Pacing and circling - stereotypic & abnormal behaviour Born Free Foundation 2026-09-29 | Pacing and circling - stereotypic & abnormal behaviour
Local community visits Shamwari Private Game Reserve Born Free Foundation 2024-10-08 | We recently invited key members of the local community around Shamwari Private Game Reserve in South Africa, to visit us, learn about what we do and discuss the benefits of habitat restoration and sustainable resource use. The day ended with a relaxed lunch, sponsored by Shamwari, and a final conversation about how we work together to meet our joint priorities. We are so grateful for their time and very excited about the future.
Timtom the rescued orangutan Born Free Foundation 2024-10-03 | Timtom was just a baby when taken from her mother and illegally kept as a pet. 💔Rescued by the Born Free-supported Orangutan Foundation she's now part of their soft-release programme and will be looked after until ready to return to the wild. She’s eight-years-old now, and well-known amongst the team for her beautiful, luxurious red hair – a sign that she’s healthy and thriving!The main mode of transport for Timtom to reach new areas of forest is by canoe. She has become very comfortable with her canoe rides across the river! You can adopt Timtom to help Orangutan Foundation prepare her for a life in the wild: bornfree.org.uk/adopt/orangutan
Clawing at the Cages: Help end the suffering of big cats in zoos Born Free Foundation 2024-10-01 | Zoos are hiding behind their conservation and education claims, but the truth is, big cats don’t belong in zoos.Big cats should be free to roam the wild, not imprisoned in zoos. Your donation today can help us take urgent action to stop the misery.For more information, visit www.bornfree.org.uk/clawing
The Human Habitat Born Free Foundation 2024-09-10 | On the day Born Free launched its Clawing at the Cages report and appeal, patrons including Amanda Holden, Kirsty Gallacher, and Jenny Seagrove took part in a central London protest to shine a spotlight on the restrictive living conditions facing big cats in zoos across the UK and Europe.It's time for the UK government to end the suffering of big cats in zoos.Will you join our call for a Roar-free UK?bornfree.org.uk/clawing
Help us call for a Roar-Free UK Born Free Foundation 2024-09-10 | Zoos are hiding behind their conservation and education claims, but the truth is, big cats don’t belong in zoos.We are calling on the UK government to phase out the breeding of big cats in UK zoos, ban the use of big cats for visitor 'experiences' and shift the focus on to implementing effective measures to protect wild big cats in their natural habitats. Will you help? Sign our petition at: support.bornfree.org.uk/page/154012/petition/1?ea.tracking.id=YT
Elephant conflict workshops help people and elephants to coexist safely! #conservation Born Free Foundation 2024-08-15 | ...
Supporting people to live safely alongside elephants Born Free Foundation 2024-08-13 | Innovative, simple and cost-effective, Born Free’s practical work to help people and elephants coexist in Meru, Kenya is having a giant impact. Through a conflict mitigation toolkit, which includes a noisy shaker called a Mwakima, and puppet-based Elephant Behaviour Workshops we aim to achieve coexistence between humans and wildlife.This is the beginnings of a pivotal shift in human attitudes towards elephants and the increased safety of neighbouring communities in Meru. Giving hope that, with continued efforts, we may begin to see a more harmonious coexistence, in which crop destruction, elephant and human fatalities are significantly reduced.Read more about this work in our blog post: bornfree.org.uk/news/how-puppets-help…le-and-elephants
What are predator-proof bomas, and how are they helping people and lions? Born Free Foundation 2024-08-13 | Dr David Manoa explains predator-proof bomas and how they've helped to reduce conflict between people and lions and other predators in Amboseli National Park. Innovative solutions like this are helping people and lions to live safely alongside one another! Read more about how this programme is now expanding into Meru: bornfree.org.uk/news/life-saving-bomas-arrive-in-meru
Elephant puppets help communities learn about their behaviour & stay safe around these herbivores Born Free Foundation 2024-08-09 | ...
Lion for Life - KiSwahili Born Free Foundation 2024-07-31 | Learn about the vital ecological role lions play in their savannah habitats, the threats they face and what we can do to protect them. This video is in KiSwahili. If you require the English-language version of the video, you can find it here: youtu.be/gyq4iabfsmo
Born Free turns 40! What do we want to see in the future? Born Free Foundation 2024-07-30 | As Born Free turns 40, we asked our staff in the UK what they're most proud of, and what their hopes and dreams are for the future!Learn more about our work at www.bornfree.org.uk
Rescued wild animals enjoying enrichment Born Free Foundation 2024-07-25 | At our rescue centre in Ethiopia - Ensessa Kotteh - 'enrichment' helps our animals stay active and stimulated. With 160 rescued animals including lions, cheetahs, hyenas, primates and tortoises, our team is always busy! Enrichment varies for species and is regularly changed to keep our animals challenged and engaged. Read more in our blog post: bornfree.org.uk/news/caring-for-rescued-lions-hyenas-monkeys-and-more
Farewell, Louga Born Free Foundation 2024-07-18 | We are extremely saddened to share that we recently had to say goodbye to our beloved 16-year-old lion Louga, at our sanctuary in South Africa. Having been forced to perform in a circus for many years, Louga and his three companions, Angela, Bellone and Saïda arrived at our Big Cat Sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve in February 2022. At Shamwari, we lavished the four lions with the best possible care. It was heartwarming to see how they transformed in their new home, living enriched and satisfied lives in their spacious bush enclosure. But then, very sadly, Louga was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure. Conditions such as chronic kidney failure are not uncommon in big cats which have been exploited in captivity from such a young age, and had received completely inadequate care.Heartbreaking as it is to let him go, we are honoured to have been able to provide Louga with a wonderful life. He was loved and properly cared for in his forever home at Shamwari in his last few years.Read our full tribute to Louga: bornfree.org.uk/news/a-tribute-to-louga
Horus and Dadou update Born Free Foundation 2024-07-17 | Horus and Dadou were both victims of the illegal exotic pet trade in France. Dadou was rescued from a Lamborghini sports car on the Champs-Elysées in Paris, and Horus was rescued from an apartment in the suburbs of Paris. They were both rehabilitated at Tonga Terre d’Accueil, a wildlife rescue centre in Lyon, France. They became very close and when they were relocated together to our sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve they continued living together! Read about all the big cats that live at our Big Cat Sanctuary on our website: bornfree.org.uk/shamwari-big-cats
Lions for Life Born Free Foundation 2024-07-09 | Learn about the vital ecological role lions play in their savannah habitats, the threats they face and what we can do to protect them.
Why communities are at the heart of our conservation work 🧡 #wildlife #conservation Born Free Foundation 2024-07-04 | ...
What are Village Savings and Loan Associations? Born Free Foundation 2024-07-03 | What are Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), and why has Born Free established these in Kenya? Elizabeth explains what this initiative is, and why it's relevant to a wild animal welfare and conservation charity.You can also learn about the very real benefit this has had on women in Amboseli, and read some case studies on our website bornfree.org.uk/news/village-saving-groups-benefit-hundreds-of-families-in-kenya
Help put nature and animal welfare on the agenda in this general election Born Free Foundation 2024-06-11 | The UK’s General Election is just a few short weeks away. However, despite the crisis facing biodiversity – a crisis that ultimately impacts us all – the protection of our precious wildlife and the welfare of both free-living and captive wild animals have barely featured in the election debates.It is vital that we ensure parliamentary candidates from all political parties understand that, while animals don’t have votes, we do, and that their approach to nature protection and the welfare of animals will influence how we cast our votes.To make it easy to tell parliamentary candidates how we feel, we have set up a simple form that will allow anyone in the UK to contact all the candidates in their constituency, and raise the key wildlife issues that you want to see your future Member of Parliament prioritise.Complete the simple form to email your local candidates here: support.bornfree.org.uk/page/151577/action/1?ea.tracking.id=YT
Empowering women in South Africa Born Free Foundation 2024-06-03 | Our Lavelihkwezi Women Empowerment Project, focussed on sewing and other handicrafts, enables the women within our local community in South Africa to use skills they already have to empower themselves. After support from Born Free, in the form of training, start-up costs and guidance, the group currently works full-time on the production of a toiletry gift bag. As this group is part of Born Free’s wider community outreach programme, we also engage them in wildlife and environmental education and offer them the opportunity to visit our centres to learn more about Born Free’s work and the natural environment.
Rescued leopards Alda and Ginny settle in well at their new sanctuary home Born Free Foundation 2024-05-28 | Leopards Alda and Ginny, who were rescued from an illegal breeding centre in Poland, are settling in well to their lifetime sanctuary home in South Africa 🧡
How beehives help people and elephants coexist Born Free Foundation 2024-05-20 | It's World Bee Day and we're celebrating the power of the bee to help elephants and people coexist! Elephants have a natural fear of bees, so building beehive fences can help deter elephants from straying too close to communities. This helps to keep both elephants and people safe from conflict. Learn more about our work to protect elephants and giraffes in Meru National Park, Kenya: bornfree.org.uk/field-conservation/saving-merus-giants
Elephant and giraffe monitoring in Meru National Park Born Free Foundation 2024-05-18 | Irene talks through how we monitor elephants and giraffes in the field. By doing this, we can build up a database of individuals living in Meru National Park, and understand the best way to conserve them.This is just small way technology is used as an important part of conservation - from GPS collars and camera traps, to satellites! Read more about tech in conservation 👇bornfree.org.uk/news/empowering-conservation-through-technology
Tsar and Jamil enjoy life in their sanctuary home Born Free Foundation 2024-05-07 | Tsar and Jamil, two lion brothers rescued from captive exploitation in Ukraine, are settling in very well to their new home at our sanctuary in South Africa 🧡Read their full story, and the incredible team effort of their move to South Africa, on our website: bornfree.org.uk/news/from-the-frontline-to-freedom-tsar-jamil-arrive-at-shamwari
New life for leopards rescued from the illegal wildlife trade Born Free Foundation 2024-05-03 | Alda and Ginny were confiscated from dire captive conditions at an illegal breeding facility in Poland, and saved from an uncertain future. They are now finally settling into the safety and sanctuary of their forever home, at Born Free’s Big Cat Sanctuary, at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, South Africa. After their epic journey, the leopards were released on Wednesday 1st May into a still, bright morning surrounded by sunshine and birdsong. Initially, both Alda and Ginny took tentative steps out of their crates, sniffing the South African soil beneath their paws and carefully examining their new surroundings. The animal care team at Shamwari were thrilled to see both leopards looking relaxed and very quickly starting to explore the natural bush of their 2.5 acre enclosure, taking in the sights sounds and smells of their ‘forever’ home.Within half an hour the mother and daughter had found each other and were reunited, both looking well and enjoying the privacy of the thickets and dense bush. The Born Free team will now be monitoring the leopards closely giving them the dedicated, expert care they deserve, for the rest of their lives.Sadly, leopards and other big cats are bred in captivity for horrific reasons – to languish in small cages as illegal ‘pets’, for exploitation in zoos, circuses or for animal ‘experiences’, and for trade in their skins, teeth, claws, bones and other body parts. Whatever the reason that Alda and Ginny were bred, their life would have been bleak. Thankfully, they now get to experience a life under the South African sun. We work tirelessly to end the illegal wildlife trade. Can you help us to protect more wild animals like Alda and Ginny? Please consider donating to support our vital work in this area.Read their full story and make a donation to help us work to end the illegal wildlife trade: bornfree.org.uk/news/new-life-for-rescued-leopards
Rescued pangolin enjoying life Born Free Foundation 2024-04-05 | Nguindolo was rescued as a young orphan by Sangha Pangolin Project. Thanks to our wonderful pangolin adopters, Born Free supported the Project to raise Nguindolo and we were delighted to hear that he had begun to live independently in the wild in 2023. Recently, new camera trap footage has captured a pangolin believed to be Nguindolo, living happily in the wild! To support the rescue, rehabilitation and release of orphaned pangolins, you can adopt a pangolin today! bornfree.org.uk/adopt/pangolin
Four servals, two years on! Born Free Foundation 2024-04-05 | Rescued from Belgium’s illegal pet trade and given a new life in South Africa at Panthera Africa, we see how these four servals have settled into their forever sanctuary home two years on!For more information, visit bornfree.org.uk/news/four-servals-two-years-on
Born Free: Fabulous at 40 Born Free Foundation 2024-03-28 | Together with over 250 guests, we celebrated 40 years of action for wild animals in need and raised vital funds! Read more about this incredible event on our website: bornfree.org.uk/news/born-free-fabulous-at-40
Born Free turns 40! Born Free Foundation 2024-03-19 | Born Free are celebrating our 40th birthday!We asked some of our staff in Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa to reflect on what working for Born Free means to them, and to share their hopes for the future.You could help us to make our vision of the future a reality by making a donation in honour of our 40th birthday 😍👇bornfree.org.uk/forty
Join us and our Co-Founders Dame Virginia McKenna & Will Travers as we celebrate our 40th birthday! Born Free Foundation 2024-03-19 | ...
From the frontline to ‘freedom’ – Tsar & Jamil arrive at Shamwari Born Free Foundation 2024-03-12 | Tsar and Jamil undertook a mammoth 8,000-mile journey from their temporary home with our friends at Natuurhulpcentrum in Belgium to their lifetime home at our sanctuary. Their early life was full of suffering – born into captivity, sold to an ostrich farm, stuck in a warzone. But, thanks to the efforts of so many passionate people and organisations, they have an incredible future ahead of them.We cannot thank our fantastic partners enough – without them, this wouldn’t have been possible. Thank you to Natuurhulpcentrum, British Airways Holidays, Cargolux and Shamwari Private Game Reserve.Watch their epic journey – including the moment they took their first steps into their new home. For more information, visit bornfree.org.uk/news/from-the-frontline-to-freedom-tsar-jamil-arrive-at-shamwari
Will Travers returns to Kenya Born Free Foundation 2024-03-06 | As we enter March, the month of Born Free's 40th anniversary as a charity, our Co-Founder and Executive President Will Travers OBE has returned to Kenya - the place where Born Free's story began.Visiting Meru National Park and Kora National Park, in this video blog Will visits some of the sites that are integral to Born Free's history, as well as looking to the future of the next 40 years and beyond.
40 years of action for wild animals! Born Free Foundation 2024-02-19 | For 40 years Born Free has been a voice for wild animals. Thanks to your help, we’ve achieved so much, but sadly there is still more to be done. Today wild animals are imprisoned in zoos, hunted for their body parts, and struggling to survive in habitats that are under threat due to the growing climate crisis.With your support, we can continue to protect wild animals and their habitats around the world.Will you make a lasting difference to wild animals around the world?Please donate today at bornfree.org.uk/forty
Rare chimpanzee camera trap footage! Born Free Foundation 2024-02-14 | Enjoy this wonderful camera trap footage from Bulindi Chimpanzee and Community Project (BCCP)! We love supporting this fantastic project, which conserves Endangered eastern chimpanzees living alongside rural farmers in Uganda. BCCP have recently expanded their programmes to monitor and conserve more chimpanzees, and this is the Kiraira-Kasunga group. We've supported BCCP since 2017 and you can find out more on our website: bornfree.org.uk/news/new-group-of-chimpanzees-monitored-in-uganda
Farewell, Black Born Free Foundation 2024-02-07 | It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Black, our beloved 16-year-old rescued lion, who lived at our sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve. Our Animal Care Supervisor, Martin, said: “To my friend Black – you were such a special part of our lives for the past nearly nine years that I have known and took care of you. I have seen you manage to overcome huge obstacles. I will always cherish your resilience and perseverance. What a majestic lion and a great warrior! You will forever be missed, but I know you are in a better place.”Rest in peace dear Black, we will cherish the memories 🧡Read our full tribute to Black: bornfree.org.uk/news/farewell-black/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social
Zoochosis Born Free Foundation 2024-01-26 | Animals have evolved over millions of years and their physical, physiological and behavioural traits are specifically adapted to their natural habitat.However, a life in captivity differs substantially from life in the wild. This can result in ‘zoochosis’, a phrase used to described the stereotypic behaviour that captive animals exhibit.For more information, visit bornfree.org.uk/zoochosis
Outtakes from the Born Free team! Born Free Foundation 2024-01-23 | We hope you enjoy this blooper reel as much as we do! 😆 Pure joy from some members of our field teams and community in Kenya, and the animal care team at our sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve 🧡For more information on our work, visit www.bornfree.org.ukVideos thanks to Bobby Neptune and Andrew Barret
Happy Christmas to Born Free Supporters! Born Free Foundation 2023-12-12 | We're wishing all our friends and supporters a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, from all of us at Born Free. Thank you for helping us on our mission to keep wildlife in the wild. We couldn't do it without you!
Tsar and Jamil play in their temporary home Born Free Foundation 2023-12-07 | In July 2023, we launched an urgent appeal to get Tsar and Jamil, two lion brothers, to our sanctuary in South Africa. You can read the update on these two brothers, evacuated from war-torn Ukraine here: bornfree.org.uk/news/update-on-tsar-jamilThanks to our incredible supporters, Tsar and Jamil will soon be moved to our Big Cat Sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve. Here, the brothers are playing in their temporary home with our friends at Natuurhulpcentrum. This wonderful half-way house has been taking excellent care of the pair, but they've outgrown their enclosure and are ready for the next step - the spacious, natural home ready for them at our sanctuary. We can't wait to update you when we have a date for their move!At our sanctuary, the brothers will bask in the warmth of the South African sun and enjoy a spacious grassy enclosure. With shady trees, undergrowth to explore and platforms to climb, Tsar and Jamil will be lavished with loving care in their new forever home – thanks to your kind donations!Video footage thanks to Natuurhulpcentrum.
Beyond Zoos Born Free Foundation 2023-12-05 | Born Free has a decades-long and principled position when it comes to zoos, encapsulated by our vision to ‘Keep Wildlife in the Wild’. However, Beyond Zoos is not simply a platform for repeating well-worn arguments both for and against the mass exploitation of wild animals in zoos. It is far more than that.Beyond Zoos will bring together a talented and unexpected panel of global experts and thought-leaders not only to review the past, and our current situation, but look forward - to explore whether there are more effective ways to engage with people around the world to deliver a truly nature-friendly future.Our discussions will examine the challenges that exist, identify the barriers that may currently prevent alternatives from becoming a reality, and explore effective solutions.Born Free are calling on the UK Government to phase out the keeping of elephants in UK zoos. Sign the petition calling for an Elephant-Free UK here: support.bornfree.org.uk/page/136763/petition/1
King and Thea: rescued lions living in our sanctuary Born Free Foundation 2023-11-08 | Animal Care Manager, Glen, tells the stories of King and Thea, who live at our sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve. Born Free’s two big cat sanctuaries at Shamwari Private Game Reserve are home to lions and leopards rescued from appalling captive conditions around the world.They have come to us from zoos and circuses, or from private homes where they were kept as pets. The nature of their background means they would not be able to fend for themselves if released into the wild, so they are given expert, lifetime care in a spacious, safe and natural environment.Learn more over on our website: bornfree.org.uk/rescue/shamwari
Hope for Elephants - make a difference to elephants today Born Free Foundation 2023-10-27 | Elephant numbers have plummeted by 96% in a century. Poaching, habitat loss and climate change have pushed them to the brink.But there is hope. With your help we can run anti-poaching and de-snaring patrols and work with local communities to help them live safely alongside elephants. Please, give if you can, and help us to save the elephant. For more information and to donate visit www.bornfree.org.uk/hope
We Are Born Free Born Free Foundation 2023-10-26 | We are Born Free.We campaign, we fight, we conserve, we protect, we teach, we inspire, we innovate, we rescue, we care. Together, with you, we want to create a better future for wild animals for generations to come.Join our pride. For more information, visit www.bornfree.org.uk
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH - join Born Free in calling for an Elephant Free UK Born Free Foundation 2023-10-17 | Our animation ‘An Elephant Never Forgets’, narrated by Dame Joanna Lumley and Foi Wambui reflects on the life and death of Pole Pole.She was taken from the wild and gifted to London Zoo, and her tragic death inspired the founding of Born Free.Today, there are still 50 elephants in 11 zoos across the UK. Enough is enough. We must phase out the keeping of elephants in zoos.Are you with us? Sign our petition calling on Government to phase out the keeping of elephants in UK zoos: support.bornfree.org.uk/page/136763/petition/1?ea.tracking.id=YT
Lions Horus and Dadou safe in a sanctuary Born Free Foundation 2023-10-04 | Best friends Horus and Dadou live together at our sanctuary at @TheGamereserve . These lions were both victims of the illegal pet trade, and were rescued at a similar time. They have a very close bond, and love to roar loudly together! To learn more about the big cats that live at our sanctuary, visit our website: bornfree.org.uk/shamwari-big-catsVideos and images thanks to Andrew Barret and Lyndon Brandt.
Will Travers speaks at the Restore Nature Now protest Born Free Foundation 2023-10-04 | Hear Will Travers, Executive President and Co-Founder of Born Free, speak at the Restore Nature Now protest on the 28th September 2023. Read more about this peaceful demonstration here: bornfree.org.uk/news/restore-nature-now
Jora and Black: an update Born Free Foundation 2023-09-08 | Our Animal Care Supervisor Martin, based at our Big Cat Sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, gives an update on how our beloved rescued lion brothers, Jora and Black, are doing. Jora and Black are 15 years old and they were rescued from a beast wagon in Bulgaria in 2015, after spending seven years in a circus.Find out more about our big cats at Shamwari: bornfree.org.uk/shamwari-big-catsVideo clips thanks to Andrew Barret.
Cersei and Ciam: rescued lions living in a sanctuary Born Free Foundation 2023-08-21 | Cersei and Ciam were both rescued from the illegal pet trade. Now they live together at our Big Cat Sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve in South Africa. Cersei was rescued from a garage in Marseille, France, in a very poor condition. She was rehabilitated at Tonga Terre d'Accueil, a wildlife rescue centre in Lyon, France, before she came to Shamwari. Ciam was rescued from a cage in a garden in France, and he was rehabilitated at Natuurhulpcentrum, a wildlife rescue centre in Belgium, before he came to Shamwari in 2017.This loving pair now live in a spacious, natural environment, with the space they deserve. Meet all of our big cats at Shamwari here: bornfree.org.uk/shamwari-big-cats Like all our big cats, Cersei and Ciam are not allowed to breed. We don't want to add to captive populations and instead we save our precious sanctuary space for animals most needing rescue.
Adopt a Giraffe with Born Free Born Free Foundation 2023-08-16 | The Giraffe Family live in Meru National Park, Kenya. Adopting them today will help us monitor wild giraffe populations, nurture tolerance towards wildlife within communities, and introduce measures to reduce conflict between people and wildlife.Adopt a giraffe today! bornfree.org.uk/adopt-a-giraffe
Adopt a lion with Born Free Born Free Foundation 2023-08-16 | Lion numbers have plummeted and these incredible animals face the risk of extinction. Adopting a lion will have an incredible impact. From helping us to keep wild lions safe through monitoring and working with local communities, to supporting the rescue and lifetime care of exploited lions and helping us to campaign against trophy and canned hunting.Adopt a lion today! bornfree.org.uk/adopt-a-lion
