Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild

Although many organisations have been striving to protect great apes for a number of years all great ape species are in serious decline.  That’s why Born Free remains committed to supporting the UN Environment Programme’s GRASP initiative, probably the best and last hope for our nearest non-human relatives. 

But the detailed, localised work still goes on protecting Eastern Lowland Gorillas in DRC*, fighting the grisly global trade in ape ‘bushmeat’ trade with particular focus on Cameroon, and providing the living victims of that trade, the orphans, with sanctuary in Uganda, DRC and Cameroon.  We also provide resources to protect other primate species such as the Colobus monkey in Kenya and, in partnership with Munda Wanga sanctuary in Zambia, return rescued baboons to the wild.

Current great ape projects

• GRASP: Born Free co-ordinates the Technical Support Team for the UN’s Great Ape Survival Programme, a global initiative to save apes from extinction.
• Gorilla Protection: Born Free sends funds and equipment to protect Eastern Lowland gorillas in DRC*.
• Trade: Born Free campaigns against the illegal trade in ‘bushmeat’ from apes and other wildlife, and in live infants apes.  This trade are is assisted by logging companies increasing poachers’ access to forests.  Born Free encourages people to investigate the source of tropical hardwood products and to only buy if it has sustainably produced certification.
• Ape Alliance: Born Free is an active member of this global coalition, campaigning on behalf of ape issues – captive and wild.
• Sanctuaries: Born Free funds Ngamba Island sanctuary in Uganda, where young chimps, rescued from the exotic pet trade, live as near natural a life as possible.  Born Free also helps provide food and care at Limbe gorilla, chimp and monkey sanctuary in Cameroon.

*Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire