All News
Dianna Hanson Lion Mauling: Born Free USA Urges Stricter Safety Standards
The tragic death of Dianna Hanson at the Cat Haven wildlife sanctuary in California should focus attention on the dangers of working in captive animal facilities, according to one of the world's foremost animal advocacy organizations.
Link: IBTimes.co.uk
South African Official Pushes for Legal Trade in Rhino Horn
South African Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa has thrown her weight behind controversial calls for the legalisation of trade in rhinoceros horn. Molewa said for the first time in an interview that she believes it "is the right direction" to take and could be the key to saving South Africa's increasingly threatened rhino population from extinction.
Link: MG.co.za
Poachers Kills Dozens of Elephants, Including Calves, in Chad
Poachers killed at least 86 elephants in Chad last week, including 33 pregnant females and 15 calves, conservation groups said on Tuesday, warning that elephants in Central Africa risked being wiped out by such slaughters.
Link: Yahoo! News
Congratulations, Jenn! You Won Our Contest!
In conjunction with National Bird Day 2013, late last year we hatched our second annual Free Bird Photo Contest. We were very excited to partner with Outset Media, which provided as first- through fifth-place prizes the board game "What Bird Am I?" The six-week competition was open to all and attracted some 200 entries. The winning photograph of house sparrows was taken by Jenn Fraleigh of Forked River, NJ. She received a bird feeder and organic T-shirt from the Born Free USA online store, a copy of the board game "What Bird Am I?" and other prizes. Check out the contest's complete results by visiting here. And stay tuned to our National Bird Day 2014 homepage for more NBD developments, including the third annual Free Bird Photo Contest in about nine months!
Born Free's 'Adopted' Elephant Gives Birth!
Emily Kate, Born Free’s young adopted elephant in Kenya, has just given birth to her very first calf — a male. Emily Kate’s mother was Echo, a remarkable "matriarch" elephant who died of old age in 2009. Fortunately Emily Kate has a large family to help her at this important time, including older sisters who are experienced mothers. Learn more about Emily Kate here (PDF). Find out more about Born Free's role at Kenya's Amboseli National Park here.
Will Travers' Closing Remarks at CITES 2013
Will Travers, Born Free USA's chief executive officer and president of the Species Survival Network, a coalition of 100 wildlife organizations, gives his closing address to participants of the 16th meeting of the Conference of Parties to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). Watch Travers' reaction to earlier CITES 2013 developments and find other up-to-the minute tweets, photos, blogs and videos on our "Latest from CITES" webpage; and check out our CITES photo gallery.
Illinois Lawmaker Battles to Ban Lion Meat
Dying to try lion? If you live in Illinois, you'd better get your fix quickly before proposed legislation would make the "mane" course a Class A misdemeanor. Illinois State Representative Luis Arroyo proposed HB 2991 to the state's General Assembly last month. If the Lion Meat Act passes, Illinois will become the first U.S. state to forbid lion slaughter, or for any person to possess, breed, import, export, buy or sell lions for the purpose of slaughter.
Link: Eatocracy.CNN.com
Outrage that Lion Who Killed Woman Is Shot Dead
Sharai Mawere, 43, a market stall owner, was making love to her boyfriend at a secluded spot in the bush near the northern town of Kariba when the lioness struck on Tuesday. Later, the lion and her two cubs were shot dead by wardens from the Department of Parks and Wildlife Authority and a professional hunter.
Link: Telegraph.co.uk
