News & Updates

A female Eurasian lynx has escaped from “Borth Wild Animal Kingdom”, a zoo near Aberystwyth. The wild cat, named Lilith, is about twice the size of a domestic cat and reportedly escaped during the last five days.

Many species of animals are in precipitous decline across the globe. In most cases, these species are shared by multiple countries.

A citizen science group called Two Million Tusks (TMT) has published a review of ivory sales through British auction houses entitled “Ivory: The Grey Areas”.

As Brexit negotiations continue, it’s important to remember one particular constituency that never got to vote in the referendum, but for whom the implications could be profound. We’re talking of course about animals.

Rhinos have had a very rough time over the years. All rhino species. It is believed that, long ago, they roamed in their millions across Africa and Asia.

Last year, an expedition jointly organised by Born Free and WildCRU*, led by Dutch lion biologist Dr. Hans Bauer, ‘discovered’ a lion population in a huge area that stretches either side of the border between Sudan and Ethiopia, encompassing two National parks – Dinder on the Sudan side, and Alatash on the Ethiopian side.

Over the past few weeks we have been very busy at Zambia Primate Project (ZPP) doing the final preparations for our 2017 primate release. The absolutely brilliant Dr Ntombi Mudenda Nkonde from UNZA Veterinary Department joined us on several occasions to firstly health screen our troop of rescued vervet monkeys to ensure they are disease free and fit to be released back to the wild, and to last week radio collar 5 of the adults so that we can track, monitor and support the troop in their transition back to a wild life.

Three prominent vets have written to the Veterinary Record challenging the British Veterinary Association(BVA)’s continuing support for Government sanctioned badger culls. Born Free Foundation’s Associate Director Mark Jones has been joined by his colleagues Alastair MacMillan and Alick Simmons in criticising the BVA for not withdrawing its support for the controversial policy, in spite of a lack of evidence that four years of culls have had any real impact on the spread of bovine TB among cattle, and concerns for the welfare of targeted badgers.

Born Free’s inspirational Co-Founder, legendary actress and Campaigner Virginia McKenna OBE, was last night honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daily Mirror Animal Hero Awards in recognition of her incredible 33-year career tirelessly campaigning to preserve and protect wild animals.

Earlier this month our team at Ensessa Kotteh welcomed a new addition. This beautiful male Menelik’s bushbuck was confiscated by the Oromia Forestry and Wildlife Enterprises (OFWE) near the small town of Asela (nearly 190km from our sanctuary).