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A close-up portrait of a leopard, with orange grasses in the background

Adopt A Leopard

Leopard numbers are in decline due to habitat loss, wildlife trade, trophy hunting, poaching and loss of prey, and are categorised as ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN, resulting in an uncertain future for this charismatic species.

The illegal trade in wildlife still drives demands for leopards to be taken from the wild to live in captivity. Captive leopards suffer when denied the instinct to roam over large areas – their distress can be seen through pacing in zoos and circuses.

Adopt a leopard

Leopard numbers are in decline due to habitat loss, wildlife trade, trophy hunting, poaching and loss of prey, and are categorised as ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN, resulting in an uncertain future for this charismatic species.
The illegal trade in wildlife still drives demands for leopards to be taken from the wild to live in captivity. Captive leopards suffer when denied the instinct to roam over large areas – their distress can be seen through pacing in zoos and circuses.
A leopard standing in woodland

WHY ADOPT A LEOPARD?

Adopting a leopard helps provide vital funding for Born Free to care for the Leopard Family – leopards who have all been rescued from captivity by Born Free, and are now enjoying new lives in spacious, natural enclosures at our Born Free Big Cat Sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve in South Africa.

Born Free has rescued 12 leopards in total over the years, and currently cares for two leopards – Mowgli and Zeiss. They now receive the expert care needed to live healthy, fulfilled lives, with care for life at our sanctuary. Born Free also works to protect leopards in the wild, through habitat conservation and reducing human-wildlife conflict with our projects in Kenya, and campaigns against the cruel wildlife trade which resulted in our rescued leopards being orphaned, abandoned and mistreated.

Your adoption helps us care for the rescued leopards in our care, as well as working towards a better future for leopards in the wild.

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR LEOPARD ADOPTION

You can choose either a physical adoption pack, which you will receive in the post and comes with an optional soft toy. Alternatively, you can opt for a digital adoption pack where 33% more of your adoption fee can go towards our vital work (compared to a physical adoption), and this would be received via email. Both types of adoption pack feature a personalised adoption certificate.

Help care for leopards with an animal adoption and you’ll receive your exclusive adoption pack containing…
A montage of the leopard adoption pack

Adoption Pack

Including an adoption certificate, animal story, fact sheet and beautiful photo of your adopted animal.
Front Cover of My Adopt with a giraffe head

Regular Updates

Including a print or digital copy of our bi-annual My Adopt magazine with exclusive updates on all our adopted animals, and regular emails to let you know how your adopted animal is doing.
A leopard cuddly toy

Soft Toy

If you pick a physical adoption pack, you can have your own cuddly toy to keep at home. Toy may vary from one shown.

BY ADOPTING A LEOPARD, YOU WILL HAVE A MASSIVE IMPACT

A leopard illustration

Fund the lifetime care of our Leopard Family

A leopard illustration

Provide health checks and veterinary attention for the Leopard Family

A leopard illustration

Rescue individual leopards suffering in captivity

A leopard illustration

Support all animals in our big cat sanctuary in Shamwari Private Game Reserve, South Africa

A leopard illustration

Work with governments to strengthen national and international legislation Conserve habitat for wild leopards through our work in Kenya

A leopard illustration

Reduce human-wildlife conflict with leopards by working with communities to protect livestock from wild carnivores

ADOPTING A LEOPARD AS A GIFT?

For adopt a leopard gifts, the adoption certificate can be personalised with the name of your choice when you purchase the adoption. If you choose a physical adoption, delivery can be arranged to a separate address. If you choose a digital adoption, the adoption pack will be sent to you, for you to pass on to the recipient. If you gift someone a physical adoption, they will receive printed copies of Born Free’s My Adopt magazine twice a year; if you choose a digital adoption, digital copies will be sent to you.

 

NEED HELP WITH YOUR LEOPARD ADOPTION?

Read our FAQs below or call our customer support team on 01403 240170.

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

For VAT purposes, of your total donation, £13.50 (inc. VAT) if you opt to receive a soft toy and £6.00 (inc. VAT) if you opt not to receive a soft toy, will be considered as payment for the benefits received.

 

ADOPT A LEOPARD FAQS

Helping us rescue leopards from captivity and provide lifetime care with an animal adoption couldn’t be easier:

  • Select the amount you want to pay by Direct Debit each month: £3, £5, £10 or more, or if you prefer a one-off payment you can choose to donate any amount from £36
  • Fill out your adoption details including the name on the certificate and the start date
  • Complete your billing & delivery details
  • Enter your payment details. You can pay by card or PayPal

You can choose to donate either from £3 per month, or a one-off payment from £36, depending on your preference. The more you donate, the more we will be able to achieve for these beautiful creatures and don’t forget, we’ll keep you updated as we progress!

Choosing to pay by Direct Debit helps your money go further; it helps our long-term planning and keeps our administration costs down.

When you adopt a leopard, you will receive either a digital or physical adoption pack, depending on what you chose. The pack contains a personalised certificate, animal story, fact sheet and photo for display. You will also receive a copy of our bi-annual My Adopt magazine with exclusive updates, and if you chose a physical pack with a soft toy, you will receive your pack in the post.

Most importantly, you help us care for the Leopard Family – all rescued from cruel lives in captivity, and now being cared for at our Big Cat Sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve and supports our conservation work to protect leopards in the wild.

Digital adoptions mean no packaging, minimal carbon footprint and maximum support for your adopted animal, and Born Free’s work. Digital adoptions mean 33% more of your adoption fee will go directly towards helping animals, compared to choosing a physical adoption pack.

You will receive the digital pack by email, containing all the adoption documents and a personalised adoption certificate, which you can either keep for yourself, or forward on to your chosen recipient if you are buying the adoption as a gift.

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. Please allow 28 days for delivery on overseas orders. Please note – we cannot hold orders for delivery on a specific date.

For overseas orders, customs charges may be levied prior to delivery. We would suggest checking to see if these may apply before placing your order.

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. It will either be left in a safe place or a card will be left if you’re unavailable.

We have a magazine where you will be able to track the progress of your leopard adoption. In addition, we send emails to keep you posted.

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