News & Updates

The Born Free Foundation is shocked by the news from Cincinnati Zoo, which indicates that a child climbed or fell into the gorilla enclosure, and zoo authorities subsequently shot dead a male gorilla named Harambe.

Most people know about the terrible declines in many of Africa's animals, particularly elephants. What many people don't realise is that Lions, arguably the most iconic of Africa's predators, are also in real trouble.

The Born Free Foundation has been welcomed as a member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organisation. The IUCN includes 1,351 government and NGO members, and more than 15,000 volunteer experts working in 185 countries.

Representatives from 16 leading European animal protection groups, including the Born Free Foundation, Eurogroup for Animals and Animal Advocacy and Protection (AAP), recently concluded meetings in Brussels, Belgium to launch a Europe-wide collaboration to end to the use of wild animals in performance. The coalition is advocating an end to the use of animals such as elephants, big cats and primates in entertainment including circuses and other live performances, television and film.

Delegates are attending the 3rd Asia ministerial conference on tiger conservation in Delhi, with over 23 NGOs and bodies wanting a commitment for zero demand for tiger parts in order to achieve zero poaching. The Asia ministerial conference, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took place on Tuesday. More than 700 tiger experts, scientists, managers, donors and other stakeholders gathered to discuss issues related to tiger conservation. Ministers and government officials from all tiger range countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, India, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russian Federation, Thailand, Vietnam, besides Kyrgyz Republic and Kazakhstan also participated in the meeting.

Today we honour Nilesh Gawande, an individual who has worked tirelessly and unrelentingly for a future with tigers in central India. Composed of 25,000km² of protected areas and surrounding corridors of forest, the Satpuda highlands represent the largest block of tiger habitat in India, and are now home to approximately 300 Bengal tigers. In 2005 the Born Free Foundation, in conjunction with the University of Oxford’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, established a network of organisations and individuals working for tiger conservation in the area under the umbrella of the Satpuda Landscape Tiger Programme (SLTP).

In a surprise move, SeaWorld today announced their decision to end the breeding of orca (also known as killer whales) at all their marine park facilities. The decision was reportedly made through discussions with The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), which has partnered with SeaWorld to influence and guide a change in the company's priorities.

Pangolins, the World’s Most Trafficked Mammals, Move Closer to U.S. Endangered Species Act Protection. “Listing all pangolin species under the ESA will be a dramatic and positive step in saving the species from extinction.” Born Free USA CEO Adam M. Roberts

Declaration unveiled by HRH The Duke of Cambridge at Buckingham Palace. The Born Free Foundation supports today’s declaration (15th March), signed by approximately 40 corporations and agencies representing the global transport industry, aimed at cracking down on wildlife trafficking routes.

Born Free welcomes news that Malawi has today burned 2.6 tonnes (781 pieces) of ivory. Our partners, the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, who were present at the burn explained a little about the background to this specific case: “In 2013, two ivory traffickers, Patrick and Chauncy Kaunda, were intercepted in Mzuzu by the Malawi Revenue Authority with 781 tusks hidden under cargo at the bottom of a container. On 28th July 2015, the High Court in Mzuzu found the Kaundas guilty of money laundering and possessing ivory, fined them MK2.5 million/$5,000 each or a 7 year prison sentence, and ordered the destruction of the contraband ivory”.