Dear Friends

The 4th of November is my BIRTHDAY (I'll give you a clue - I'll be older than 64 but I won't be 66!!

I don't want any actual presents (the world is consumer-mad) but thank you for asking. Instead of gifts I would like to help the amazing people looking after the wonderful rescued animals at Born Free's Rescue and Education Centre in Ethiopia.

Ensessa Kotteh is a 185-acre (77 hectares) sanctuary in Ethiopia, which houses wild animals in need – orphaned or confiscated from illegal trade or ownership. Located just 30km from the capital, Addis Ababa, Ensessa Kotteh is situated on an impressive, partly-wooded, site.

Each animal that enters Ensessa Kotteh is carefully assessed to see whether full rehabilitation and release back to the wild is feasible. Those that cannot be released are provided with lifetime care.

The site of our sanctuary was personally identified by his Excellency, the late President Girma Wolde-Giorgis and allocated to Born Free Ethiopia by the Regional Government of Oromiya. The land agreement signed in 2009 grants the land to Born Free Ethiopia for an indefinite period in order to establish and operate Ensessa Kotteh.

Ensessa Kotteh means ‘animal footprint’ in Amharic, and is the first Centre of its kind in the region.

Its beautiful surroundings retain much of the naturally-occurring wild fauna and flora. Our Education Programme at Ensessa Kotteh can offer centre-based learning for schools, nature clubs, colleges and universities.

Right now, things in Ethiopia are tough, with inflation running at over 30%. So it's my hope that to mark my birthday (which also marks 40 years with Born Free!) you can make a small donation (or large) and make things a little better for all concerned!

Thank you all so much!

Please do feel free to share the details with your networks, and if you make a donation I will randomly select a winner and you can nominate anyone you like (it could be you), anywhere in the world, to have a 30 minute Zoom Chat with me to talk about nature, wildlife and adventures.

All my best wishes Willx