ADOPT A LION

For Born Free, the lion, holds a special place in our hearts as the inspiration behind the charity we know today.

Lions live in family groups, known as prides, and can contain up to 12 females, three males and several youngsters at a time. Female offspring will stay with their family group for life, whilst males strike out on their own in small groups looking to establish a pride of their own. With powerful muscular bodies, they are effective hunters working together to bring down their prey. A lion’s roar can be heard up to five miles away.

Sadly, wild lion populations face the risk of extinction from numerous threats including habitat loss due to encroachment by humans - farmers resort to poison, guns and snares to drive lions from their land.

Trophy hunting and keeping lions in captivity are further issues that threaten to push populations towards extinction, we need to act now to stop this decline.

ADOPTING A LION

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN YOUR LION ADOPTION

Help protect lions in the wild and rescue captive individuals with an animal adoption, and you'll receive an exclusive adoption pack containing a soft toy, animal story, species fact sheet, personalised certificate and glossy photo. Plus, we’ll send you our Adopt magazine twice a year with updates on all our wildlife adoptions – perfect for animal lovers.

Adoptions last one year (those paid by monthly direct debit roll over until cancelled).

ISSUES AFFECTING LIONS TODAY

The IUCN suggests lion populations have experienced a 43% drop in numbers over the last 21 years. The real picture varies by country – in West Africa the lion is Critically Endangered and teetering on the very edge of extinction.

Habitat loss and human encroachment have led to indiscriminate killings to protect livestock and human inhabitants. Loss of range has also led to a decline in lions’ prey which can have a devastating impact.

Sadly, this isn’t the only issue lion populations face. In some countries it is still legal to shoot lions for sport, leading to a growing wave of canned hunting facilities in South Africa where lions are reared for release into confined areas to be shot by trophy hunters.

Lions are also a common sight in zoos, circuses and private collections across the world, leading to a lifetime of suffering in woefully inadequate enclosures that deny their natural instincts.

Born Free is committed to keeping lions safe in their natural habitats and ending the exploitation of this species through a series of projects and sanctuaries in Africa.

ADOPTING A LION WILL HAVE A MASSIVE IMPACT

Funds from your adoption will help care for rescued lions that have been saved from appalling captive conditions at our big cat sanctuary in South Africa. Your money will also support a series of conservation projects to reduce conflict with humans, monitor populations and protect lions in the wild in Kenya.

You can make a difference to a wild animal by adopting a lion.

It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty, the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.Sir David Attenborough

Your money will help:

Rescue, care and support vulnerable lions saved from exploitation and captivity

Provide lifetime care for lions at our sanctuaries

Run environmental education programmes for local communities and others

Monitor wild populations to inform conservation efforts

Campaign against exploitation of lions and to end trophy and canned hunting practices

ADOPT ELSA'S PRIDE

Where it all began for Born Free. This pride still resides in Meru National Park today. With your support we can protect them for future generations.

Your adoption will help us monitor and protect wild lions in Meru National Park.

To change to your preferred currency please use the currency option at the top of the page. Please note this is for display purposes only and your bank may offer a different exchange rate.

ADOPT KING

King was rescued from an apartment in Paris where he was being kept illegally as an ‘exotic pet’ in a small, dirty cage. He now lives at our big cat sanctuary in South Africa.

Your adoption will help fund his lifetime care.

To change to your preferred currency please use the currency option at the top of the page. Please note this is for display purposes only and your bank may offer a different exchange rate.

ADOPTION PACK DELIVERY INFORMATION

We will process and send your order within 3 working days, and would normally expect it to arrive within 7 working days to addresses within the UK. All UK orders are sent via Royal Mail 2nd class delivery. Please allow 28 days for delivery on overseas orders. Please note – we cannot hold orders for delivery on a specific date.

Orders do not need to be signed for, but come in a box which won’t fit through the letterbox so you will need to be available to accept the delivery. A card will be left if you’re unavailable.