Tsunami Disaster - Born Free's Response
6th January 2005

Born Free wants to ensure that we make a real and lasting contribution to the recovery efforts following this tragedy. We need to do this in the most natural and logical way, by helping those areas and those people with whom we have a special bond. The conservation community is like a global family, and it is within this family that we will concentrate our efforts so their impact will be maximised. To make a donation please go to The Born Free web site.

Geographically, the country where we do the most work and which has been one of the hardest hit is Sri Lanka, and this is where we will be targeting our support. The estimated number of deaths in the country is rising towards 30,000 and the number of displaced people approaching one million. Working with local NGOs and the Government, Born Free will provide support for activities that assist the recovery whilst protecting the local wildlife and rebuilding the country's conservation sector.

Fortunately our main project in Sri Lanka, the Elephant Transit Home (ETH), is far enough from the coast to have been unaffected. Pinkie and the other elephant orphans are safe and we will make sure that the ETH continues to run as normal. However, it has already played its part in the recovery effort as some of the equipment that we have supplied, including the JCB digger, is being used to assist in the emergency activities.

Born Free's initial pledge from the UK has been to provide funds for the re-homing of wildlife department employees who have lost their houses in the disaster. We have also been in contact with various organisations and individuals on the ground to ensure that we are acting on the best available information. An emergency committee has been established to assess the impacts of this natural disaster on wildlife and conservation, and we will be following its recommendations when they are available.

Later in January a team from Born Free will arrive to assess our priorities for support. One of these is likely to be the Turtle Conservation Project (TCP) in Kosgoda, which was devastated by the tsunami.

The Project Leader, Thushan Kapurusinghe, explained:

"As the first wave struck water levels rose to waist height and employees began collecting equipment. Within minutes the second fatal wave, 6 m high hit the beach and reached 1.5 km inland. Miraculously, our foreign volunteers, research officers and some nest protectors managed to run away from the onslaught and climb trees to escape. Tragically, three nest protectors lost their lives and all have suffered the loss of family members. The homes of all nest protectors have been destroyed, being located between 20 and 200 m from the sea, some within just 10 m. The TCP beach hut was washed away. At the TCP field station, 1km inland, water levels rose to 2 m damaging all equipment and personal properties, leaving only the structure of the building intact. All educational materials, research equipment and electrical appliances such as computers and fridge were lost; the field station was completely covered with mud and debris."

Although the exact situation regarding the turtles is, as yet, unclear the TCP is not only vital for turtle conservation, but also for the human community within which it works. Already local people have been asking when the TCP will be able to start operating again, as the project is a significant employer in the area.

Working together with the Department of Wildlife Conservation, as well as local NGOs such as the Turtle Conservation Project, Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society and Friends of Protected Areas, and in collaboration with international NGOs such as the Marine Conservation Society and the members of the Species Survival Network, Born Free will see that our contribution to the recovery efforts achieves maximum results. We will maintain our commitment to both people and wildlife, supporting activities that make a real difference to the communities affected by this tragedy and the conservation of their environment.

Please help us to help them, by giving to the Born Free Tsunami Fund for Sri Lanka's Wildlife and People.

FURTHER INFORMATION
To find out more, please contact:-
The Born Free Foundation, 3 Grove House,
Foundry Lane, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 5PL, UK
Tel: 44(0)1403 240170. Fax: 44(0)1403 327838
Email: wildlife@bornfree.org.uk
www.bornfree.org.uk

Registered charity no. 1070906