News & Updates

The latest news, blogs and features from Born Free.

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A capybara lying down on the grass with another in the backgrouns

Cafés are no place for wild animals like capybaras

In response to plans for an interactive capybara café in England, Born Free alongside Animal Aid, Freedom for Animals, OneKind, the RSPCA and World Animal Protection has released a position statement.
Close up of a badger with leaves in the foreground

Will the Bern Convention come to the rescue of England’s beleaguered badgers?

In June 2025, the Bureau of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, also known as the Bern Convention, met in Strasbourg. On its agenda was the longstanding complaint against the UK government’s policy of culling badgers as part of its strategy for controlling bovine TB in cattle in England.
An adult and infant baboon standing on a wooden branch at a zoo

Born Free condemns shocking practices in European zoos

Born Free has strongly condemned recent events at two European zoos, that have sparked outrage among animal welfare advocates and horrified the wider public.
Chris Lewis, Adeline Lerambert and Will Travers standing together in front of a banner

The ethics of captivity: a landmark gathering

What is the impact of keeping wild animals in captivity and can it ever be morally justified? Born Free attended a prestigious University of Oxford summer school to consider the issues.
Adult male Bornean Orangutan fishes rubbish from moat (for anything edible) at Dudley Zoo

The captives

As Born Free’s new report on apes in zoos hits the headlines, our Policy Advisor and acclaimed ape expert, Ian Redmond OBE, reflects on his encounters with apes behind bars.

Born Free speaks at UK Wildlife Crime meeting

Born Free’s Head of Policy, Dr Mark Jones, reports on the annual Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime meeting held in London.
A male lion stands with the sun setting behind him, looking over his shoulder

Lion killed by trophy hunters echoes Cecil tragedy

Born Free is appalled by news of the latest slaughter of a lion by a trophy hunter in Zimbabwe in June 2025.
An orangutan sits on the concrete floor of its enclosure at Dudley Zoo

Jungle not jail for our closest cousins

Powerful new Born Free report exposes the plight of captive great apes in zoos.
A group of people stand outside Sea Life London Aquarium holding posters.

Born Free joins youth representatives to call for an end to penguin incarceration

Born Free joined children’s representatives outside the Sea Life London aquarium in Westminster, to call for an end to the incarceration of 15 gentoo penguins housed in a basement at the facility.
A group of people standing on stage at Birdfair 2025

Born Free at Birdfair

With fascinating talks and wild activities, the world’s biggest annual celebration of wildlife has taken place near Rutland Water, UK, and our team was actively involved.