News & Updates

Just a week ago, suspicious customs agents in Hong Kong opened a 40 foot shipping container, to find what is being hailed as the largest ever recorded ivory seizure. An estimated 7.2 tonnes of ivory, representing the death of hundreds of elephants, were found in nylon bags below frozen fish cartons in a shipment arriving from Malaysia. Both Hong Kong and Malaysia are major hubs in the illegal ivory trade.

On 30th June 2017, strict new measures came into force in the State of Hawaii to combat wildlife trade. Hawaiian State Senate Bill 2647, which was passed by the State Senate in 2016, prohibits all commercial trade in products derived from a number of threatened species, including elephants, rhinos, tigers, lions, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, great apes, hippos, pangolins, sharks and rays and various marine mammals.

The use of individual elephants in tourism experiences is on the rise according to a new report. Hundreds of attractions across Asia offer tourists the opportunity to ride and interact with captive elephants, with many kept in appalling conditions and subject to severe training and abuse.

On a particularly windy morning where duom palm trees along the rivers sway low generating a soothing rhythm, we drive 30km deep into Meru Park towards the western boundary. From here and with boots firmly on the ground - accompanied by Kenya Wildlife Service rangers - the Born Free team skillfully manoeuvres through the thickets while avoiding the direction of wildlife.

News reports indicate that three male gorillas escaped from their enclosure at Paignton Zoo, Devon, on Friday 30th June. Attempts to tranquilise all of the gorillas were reportedly unsuccessful, and it took until the next day for the gorillas to be returned to their enclosure. The gorillas were from a bachelor group at the zoo, and apparently escaped into a secure service area, where they caused significant damage to water pipes, wiring and ducts.

News has hit the headlines that Indian government officials have arrested two individuals on the outskirts of Pench Tiger Reserve in central India, in possession of tiger bones, claws and teeth. Initial reports suggest that three magnificent wild tigers were slaughtered to obtain this grisly hoard.

Horrifying footage has emerged of a crocodile biting an animal trainer's head at a zoo in Thailand. The video, filmed on Sunday 11th June, shows a man performing in a crocodile show on the island of Ko Samui in Thailand.

Michel was recruited as a ranger in 1979, nine years after the creation of Kahuzi Biega National Park (KBNP). With his team, Michel made frequent patrols into the highland Tshivanga sector of the park, either leaving park headquarters for daily patrol work or undertaking longer patrols that would last days or even weeks and involve carrying provisions, tents and other equipment for the whole duration.

It has been reported that two Sulawesi black macaques escaped from their enclosure on Saturday afternoon at Marwell Zoo. Zoo guests and staff were asked to remain indoors whilst keepers dealt with the incident; with the macaques reportedly being returned 30 minutes later.

An estimated 58 lions roam and roar in the 870km2 Meru National Park. That is from a census conducted last year by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and other partners including Born Free Foundation. Sightings of several cubs and sub-adults in the past few months makes us cautiously optimistic for a positive growth on lion populations in the area. Together with the KWS Meru Research staff, Born Free puts in several hours daily to monitor these carnivores.