Happy Friday!
To celebrate the imminent arrival of the weekend here is a heart warming short video of a small child chasing birds around a park and falling flat on their face.
Oh, and did I mention its an elephant?!
Taking a tumble
OK - and here's another little treat. This is a short film from Elephant Nature Park, the sanctuary I have volunteered at in Thailand. They recently rescued an orphaned baby elephant called Dok Geaw. His mum died when he was just four months old. She had been injured giving birth but was still forced to work in the logging industry immediately afterwards. Elephant Nature Park is a sanctuary for former-captive working elephants.
This is the moment the ENP herd heard his cries and came to meet him for the first time and welcome him to his new home.
Best watched with the sound up full to hear those trumpets and rumbles in all their glory.
Dok Geaw
Have a lovely weekend!
Friday, 23 June 2017
Sunday, 11 June 2017
Warning - mildly political post!
Well what a week it's been for British politics. From Brexit to social care, education to nuclear weapons - it seems everything has been discussed and debated in great length - everything except elephants.
If you haven't been keeping up with the rollercoaster that has been British politics lately you may not be aware that elephants have been a victim of this election.
The Conservative government pledged in its 2010 and 2015 manifesto's to bring about the complete closure of the UK's domestic ivory market. To date they have failed to honour this pledge, despite the crisis facing Africa's elephants being debated in parliament twice within two months, the later just being in February 2017.
Since the Conservative government's first pledge in 2010 - 200,000 elephants have been killed for their ivory. Despite this figure, and the ongoing pressure on the government to honour their pledge and ban the UK Ivory trade - the Conservatives actually removed it altogether from their 2017 manifesto.
The UK is the largest exporter of ivory in the EU, so as well as allowing the ivory trade to thrive in the UK, we play a major role in feeding demand for ivory. This makes the UK a complicit player in the ongoing poaching that is driving elephants to extinction in the wild.
Despite its commitment to support African countries in their efforts to end poaching, and with 85% of the British population wanting a total ban, the government is instead prioritising the interests of a tiny number of British antique dealers. These dealers are the obstacle to a full ban and are lobbying for the sale of antique (defined as pre-1947) ivory to continue.
It's hard to believe that our government has made a conscious decision to remove this pledge from their manifesto and to allow the brutal killing to continue. Although it does start to become clearer once you know that wealthy antiques dealer, Lady (Victoria) Borwick, the Tory candidate for Kensington and the president of the British Antique Dealer's Association, is a friend of Theresa May's.
There was a very small glimmer of hope when Lady Borwick lost her seat in the recent election, meaning she won't be in parliament to influence any future vote on the UK ivory trade (if that ever happens!) although I'm sure she will stay close to Theresa May and do her best to ensure her earnings and a few pointless ornaments are perceived as more important than the future of this beautiful species.
If you love elephants and want to see the UK following the US and China in introducing a complete ban on the UK Ivory trade please please please keep campaigning and keep the pressure on your local MP - especially if they are Conservative - to ensure this important issue is not forgotten. It needs to be re-added to the agenda - NOW!
One elephant is killed every 15 minutes for its ivory, with more being shot for fun by big game hunters. In the time it has taken you to read this post another elephant has been killed, another baby has been orphaned and another payment been made to the very people who have the ability to put a stop to this madness.
If you haven't been keeping up with the rollercoaster that has been British politics lately you may not be aware that elephants have been a victim of this election.
The Conservative government pledged in its 2010 and 2015 manifesto's to bring about the complete closure of the UK's domestic ivory market. To date they have failed to honour this pledge, despite the crisis facing Africa's elephants being debated in parliament twice within two months, the later just being in February 2017.
Since the Conservative government's first pledge in 2010 - 200,000 elephants have been killed for their ivory. Despite this figure, and the ongoing pressure on the government to honour their pledge and ban the UK Ivory trade - the Conservatives actually removed it altogether from their 2017 manifesto.
The UK is the largest exporter of ivory in the EU, so as well as allowing the ivory trade to thrive in the UK, we play a major role in feeding demand for ivory. This makes the UK a complicit player in the ongoing poaching that is driving elephants to extinction in the wild.
Despite its commitment to support African countries in their efforts to end poaching, and with 85% of the British population wanting a total ban, the government is instead prioritising the interests of a tiny number of British antique dealers. These dealers are the obstacle to a full ban and are lobbying for the sale of antique (defined as pre-1947) ivory to continue.
It's hard to believe that our government has made a conscious decision to remove this pledge from their manifesto and to allow the brutal killing to continue. Although it does start to become clearer once you know that wealthy antiques dealer, Lady (Victoria) Borwick, the Tory candidate for Kensington and the president of the British Antique Dealer's Association, is a friend of Theresa May's.
There was a very small glimmer of hope when Lady Borwick lost her seat in the recent election, meaning she won't be in parliament to influence any future vote on the UK ivory trade (if that ever happens!) although I'm sure she will stay close to Theresa May and do her best to ensure her earnings and a few pointless ornaments are perceived as more important than the future of this beautiful species.
If you love elephants and want to see the UK following the US and China in introducing a complete ban on the UK Ivory trade please please please keep campaigning and keep the pressure on your local MP - especially if they are Conservative - to ensure this important issue is not forgotten. It needs to be re-added to the agenda - NOW!
One elephant is killed every 15 minutes for its ivory, with more being shot for fun by big game hunters. In the time it has taken you to read this post another elephant has been killed, another baby has been orphaned and another payment been made to the very people who have the ability to put a stop to this madness.
Sunday, 4 June 2017
African Parks brings new park under management
Great news! African Parks and the Presidency of the Republic of Benin have signed a long-term agreement to manage Pendjari National Park in Benin. The park is part of the W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) complex which spans Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger, and is the largest remaining intact natural ecosystem in the whole of West Africa. With an area of 4,800 km2, Pendjari is home to iconic species including elephant, cheetah, lion, buffalo, antelope and a host of other wildlife.
This critical landscape, however, faces several threats, including poaching and human pressure on natural resources. To counter this and rehabilitate the park, the Presidency of the Republic of Benin has entered into this long-term partnership with African Parks as one of its 45 flagship projects under its investment programme referred to as “Revealing Benin”. Funding is being provided by the Government of Benin along with several other donors who are contributing initial start-up funds, including the Wyss Foundation who made a significant multi-year challenge grant to African Parks specifically to bring new parks under management.
"Pendjari National Park is an exceptional reserve, which requires us to act quickly to protect and revitalise it. Through this partnership, we intend to reveal its full potential” said José Pliya, Director of the National Agency for the Heritage and Tourism of Benin, in charge of the implementation of the project for the Presidency of the Republic.
The 10-year action plan includes securing the park through effective law enforcement and ranger recruitment and training; conserving and monitoring key wildlife species; developing and managing sustainable tourism; and working with local communities. Overall goals of the partnership include doubling wildlife populations, increasing tourism by 50%, and creating as many as 400 new jobs over the course of the agreement.
“Pendjari along with the WAP complex is arguably the most important wildlife area remaining in all of West Africa” said Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks. “It’s a critical and progressive moment for conservation and the entire region; and we are honoured to enter into this partnership with the Government of Benin, to manage this extraordinary landscape for the benefit of both wildlife and the people of Benin”.
The addition of Pendjari National Park brings the total number of parks under management by African Parks to 11, covering six and a half million hectares, which is the largest amount of area under conservation for any one NGO in Africa.
Monday, 29 May 2017
Getting to know the Thames
I haven't posted much recently about my training, mainly because there isn't much to say at this stage. As I have a full year to get ready for the climb I am spending the first six months working on my general fitness levels, focusing more on specific 'mountain climbing' training for the second half of the year.
This weekend I have started to look in to what training is needed to prepare for a climb, all I can say is *!#@. I have looked at a few training plans but will be following the one recommended by the trekking company I am going with. It actually only starts 12 weeks before the climb date so I don't need to get too focused on that training just yet, but keep going on improving my general fitness, it will all help!!
My current training consists of:
The training I am doing is not only helping me shift a few unwanted pounds but is improving my strength & flexibility and most importantly is giving my heart and lungs a good workout to prepare them for the altitude - I'm sure you can imagine that the higher I go the more important it is that I can breathe!
So whilst the first stage of my training is all about the cardio the second part will be 'endurance' all the way. The recommended training plan will build up my ability to move day in day out, something that will be important as I can't take a day off half way up the hill! It builds up over the weeks, increasing the time I spend walking and hill climbing bit by bit as well as adding in weight. Lets not forget I will be doing the climb with a bag on my back!
So to get me going, and to ensure I don't get bored walking the same route day in, day out, I have started looking at options and targets along the way. I have just signed up to complete the 25k Thames Bridge Trek in September. The Thames Bridge Trek is a 25k route along the River Thames in London that is completed by crossing 16 bridges along the way. That gives me a few months to build up to a 25k trek.
I started to familiarise myself with the Thames by going for a walk today along the Thames a little closer to home. Caversham to Sonning and back again. This was around 11k so not quite half the distance but I have time....
The best bit about needing to walk a lot is getting to take in some of the beautiful sights the English countryside has to offer. I'm determined to be fit enough that the climb won't be a struggle for me - I don't want to be panting and stopping every two minutes for a rest - I want to be able to take in the sights of the African wilderness, to breathe in the warm muggy air and to know that every bit of pain I go through this year was totally worth it.
This weekend I have started to look in to what training is needed to prepare for a climb, all I can say is *!#@. I have looked at a few training plans but will be following the one recommended by the trekking company I am going with. It actually only starts 12 weeks before the climb date so I don't need to get too focused on that training just yet, but keep going on improving my general fitness, it will all help!!
My current training consists of:
- Personal Training - 1x a week
- Yoga - 1x a week
- Kettle Bells and/or Leg, Bum & Tums - 1x a week (alternate weeks)
- Fight Klub - 1x a week
- Totally shredded - 1x a week
- Plank - 1x a day (I'm still going!)
The training I am doing is not only helping me shift a few unwanted pounds but is improving my strength & flexibility and most importantly is giving my heart and lungs a good workout to prepare them for the altitude - I'm sure you can imagine that the higher I go the more important it is that I can breathe!
So whilst the first stage of my training is all about the cardio the second part will be 'endurance' all the way. The recommended training plan will build up my ability to move day in day out, something that will be important as I can't take a day off half way up the hill! It builds up over the weeks, increasing the time I spend walking and hill climbing bit by bit as well as adding in weight. Lets not forget I will be doing the climb with a bag on my back!
So to get me going, and to ensure I don't get bored walking the same route day in, day out, I have started looking at options and targets along the way. I have just signed up to complete the 25k Thames Bridge Trek in September. The Thames Bridge Trek is a 25k route along the River Thames in London that is completed by crossing 16 bridges along the way. That gives me a few months to build up to a 25k trek.
I started to familiarise myself with the Thames by going for a walk today along the Thames a little closer to home. Caversham to Sonning and back again. This was around 11k so not quite half the distance but I have time....
The best bit about needing to walk a lot is getting to take in some of the beautiful sights the English countryside has to offer. I'm determined to be fit enough that the climb won't be a struggle for me - I don't want to be panting and stopping every two minutes for a rest - I want to be able to take in the sights of the African wilderness, to breathe in the warm muggy air and to know that every bit of pain I go through this year was totally worth it.
Sunday, 28 May 2017
The 500 elephants campaign
Any regular followers will know that one of the reasons I am supporting African Parks is their 500 elephants initiative.
Africa Parks in collaboration with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife is undertaking one of the largest elephant translocations in human history. Up to 500 elephants will be moved over this year and next from Liwonde National Park and Majete Wildlife Reserve, to Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve. All three parks are managed by African Parks, who is responsible for the protection of 90% of Malawi's elephants.
The 500 elephants are moving as African Parks is building a 16,000 ha sanctuary in Nkhotakota for the elephants and other reintroduced game species. This is an extremely hopeful story for conservation, elephants, Malawi and the people involved. It will relieve two parks of human-elephant conflict situations and better protect their habitats while simultaneously restoring wildlife to a park that has been depleted due to poaching. The new arrivals to Nkhotakota will help with tourism, park development and local employment whilst fueling a conservation led economy.
I wanted to share this video with you - it only short and is therefore perfect to watch with a cuppa in your break.
It goes behind the scenes of this epic move, showing just how much team work, courage, compassion, determination and inspiration there is at African Parks - they set an example to us all!
500elephants
If you want to help make a difference and help secure the future of these beauties, along with other species threatened with extinction, you can sponsor me below. Go on, you know you want to. 😘🐘
Africa Parks in collaboration with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife is undertaking one of the largest elephant translocations in human history. Up to 500 elephants will be moved over this year and next from Liwonde National Park and Majete Wildlife Reserve, to Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve. All three parks are managed by African Parks, who is responsible for the protection of 90% of Malawi's elephants.
The 500 elephants are moving as African Parks is building a 16,000 ha sanctuary in Nkhotakota for the elephants and other reintroduced game species. This is an extremely hopeful story for conservation, elephants, Malawi and the people involved. It will relieve two parks of human-elephant conflict situations and better protect their habitats while simultaneously restoring wildlife to a park that has been depleted due to poaching. The new arrivals to Nkhotakota will help with tourism, park development and local employment whilst fueling a conservation led economy.
I wanted to share this video with you - it only short and is therefore perfect to watch with a cuppa in your break.
It goes behind the scenes of this epic move, showing just how much team work, courage, compassion, determination and inspiration there is at African Parks - they set an example to us all!
500elephants
If you want to help make a difference and help secure the future of these beauties, along with other species threatened with extinction, you can sponsor me below. Go on, you know you want to. 😘🐘
Sunday, 21 May 2017
A day in the life of....
Today I had absolutely nothing on. Nothing in the diary, no training plans, no sewing, nothing. I was very much looking forward to my day of nothing and because of that I LITERALLY HAVEN'T STOPPED!!!
I used to be really good at doing nothing, I could easily occupy myself making tea, playing with the cats, watching a bit of TV, having a bath etc but now it seems the only way I can get any rest is to actually do something that forces me to leave the house. So much for a quiet one!
This is what a 'rest day' in the life of someone planning to climb Kilimanjaro looks like:
Lisa's to do list - Sunday, 21st May
I'm tired and I'm meant to be resting! Its fair to say Kilimanjaro and all its prep is taking over my life this year. But lets not forget why I'm doing it.
I couldn't just have a boring post about my life so am sharing some photos of a little cutie. 'Navaan' was just a month old when I volunteered at the elephant sanctuary in Thailand. Here are a few shots of this cheeky little boy to take your mind off the fact that Monday morning is looming....
I used to be really good at doing nothing, I could easily occupy myself making tea, playing with the cats, watching a bit of TV, having a bath etc but now it seems the only way I can get any rest is to actually do something that forces me to leave the house. So much for a quiet one!
This is what a 'rest day' in the life of someone planning to climb Kilimanjaro looks like:
Lisa's to do list - Sunday, 21st May
- Draft some blog posts
- Plank (of course!)
- Complete another module of the Animal Conservation course I'm doing
- Glute stretches
- Washing
- Charity Shop drop
- Write Kilimanjaro kit shopping list
- Contact my local MP candidates about an issue I am interested in (yes I'm getting into politics!)
- A few kettlebell swings
- Ironing
- Bath
I'm tired and I'm meant to be resting! Its fair to say Kilimanjaro and all its prep is taking over my life this year. But lets not forget why I'm doing it.
I couldn't just have a boring post about my life so am sharing some photos of a little cutie. 'Navaan' was just a month old when I volunteered at the elephant sanctuary in Thailand. Here are a few shots of this cheeky little boy to take your mind off the fact that Monday morning is looming....
Sunday, 14 May 2017
Still planking...and fundraising!
Following my 'Planking for Parks' post I had a request for video evidence not just of my least favourite plank (the rowing plank) but also the Spiderman plank, so before I update you on my fundraising activities - pls see the evidence below (I hope this satisfies your curiosity Kate!) 😉
Lisa does the Rowing Plank
Lisa does the Spiderman Plank
Now on to more important things as fundraising got in to full swing this week:
Fight Klub/Totally Shredded
Lisa does the Rowing Plank
Lisa does the Spiderman Plank
Now on to more important things as fundraising got in to full swing this week:
Craft Sale
Having had some beautiful African fabric donated to me, I got busy with the sewing machine to create some unique items to sell. These included bags, scarves, table cloths, pillow cases, pencil cases and even some elephant figures. In addition to the home made goodies I also brought some necklaces & pictures back from a recent trip to Bali.
The goodies have been on sale for five days now with £264 already raised - which is amazing given the prices start from just 50p! My 'shop' was of course branded with elephants - and some freebie safari themed biscuits for all shoppers.
As long as I have stock to sell I will be selling so if you want to know whats available still please let me know.
Fight Klub/Totally Shredded
A big part of my training to climb is Fight Klub and Totally Shredded. These are two fantastic fitness classes that I'm totally addicted to. I did go to them before I agreed to climb Kilimanjaro but now I have an excuse to go every week - and I'm seeing the pounds drop off and my muscles getting stronger every day.
Duane and Darren (or Double D as they call themselves) have agreed to run a double session of both classes back to back to support my fundraising. Not only that, but the venue is waiving the room hire fee so I am getting the whole event with no cost at all. This is really generous of both 'Double D' and the venue who are both running a business at the end of the day.....no costs means all the money raised from this event will go straight towards my fundraising, and more importantly to African Parks.
Details of this will follow but in the meantime block out the evening of Friday, 28th July in your diaries so you don't miss out.
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