We are Born Free, and we are passionate about
compassionate conservation and the welfare of
wild animals. Founded by Virginia McKenna OBE,
her late husband Bill Travers MBE and their
eldest son, Will Travers OBE, we work tirelessly
to stop the exploitation and suffering of
individual animals in captivity and in the wild
Lions have a special significance for Born Free.
Our charity’s iconic “Elsa” emblem represents
the orphaned lioness who was rehabilitated and
returned to the wild by Joy and George Adamson.
Her story inspired the 1966 classic film Born Free,
which starred Virginia and Bill, and sparked their
lifetime passion for wild animal conservation.
In the 1960s, when Born Free was filmed,
there were approximately 200,000 lions in the
wild. Today as few as 20,000 remain – a
terrifying decline of 90 per cent in just 55 years.
Across Africa, lion numbers are in free fall, andthese iconic animals could become extinct
across much of their wild range by 2050.
We must act now to protect them.2022 IS BORN FREE’S “YEAR OF THE LION”
There is no time to lose if we want to ensure a
future for wild lions. That’s why Born Free has
dedicated 2022 the “Year of the Lion” – a year
of action for these iconic big cats in honour of
the 100th birthday year of our charity’s fearless
founder and lionheart, Bill Travers MBE.
Throughout the year, we’re calling on the
public to help halt the devastating decline in
wild lions and campaign for the welfare of lions
exploited in zoos, circuses and as “pets”.
Our work will focus on four key objectives
to tackle the real issues lions face right now:- FOREVER TOGETHER
Achieving co-existence for 2000 people,
Signal Boost
200 lions and 20 communities.- FOREVER HOME
Providing safe and appropriate homes
and care for 30 rescued lions. - FOREVER FUTURE
Doubling the charity’s UK school outreach,
empowering future generations. - FOREVER WHOLE
Persuading countries to follow the UK’s lead
in banning hunting trophy imports.
We need your help
Our Forever Lions Fund, set up in memory
of Bill Travers, will raise funds and
awareness to address the desperate plight of
lions. To find out more and make a donation,
visit http://www.bornfree.org.uk/forever-lions,
email [email protected], or call our
team on 01403 240170.Welcome to our Signal Boost project – a page for charitable
organisations to get their message out to a global audience,
free of charge. Today, a message from Born Free©^ GEORG
E^ LOGANBorn Free launches Year of the Lion – help save
the majestic lion before it’s too late
“ There are 7.8 billion people
on Earth, and we now have
to decide, are we prepared
to share our planet with the
shockingly few wild lions
that remain?”
Virginia McKenna OBE