News & Updates

The latest news, blogs and features from Born Free.

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A photo of an orca leaping backwards out of a pool, in front of an audience.

Planning a holiday in 2025? Make sure it’s Tank Free

A ‘holiday of a lifetime’ could mean a lifetime of horror for captive whales and dolphins forced to perform at some of the world’s most popular holiday hotspots.
A photo of a captive dolphin taking part in a show. A man is crouching at the edge of the pool with his face blurred.

New report documents escalating exploitation of captive whales and dolphins in China

A worrying new publication has exposed the scale of whale and dolphin exploitation across theme parks in China.
A photo of a wild hippo standing on grass with its mouth wide open

Parliament approves extension of UK’s Ivory Act

Born Free celebrates the inclusion of additional ivory-bearing species including hippos, narwhals, sperm whales and killer whales to the Act.

‘Changed for good’ – Wicked movie features CGI wild animals

Our Policy Support Officer Frankie Osuch considers the use of wild animals in entertainment and the importance of computer-generated imagery (CGI) to portray wild animals on screen.
Zebras standing in an indoor zoo enclosure which is heavily barred. There is faeces on the floor.

South Lakes Safari Zoo to close to the public

Born Free welcomes the announcement by zoo operators that the zoo is to close to the public at the end of 2024.
Close up of a grey wolf's head and shoulders

Wolves to lose vital protections under the Bern Convention

Born Free reports on a dangerous step backwards for European wildlife.
An orca leaps out of the water in a marine park pool, while a trainer is holding a pole out for the orca to jump towards

Born Free welcomes news that Europe’s largest marine zoo is to close its doors

We are now calling for orcas and other animals to be relocated to sanctuaries.
A group of three elephants in a captive enclosure at Blackpool Zoo

Blackpool Zoo announces both expected elephant calves have died

Born Free is saddened to hear of the tragic loss of two baby elephants at Blackpool Zoo, which adds to recent elephant deaths at Chester Zoo and Dublin Zoo.
An elephant stands at the entrance to a zoo enclosure

Learning to look beyond zoos

A year on from our groundbreaking Beyond Zoos event in London’s Royal Geographical Society, Born Free’s Youth Ambassador Hector questions the educational role of zoos.
A seal pup lying on a sandy beach

UK wildlife crime on the up

A new report shows UK wildlife crime is at worrying levels, yet conviction rates are at an all-time low.