MESSAGE OF THANKS FROM BORN FREE'S VIRGINIA MCKENNA:

 "I wanted to express enormous gratitude to all those friends of Virginia and Jenna Lundin who, instead of giving them birthday gifts, donated so generously to the Born Free Foundation.  The money raised will be used to build ‘hospital camps’ for the 3 leopards at our Rescue Centre at Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa.  Sometimes the animals need to be separated – for feeding or examination, and to have individual ‘camps’ greatly reduces stress – something we all strive for.
 
All our thanks and our very good wishes.
 
Yours
Virginia"

(McKenna, Founder of The Born Free Foundation)

(Our original pre-birthday message:)

Thanks for considering a donation toward the care of our three 10 year old rescued Sudanese leopards. In combining our big birthdays, Jenna and I really did not wish for any gifts for ourselves, but hoped to continue our decade of supporting Nimira, Alam and Sami the orphaned leopards in some significant way; our wish would be to ask for donations that would enable us to make a special gift for the triplets' benefit.

The Born Free Foundation and Shamwari who care for them at their big cat sanctuary near Port Elizabeth, South Africa, have expressed how the leopards' enclosure could use some upgrades, mainly for their “hospital camp.” Currently there is only one, which is used on feed days when Sami is shut in there to prevent him from stealing his siblings’ meat! Otherwise, the camp has only been needed for the rare occasions that one of the leopards has needed darting and treating. Now as they begin their second decade, we anticipate the leopards could need more frequent care veterinary attention.

Our “75 Birthday” donation would allow Born Free to build them a hospital camp each. These three new hospital camps will be made of solid mesh fencing rather than of the electric fencing that is used throughout their three acre bush camp, which will allow the curious and friendly leopards the opportunity to push their heads and rub their bodies along this part of their enclosure when the care team come with their food and to check on them. I know they will really enjoy this! Since being found by the Sudanese army and hand-reared by Dr and Mrs Bagi in Khartoum, they have remained friendly and curious; they really enjoy human company.

It is incredible to think that Jenna and I are turning 75, and that 10 years have passed since the triplets arrived at Shamwari, having been found as tiny orphaned cubs in Sudan. Thank you so much for celebrating our birthdays and the success of this wild animal rescue.

Much love,

Dina and Jenna