A tribute to Brigitte Bardot

(c) GETTY IMAGES

Everyone at Born Free is saddened to learn of the death of Brigitte Bardot, the iconic French actress whose transformation from global screen legend to passionate animal rights advocate touched countless lives.

After retiring from her celebrated acting career, Brigitte devoted herself to defending the welfare of animals around the world, founding the Fondation Brigitte Bardot in 1986 to protect animals from abuse, exploitation, and cruelty, and working to end practices like hunting, bullfighting, and factory farming.  Her tireless advocacy helped shine a spotlight on issues from fur and live-animal transport to the plight of animals in captivity, and she used her voice and influence to inspire others to care deeply for all creatures great and small.

A controversial figure due to her political and social views she was, nevertheless, relentless and determined in her animal advocacy.

Brigitte’s commitment to animal welfare extended into collaborative efforts with organisations across Europe, including us here at Born Free. Both organisations are founding members of the Pangea Trust, where her foundation played a vital role in supporting the vision for a sanctuary that would offer elephants in need lifelong care and a dignified life outside of circuses and inadequate zoos. Her belief in compassionate solutions and her willingness to stand up for the voiceless helped foster partnerships that brought real, positive change for elephants and other wildlife.

Will Travers OBE, Born Free’s Co-Founder and Executive President, paid tribute to Brigitte’s life and legacy, saying: “Brigitte Bardot, a movie icon of the 1950’s, 1960’s and early 1970’s, starring in film such as And God Created Woman, Contempt, Viva Maria, and the Rum Runners (which also featured my late father, Bill Travers), became as famous for her work to end animal suffering.

“Photographs of Mdme Bardot with a white harp seal pup on the Arctic ice, protecting seals from seal hunters taken in 1977 in a campaign organised by the late Brian Davies, founder of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, brought the brutal slaughter of tens of thousands of seals to international prominence.

“Her campaigns for animal welfare, including the ending of captive animal exploitation in circuses, continues through the work of the FBB, a leading French animal welfare organisation and, along with Born Free, a member of the Species Survival Network.

“My condolences are with all who knew Mdme Bardot, her colleagues and the many charities, animal shelters and rescue centres she supported. We are profoundly grateful for her friendship and her fierce commitment to animals. She showed us all what it means to stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves, and her legacy will continue to inspire our work for many years to come.”