The Bella story:

The money raised by Guernsey schoolchildren on the Wildlife Walk in September 2008 has been sent to the Born Free Foundation to help with the Bella Appeal.

Bella is a seven year old lioness, blind in one eye and with a cataract in the other, who was rescued by the Born Free Foundation from a decrepit zoo in Romania where she lived in terrible conditions. She also has mobility problems due to a poor diet. As a cub she had been used as a photographer's prop in Black Sea resorts in Romania before being dumped at the zoo. She is now in one of the best zoos in Romania , where for the first time in years she is able to step out onto grass, but cannot stay there for long. Born Free Foundation have organised her rescue and an appeal by Sunday Mirror readers has again raised a great deal of money (as they did for Sarnia and Marina ), but more is still needed for her long term care. Her eyes have been operated on, and her general health has improved greatly, and she will soon be able to be moved to Lilongwe Wildlife Centre in Malawi .

John Knight (local Vet and Born Free's senior Veterinary Consultant) and UK opthalmic vet David Donaldson performed the operations, and John Knight is co-ordinating her move to Malawi.

He says that in spite of all her problems she is very sweet-natured.

It is hoped that it won't be long before a whole new world starts opening up for Bella.

Much more information on Bella is available on the Born Free website: www.bornfree.org.uk
– log on to The Bella Appeal.

All images opposite are courtesy of John Knight.

25/05/2009 Update:

FROM THE SNOW OF ROMANIA TO THE HEAT OF AFRICA
BELLA THE LIONESS ARRIVES IN MALAWI

The very good news is that Bella has now arrived at her new home in Malawi . She was in the charge of Guernsey vet John Knight, who is also senior veterinary consultant to the Born Free Foundation.

Bella had a long journey by air from Bucharest to Kent, Heathrow to Kenya and on to her final destination in Malawi . She appeared calm and comfortable even though the journey would have been tiring and stressful for her.

The pictures show her in the snow at the Zoo in Romania just before she left and then arriving at the Lilongwe Wildlife Reserve where she was greeted by Virginia McKenna who, with her late husband Bill Travers, started the Born Free Foundation twenty five years ago. When the crate was opened Bella did not want to come out initially but then she emerged, looked around her and at the people standing quietly. She walked over to Virginia McKenna and for what seemed like long moments looked her in the eye. She then walked away towards the trees and with one final backwards glance at Virginia McKenna she melted into the trees and into her new world.

Bella's long term future at the Wildlife Centre is now assured.

Photographs by John Knight

More information on Bella is available on the Born Free website www.bornfree.org.uk – log on to Big Cats