Washington, D.C. — Today, the well-respected international wildlife charity, the Born Free Foundation, announced a historic merger with Care for the Wild International to incorporate the Care for the Wild staff and project portfolio into the Born Free family. This exciting new alliance unites two of the leading names in wildlife conservation to forge a powerful union dedicated to compassionate conservation and animal welfare. Poignantly, both organizations have just marked their 30th anniversaries.[teaserbreak]
Born Free was launched in 1984 by the legendary actors, Virginia McKenna OBE, Bill Travers MBE, and their son, Will Travers OBE, with a mission to end cruel captivity and keep wildlife in the wild. In the following three decades, Born Free has established itself globally with a significant presence in the U.S., South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, India, Sri Lanka, and elsewhere. Born Free supports more than 100 active conservation and welfare projects around the world by assisting sanctuaries and local communities and by engaging in anti-poaching work. Today, Born Free is a respected, dynamic, and influential organization with tremendous public support.
President of the Born Free Foundation, Will Travers OBE, said: “There are strong parallels between these two great organizations, including their considerable influence on the global captive wild animal welfare and compassionate conservation agendas. Like my parents, Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, Bill Jordan OBE, Care for the Wild’s founder, has spent much of his life campaigning passionately to improve the lives of animals. As a result, the organizations evolved along similar paths, and with a like-minded and shared vision for a kinder world. We still have a long way to go, but incorporating Care for the Wild and expanding the team offers Born Free even greater opportunities to help wild animals in need and signals the next chapter in a dynamic and exciting future.”
Care for the Wild was originally set up by Dr. Bill Jordan in 1984. It has effectively campaigned both overseas and on UK-focused wildlife issues, from badger protection to stopping cruel snaring of hares. Care for the Wild’s founding principle, to “rescue, protect and defend animals in need around the globe,” has considerable synergy with Born Free’s mission.
Miles Watkins, outgoing Chair of Trustees from Care for the Wild, said: “After long and careful consideration, the Trustees wanted to secure the best future for our projects, programs, and staff in an effort to continue to promote the cause of animal welfare most effectively around the world. We believe our founder would be delighted with our joining up with his old friends. Through this union, our valuable work is strengthened.”
Dominic Dyer, a former Chair and current policy advisor to Care for the Wild, said: “Merging Care for the Wild within the Born Free Foundation is a hugely beneficial step for the global wildlife protection movement. From securing the future of lions and elephants to badgers and hares, Born Free will now become an even stronger voice for wild animal welfare and wildlife conservation at home and abroad.”
The combined entity, operating under the Born Free Foundation name, will be able to more effectively tackle a host of animal protection and wildlife conservation issues of critical concern to the British people and compassionate citizens the world over.
Adam M. Roberts, recently appointed CEO of the Born Free Foundation and of Born Free USA, concluded: “The time is ripe for greater solidarity, strength, and support among wildlife campaigners and we can certainly achieve more together than we can separately. This timely move will give us more firepower to tackle the important issues we face on a daily basis in the UK, overseas, and wherever else Born Free’s influence extends. I am personally delighted to be expanding our dedicated and motivated team, which will enable us to reach new heights in our fight for wildlife. With the ongoing support of both Care for the Wild and Born Free Foundation champions, we will be able to grow and achieve so much more in the years to come.”
The Born Free Foundation is a dynamic international wildlife charity devoted to compassionate conservation and animal welfare. Born Free takes action worldwide to protect threatened species and stop individual animal suffering. Born Free believes wildlife belongs in the wild and works to phase out zoos. The organization rescues animals from lives of misery in tiny cages and gives them lifetime care.
Born Free protects lions, elephants, tigers, gorillas, wolves, polar bears, dolphins, marine turtles, and many more species in their natural habitats, working with local communities to help people and wildlife live together without conflict. Born Free’s high-profile campaigns change public attitudes, persuade decision-makers, and get results. Every year, Born Free helps hundreds of thousands of animals worldwide. For more information about Born Free, please visit: www.bornfree.org.uk.
Born Free USA is a global leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation. Through litigation, legislation, and public education, Born Free USA leads vital campaigns against animals in entertainment, exotic “pets,” trapping and fur, and the destructive international wildlife trade. Born Free USA brings to America the message of “compassionate conservation” — the vision of the U.K.-based Born Free Foundation, established in 1984 by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, stars of the iconic film Born Free, along with their son Will Travers. Born Free’s mission is to end suffering of wild animals in captivity, conserve threatened and endangered species, and encourage compassionate conservation globally. More at www.bornfreeusa.org, www.twitter.com/bornfreeusa, and www.facebook.com/bornfreeusa.
Media Contact: Rodi Rosensweig, 203/270-8929, therodicompany@gmail.com