Photo by Thank you for being a part of Born Free USA’s Compassionate Conservation movement. Please read on to see just how you are helping us make progress in 2017 toward a world in which animals are treated humanely and with the respect and dignity they deserve.[teaserbreak]
We have pushed hard against proposed legislation that would undermine protections currently given to wildlife under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)—the most important law in the United States safeguarding animal rights. A Washington D.C. appeals court recently ruled in favor of Born Free in striking down the government’s attempt to remove ESA protections from gray wolves in the Great Lakes region. This was not only a victory for wolves, but this court ruling makes clear that the ESA is as important today as it was when it was first enacted nearly 45 years ago.
Born Free is also a leader in the anti-trapping and anti-fur movement. Our 2016 Fur for the Animals drive resulted in thousands of fur coats and other items donated that are, and will continue to be, used to provide comfort for orphaned and injured animals in rehabilitation centers around the country. We estimate that the fur sent to Born Free from last year’s drive was valued at over $4 million, and the drive was so wildly successful that we are still sending out your donations as quickly as centers need them. In addition, we are one of the leading organizations in the international Fur Free Retailer program, which urges retailers and fashion designers to go fur-free in their collections. This year has resulted in several new members taking that furfree pledge including YOOX Net�A-Porter and SEAN.
I hope you had a chance to review the 2017 Trapping Report Card we issued last month. This card accompanies an extensive report analyzing state laws and regulations regarding trapping within their borders, and shows that despite the savage and ubiquitous nature of trapping, existing state laws do not provide adequate safeguards. This report and the report card will serve as a valuable tool for raising awareness and garnering support for change, and we are looking forward to working with state and local welfare groups needing assistance with their anti-trapping campaigns and providing the valuable resources they need to fight against this heinous practice.
We are also continuing our efforts to end the use of animals in entertainment, particularly in circuses and traveling shows. This Summer, New York City banned the use of wild animals in circuses, and other major cities will hopefully soon follow suit. We will be working to ensure that New York City’s ban and Born Free’s Compassionate Conservation movement is an inspiration for all.
At the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary in Texas, we have made improvements to our enclosures and infrastructure including adding several climbing platforms, a baboon house, and purchasing a truck for addressing the needs of the animals throughout the 200-acre property. All of that is necessary and improves the lives of our residents, but it can’t compare to the feeling we have when we can rescue animals and change the entirety of their lives.
Betsy, a 34-year-old female Guinea baboon who was formerly kept as a “pet” arrived in the spring. For most of her years, she lived in a cramped cage in her owner’s backyard, which measured only 10 feet x 3.5 feet, and when she was 18 months old, she had to have her tail and part of her foot amputated due to self-injury—behavior that is a result of the psychological torture of confinement and an unnatural life. She is settling in well at the Primate Sanctuary, and considering what she’s been through, she’s surprisingly calm. Her sweet, gentle nature immediately endeared her to our caregivers.
We also experienced a milestone for Takara, an 18-year-old snow monkey who arrived in December 2015 from a zoo. For one year, we monitored her adjustment and interactions with others until she and the troop were ready. We left Takara’s introduction enclosure door open and retreated to watch from a distance. She calmly walked out, climbed her first mesquite tree, and then sauntered off to explore. Our staff observed her later mixing with the other monkeys, as if she had always been here.
Born Free’s reach extends well beyond the American shores. Our West Africa team is working on several projects to end the commercial trafficking of wildlife in that region. We are preparing identification guides and training specific to the endemic wildlife of 12 countries that will be used by law enforcement and customs officials to identify illegally-traded species and stop their export. We are also undertaking a massive assessment of trade practices and threats that will determine the most critical needs and inform our future work.
With these accomplishments behind us, I must look ahead to all of the work that is yet to be done, and I am hoping that I can count on your continued support. Your gifts will allow us to push to end trapping and the use of fur for fashion; prevent the ESA from being eroded; and continue to care for the 600 monkeys in our Sanctuary who depend on us 365 days a year, among so much more.
I know you want these problems solved as much as I do so that all of our children and grandchildren can live in a peaceful world for animals. Please be as generous as you can. Your partnership is essential to our success.
Keep Wildlife in the Wild,
