As reported by the Guernsey Press:

GUERNSEY school children are helping transform the life of a lioness rescued by the Born Free Foundation.

More than 100 people took part in the first Friends of Wildlife Walk in September, including 66 children from five schools. Pupils from Hautes Capelles, Beechwood, Melrose, Blanchelande and Vauvert Primary this week collected their certificates from Lady Malbon at Government House. Melrose raised the most money with a total of £782.15, closely followed by Hautes Capelles with £729.73. Blanchelande raised £540 and four boys from Beechwood raised £100. Nine-year-old Mabel Goacher single-handedly represented Vauvert, raising more than £30. “I'm quite proud that I was the only person from my school,” she said.A teacher had told them about it in assembly. “I'm always bored on Sundays and thought it would be nice.” Mabel took part with her mother after trying unsuccessfully to persuade her sister to join her. “I'll try and get her to come next year,” she said. At just four years old, Hautes Capelles Reception pupil, Niloufer Kankashi, was the youngest to take part. Her eight-year-old sister told her about the event, which she did with her grandfather. “I thought it was a nice idea and I wanted to do it. It was quite a long walk, but it's good that it is helping the animals,” she said.

The walk raised more than £2,800. ATC Trustees (Guernsey) and Bucktrout sponsored the event, so all money raised went directly to the foundation to help save Bella the lioness. She was rescued from a zoo in Romania and will eventually be rehomed in Lilongwe Wildlife Centre in Malawi. Local vet, John Knight, is veterinary consultant to the foundation and is looking after Bella. He showed the pupils a photograph of her when she was found and then after she had been treated. He said looking after Bella for the rest of her life, up to 17 years, would cost £100,000. “You have made a significant difference,” said Mr Knight.

All students received a certificate and the 10 who each raised more than £75 also received a framed photograph, taken by local wildlife photographer Gloria Cotton, of Sarnia, one of the two lion cubs quarantined in Guernsey last year. Teachers and parents were thanked by the Friends of Wildlife for helping their children to take part. This year, the walk will be on Sunday 20 September.