Purple Lioness-South Africa
Acrylic
12x14
Original
Available $800

Order this special T-shirt and help support the
Kalahari Raptor Center. Call or e-mail.

South African Lioness When it comes to preservation and protection of Africa's wildlife, from feathered to fur, no one knows better the struggles and heartbreak of this struggle more than the Kalahari Raptor Center. Situated on a 600 hectare private game reserve, the KRC's function is to care for injured and orphaned birds of prey, predators and small mammals. They believe that rehabilitation, rescue and freedom goes hand in hand with education. Their mantra is to ensure that the worlds children grow up with a kinder and gentler attitude towards all species. A big mission, but they have big hearts! Although their wildlife refuge focus and name refers to birds, more than ever they are painfully aware of the realities realted to Africias larger animals, specifically those which are part of "canned hunting" which attracts thousands of foreigners, and US hunters each year! More specifics information about these canned hunts appears under #5 on their web site at www.raptor.co.za. As you read, you will be appalled to understand of the controversy, as it is considered one of the cruelest acts we humans could undertake, as well as it being illegal. These animals are bred in captivity hand reared (become familiar with people), baited and then in a sickening ritual in a fenced area, killed by an ignorant hunter who wants to display a head or a animal pelt as a carpet or trophy in his/her home. This type of hunting shows an extreme lack of respect for life and compassion for the dignity of these animals. Sanctuaries such as Enkosini and the Kalahari Raptor Center, whose only mission is to save these animals from cruelty and extermination, are prosecuted, defamed, victimized and unlawfully excluded by provincial nature conservation officials. Please take a minute to notify South African officials of your feelings on these hunts. Write a letter or e-mail and in your own words, asking them to support legislation to ban canned trophy hunting. Call upon the Government to put a moratorium in place on the captive-breeding of all big cats. Take a minute and speak out for the lions. Use the e-mail addresses below today and speak for those who cannot. To order a special shirt which carries the Kalahari Logo...please call or e-mail.

Thabo Mbeki - President of South Africa - president@po.gov.za

Mohammed Valli Moosa - Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism - vmoosa@ozone.pwv.gov.za

Bheki Khumalo - President's Media Liason - bheki@po.gov.za

Patrick Matlou - Acting Director-General, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) - pmatlou@ozone.pwv.gov.za

Onkgopotse JJ Tabane - Communications, DEAT - tabane@iafrica.com

Francois Rogers - Ministerial Services, DEAT - frogers@iafrica.com

Phindile Makwakwa - Media Liason, DEAT - pmakwakwa@ozone.pwv.gov.za

Bantu Holomisa - UDM Leader - leaders@udm.org.za
Errol Moorcroft - DP - j.smuts@iafrica.com
The Secretariat for CITES convention cites@unep.ch