![A wild family of two adult and one baby African Elephants walking towards the camera](https://www.bornfree.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/African-elephant-CTA-image-Michael-Vickers-1292x1080.jpg)
![A wild family of two adult and one baby African Elephants walking towards the camera](https://www.bornfree.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/African-elephant-CTA-image-Michael-Vickers.jpg)
Field Conservation
OUR CONSERVATION WORK
From removing snares to working alongside local communities, our field conservation teams are making a difference every day. Every wild animal matters. That’s why Born Free is committed to protecting wild animals, habitats and ecosystems, whilst inspiring compassion and respect for wild animals.
We strive for coexistence, where wildlife and people can live safely and peacefully alongside one another. We are working towards a future where wild animals can live their lives free from harmful exploitation – and where ecosystems are thriving.
What are the problems facing wild animals?
Wildlife is increasingly threatened by human activities worldwide, including:
- human-wildlife conflict
- habitat degradation, destruction and fragmentation
- unsustainable and commercialised hunting or poaching
- infectious diseases
- climate change
Human-wildlife conflict
As people and wildlife come into closer contact, conflicts arise which reduce the communities’ tolerance towards wildlife.
Many remaining wildlife populations also live in areas with high poverty levels. Here, the communities rely on natural resources, like bushmeat, wood and water – putting further pressures on wild animals.
Rapid human population growth is also driving extensive loss of habitat across the planet. Agriculture, infrastructure development and extractive industries are leading to huge changes in land use.
How is Born Free conserving wild animals?
We run and support field conservation programmes which aim to address the most critical threats facing threatened species. These programmes protect the natural habitat of wild animals including lions, elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, tigers, giraffes and orangutans.
Our work is community-based and driven, focused on engaging local communities to find effective ways to:
- reduce and mitigate conflict
- diversify and secure sustainable livelihoods
- protect and conserve key habitats
- increase empathy and compassion
- enable peaceful coexistence
We also conduct research, support wildlife law enforcement and promote education and advocacy.
This holistic programme aims to achieve our vision of a world where humans and wildlife can live alongside each other.
Download our annual Conservation Reports
Conservation Report 2022-2023 Conservation Report 2021-22 Conservation 2-Year Report 2019-2021 Conservation Report 2018-2019
Born Free Species Conservation
![A wild family of two adult and one baby African Elephants walking towards the camera](https://www.bornfree.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/African-elephant-CTA-image-Michael-Vickers-1292x1080.jpg)
![Close up of a chimpanzee in a tree looking at the camera](https://www.bornfree.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Chimp-CTA-image-1292x1080.jpg)
Chimpanzees
![Two giraffes stand facing each other with necks crossing over](https://www.bornfree.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Giraffe-conservation-CTA-1292x1080.jpg)
Giraffes
![A gorilla sits in the forest eating leaves from a branch](https://www.bornfree.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/kahuzi-biega-national-park-gorilla-CTA-1292x1080.jpg)
Gorillas
![A lion cub rubs its head against the face of an adult female lion lying on the ground](https://www.bornfree.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Lion-conservation-CTA-1292x1080.jpg)
Lions
![Close up of an adult orangutan cuddling a baby orangutan in the forest](https://www.bornfree.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Orangutan-conservation-CTA-1292x1080.jpg)
Orangutans
![An orca leaping out of the water](https://www.bornfree.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Orca-CTA-image-David-Howitt-1292x1079.jpg)
Orcas
![A baby rhino walking towards the camera](https://www.bornfree.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Rhino-conservation-hero-1292x1080.jpg)
Rhinos
![Close up of Bengal tiger Gopal with head slightly tilted looking up](https://www.bornfree.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BENGAL1-1292x1080.jpg)
Tigers
Our programmes
![A lioness sitting on a rock overlooking the savannah](https://www.bornfree.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Wild-Lion-c-George-Logan-flipped-1292x1081.jpg)
Pride of Amboseli
![Three lionesses looking out over the savannah whilst standing together under some shady trees](https://www.bornfree.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Pride-of-Meru-Hero-c-George-Logan-1292x1080.jpg)
Pride of Meru
![A group of three giraffes standing in the savannah](https://www.bornfree.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Merus-Giants-Hero-1292x1080.jpg)
Saving Meru’s Giants
![Close up of the brown eyes of a gorilla](https://www.bornfree.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/gorilla-eyes-hero-@Anne-de-Graaf-1292x1080.jpg)
Guardians of Dja
![A wild tiger walking on a forest pathway](https://www.bornfree.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/SLTP-Hero-c-Yash-1292x1080.jpg)