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Zimbabwe’s Bally Vaughan Animal Sanctuary controversy clarified
Bally Vaughan Game Park, Zimbabwe
July 06, 2013

The owners of the Bally Vaughan Game Park and Bally Vaughan Bird and Animal Sanctuary (BVS) outside Harare, which provide a safe haven for a broad spectrum of wildlife and are home to some of the largest lions in the country, have issued a statement confirming that their Bally Vaughan Sanctuary is not moving premises.

In the circular letter released on July 3, Kathie McIntosh, who co-founded the wildlife operations on Bally Vaughan Game Park in the 1980s with her late husband, Robin, and formed the bird and animal sanctuary in the early 1990s, said that the project was continuing under the good care of the owners and their families.

Members of the family assisting Kathie are her daughter, Debbie Putterill, a professional wildlife guide, and her husband, Gordon Putterill, an ex-National Parks game warden with 20 years of National Parks service. He is also a professional wildlife guide. Both have dedicated their lives to animal welfare and conservation.

The current controversy relates to the termination of the BVS lease which was granted to Sarah Carter, a former employee, in 2005. Following a misleading newsletter released by Sarah, it has attracted widespread publicity internationally and resulted in significant confusion.

“In the past, we have always had managers resident in the BVS to look after the wildlife as well as the restaurants and to run its operations,” said Gordon.

“In 2005 the manageress of Bally Vaughan Sanctuary left, creating a vacuum. Sarah Carter, who joined the BVS initially as a volunteer and helped with raising some of our needy orphaned and new born wild animals, seemed like the most logical person to assist since she had a proven association with us and our wild animals,” Gordon explained.

Sarah suggested that she run the BVS with the 12 original, experienced staff - on a lease basis, and assured the family that she could attract significant sponsorship to help and aid the animal sanctuary.

This was during the period of hyperinflation prior to the adoption of the US dollar and it seemed like a better option for everyone.

At the time, Gordon and Debbie were preoccupied with dealing with the larger Game Park and Elephant Sanctuary, as well as numerous issues relating to land invasions and poaching in the game farm.

It was therefore agreed that Sarah would lease the BVS, which is a 20-acre section of the 1,500 acre Bally Vaughan Game Park.

Terms of lease

According to the terms of the lease, Sarah agreed to care for the sanctuary’s orphaned or injured birds and animals, and to maintain the good name and public relations associated with the Bally Vaughan sanctuary.

Although the animals continued to be well cared for, and Sarah raised the profile of the BVS through newsletters and other activities, the sanctuary and its facilities became very run down and the buildings and infrastructure deteriorated due to a lack of maintenance.

In view of this and more than 40 breaches of the agreement, the owners requested the rectification of these breaches within the time frame prescribed by the lease. When these were not attended to, the lease was duly terminated in May 2013.

Claims by Sarah that the lease was not renewed because she was unable to afford the rental increase have been refuted by the family.

“The initial monthly rental for the property was set at a modest rate, which escalated gradually over the eight-year period to US$1,500, the current rate for a suburban apartment in Harare,” said Gordon.

The rental included a fully equipped, furnished restaurant, a fully equipped fast-food outlet, two houses, a fully functioning animal and bird sanctuary and a pick-up vehicle.

“We set the rental this low to ensure that our animals and birds were well looked after, as they were our main priority,” Gordon explained.

Prior to May 2013 when the lease was due to end, and without the knowledge of the owners of the BVS, Sarah claimed in an advertisement that Bally Vaughan was moving, together with its animals, to a new location.

Numerous efforts made by the owners – and subsequently their lawyers – to discuss matters relating to the BVS and the lease, and to solve the areas of dispute were turned down. After being warned not to continue to use or try to take Bally Vaughan's name, Sarah began to promote Twala Trust / Bally Vaughan as the new sanctuary.

Court order

Following public statements this month by Sarah of her intention to move Bally Vaughan’s animals to Twala, and claim being laid to most of the animals and birds, it became necessary to apply to the courts for a restraining order on wildlife movements from the BVS pending a resolution.

Since rescued or donated animals were given to the BVS as a reputable, functioning institution for wildlife, the owners say that Sarah cannot lay claim to them. Large, dangerous carnivores, for example, cannot be received by a person in his/her private capacity.

The immediate effect of the controversy - and public perception that the sanctuary was relocating - has been a drastic drop in visitors who traditionally help to support the 150 large wild animals in the Bally Vaughan Game Park. These include elephant, lions, buffalo, giraffe and various species of plains game.

In 2012, a total of 10,724 school children went through Bally Vaughan Game Park, demonstrating the family’s long-standing commitment to educating children so that the country’s future leaders will appreciate, care for and conserve all wildlife.

On the morning of July 1 (2013), the owners were shocked to discover that a large capture operation was in progress at the BVS involving a 30-ton rig, light trucks and numerous cages.

In attendance were Zimbabwe National SPCA officials and veterinarians from Animal and Wildlife Area Research and Rehabilitation (AWARE). Sarah is married to Dr Vinay Ramlaul, a veterinarian and owner of the 24HR Vet, who was also present.

The owners responded by summoning assistance from Zimbabwe National Parks and the police who were requested to uphold the court restraining order and prevent the unlawful removal of animals from the BVS.

Following a meeting with all parties, it was agreed that no movement of animals should take place until a resolution had been achieved through the courts.

The owners confirmed that no animals had been sedated or left in the sun, as had been claimed by Sarah, and that all had been returned to their respective cages by her at the conclusion of the meeting.

Once a resolution to the dispute has been achieved, the owners confirm that the Bally Vaughan Sanctuary will continue to operate under their care and stress that the welfare of their animals and birds remains paramount.

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