News & Updates

The latest updates on our big cats at the Jean Byrd centre, at Shamwari Sanctuary in South Africa.

China has been widely recognised as the largest market for both legal and illegal ivory, and demand for ivory products from Chinese consumers has been a major driver for the poaching of hundreds of thousands of elephants across Africa and Asia in recent years.

Fire crews were called in the early hours of this morning but sadly none of the animals could be saved. An investigation into the cause of the blaze is now underway, during which time the park will remain open to the public.

These primates raid and destroy the community’s crops, leaving the farming community devastated and destitute, and many times enduring sleepless nights as they have to be awake very early in the mornings to protect their farms.

To accomplish our conservation goals, Born Free Kenya cannot operate as an island. Partnerships are key! By working with both the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the local communities around Meru National Park, our mission to protect wildlife becomes achievable.

We are saddened to hear news of a fire at London Zoo, which has reportedly killed an aardvark. Four meerkats are also apparently missing.

At the end of last week, we received a report that a lion had injured a community member from Gafarsa Village in Isiolo County.

Born Free is pleased to report that the Scottish Parliament has passed a Bill to ban wild animals from travelling circus in Scotland, becoming the first nation in the UK to take such a step.

There is a perception by the Kenyan public that Born Free Foundation can solve all problems. It may be a good thing as it could be an indicator of their confidence in us.

Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, has declared that public event permits to circuses that use wild animals will no longer be issued. This follows similar decisions in recent months by the Estonian cities of Tartu and Pärnu. The Estonian Ministry of Rural Affairs is currently working on a draft bill to end the use of all wild animals in circuses throughout Estonia. Provided the bill is approved by the Estonian Parliament, it is likely to come into force by 1st June 2018.