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Born Free Foundation

In 1966, Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers starred in the classic wildlife film Born Free. The film told the true story of conservationists Joy and George Adamson who rescued a lioness cub called Elsa and successfully returned her to the wild. Virginia and Bill went on to make a number of wildlife films together, including in 1969 An Elephant Called Slowly with an elephant calf called Pole Pole. When filming was over, Pole Pole was gifted to London Zoo by the Kenyan government. Virginia and Bill launched a campaign to give Pole Pole a better life but in 1983, aged 16, Pole Pole died. Determined that her death would not be in vain, in 1984, Virginia, Bill and their eldest son Will launched Zoo Check – the charity that has evolved into Born Free.

www.bornfree.org.uk Fundraise for us
info@bornfree.oeg.uk

01403 240170

Registered charity no. 1070906

Member since June 2019

About us

OUR MISSION AND PURPOSE

We work tirelessly to ensure that all wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild, are treated with compassion and respect and are able to live their lives according to their needs.

As a leading wildlife charity, we oppose the exploitation of wild animals in captivity and campaign to keep them where they belong - in the wild.

We promote Compassionate Conservation to enhance the survival of threatened species in the wild and protect natural habitats while respecting the needs and safeguarding the welfare of individual animals.

We seek to have a positive impact on animals in the wild and protect their ecosystems in perpetuity, for their own intrinsic value and for the critical roles they play within the natural world.

How your gift could help:

£5 could buy health-enhancing vitamins for cheetahs rescued from the illegal wildlife trade and now cared for at the Born Free Ensessa Kotteh centre in Ethiopia.

£12 contributes towards the rescue care and rewilding of pangolins in Central Africa Republic.

£26 funds one days care for a rescued lions at our sanctuary in Shamwari, South Africa: Born Free has rescued dozens of individuals from run down zoos, circuses and the illegal pet trade.

£40 supports a Great Ape Guardian for a month in The Dja Biosphere Reserve, Cameroon.

£50 funds vital equipment such as a first aid kit, uniform and rations for our dedicated Pride of Meru lion conservation team in Kenya

£75 funds a one day elephant workshop aimed at transforming community attitudes towards wild animal welfare.

£1,500 funds the construction of a SMART Boma in Amboseli Park, Kenya: an enclosure to keep livestock safe, keep communities happy and stop retaliatory attacks on lions. Just take one traditional boma built from hook-thorn acacia and introduce eco-friendly, cost-effective smart technology!