development Department
ZSL
Regent’s Park
London
NW1 4RY
(Please don’t post cash! Please bank your cash and
send us a cheque made payable to the ‘Zoological
Society of London’ and send to the address above,
along with your sponsorship form.)
Drop it into us
If you’re local, pop into ZSL London Zoo’s
Main Office and we can give you a receipt
there and then!
Cheques
Photos
Please make cheques payable to the ‘Zoological
Society of London’ and send to the address
above, along with your sponsorship form.
We love to see people fundraising for us,
so if you are able to send us a photo that
we can use on our website please email to
[email protected].
Donate online
Don’t forget to use the following hashtags on
social media too #ZSL #AsiaticLions
As well as using a paper sponsorship form,
you can set up an online fundraising page at
justgiving.com/zsl. This is a great way to get
your friends to sponsor you straight away online
so you don’t need to collect any money after
your event as it comes straight to us!
Acknowledgments
and incentives
As a thank you to everyone fundraising for
our campaign we will send you a thank you
letter and an update on the progress of our
work with Asiatic lions. If you’re fundraising
as a group or workplace, let us know and we
can send you a team certificate which you can
proudly display together.
Your notes
19
20
zsl.org