Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild

Download the full version of the Born Free Foundation Trustees' Report + Audited Group Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2007 here > pdf file 706KB

Chairman's Introduction

It gives me great pleasure once again to write the introduction to this Trustees’ Annual Report, which sets out for our supporters and the general public what our charity has achieved in the past twelve months, and our future plans. It has been a very eventful year, with many important developments in terms of our charitable conservation and animal welfare work and in realising our long-term strategy. Our Chief Executive comments in detail on our projects and key achievements on pages 5 to 11 and summarises our animal welfare, conservation and education work.

It is always difficult to promote one project rather than another. Although I am very happy we continue to support the marine conservation efforts of Sea Sense in Tanzania, and the conservation of great apes through ‘GRASP1’, and many other vital projects, there are five particular aspects of our work I would like to mention.

In Ethiopia Born Free’s significant 12 year commitment to protect the highly endangered Ethiopian Wolf is set to continue, and our education programme has been extended.

We have opened a second big cat rescue and education centre at Shamwari in South Africa.

We were part of a consortium that persuaded the South African Government to suspend plans to cull (kill) up to 5,000 wild elephants.

We took out a High Court action (still unresolved) to try and stop the capture and shipment of 170 wild animals in Kenya to Chiang Mai Night Safari in Thailand. Having visited the safari I can only condemn this proposal in the strongest terms.

Together with Born Free USA we sponsored a Swahili film about the illegal bushmeat trade, which travels to widespread communities in Kenya.

Of course, none of this would be possible without our loyal and generous members and our sponsors. Last year I wrote about the need for us to strengthen our Board. After a very thorough recruitment process we have been extremely fortunate in appointing two new Trustees - Elliot Morley MP and
Dianne Thompson CBE. The former was very closely involved in conservation and environmental matters as a Government Minister, and the latter, as CEO of Camelot plc, brings to our deliberations a wealth of experience of not only business, but also of the charity sector.

During the year we encouraged Born Free USA to explore possibilities for a major expansion of its work. When we sponsored its formation back in 2002 we saw its development as a key element of our long-term strategy, to extend significantly the scope of our charitable activities. It has progressed very well indeed under the leadership of Adam Roberts, and its Board felt it was well placed to look at the possibility of mergers and collaborative working. We are very hopeful that in the course of 2007 we will see some progress on this front.

Finally, I would like to thank our staff and our excellent (some long-term) volunteers for their continuing hard work and dedication. Will Travers and his senior team – Alison Hood (Programmes Director), Anne Tudor (Marketing Director), Shirley Galligan (PR Director), Stephen Chandler (Finance Manager) and Jo Wakefield (Office Manager) – provide first class leadership, but we are exceptionally fortunate that we have so many long-service employees, and that our new recruits have blended in so well.

We are pleased this year to include photographs (p9) of Adam Roberts, Vice President of Born Free USA and of the team at the Born Free Nairobi office. Adam provides highly effective leadership in the States, and Alice Owen efficiently manages our work in Kenya. The Board sends its heartfelt thanks to them all.

Virginia McKenna
Chair of Trustees
11 September 2007