Born Free USA In The News

Born Free CEO Will Travers was recently interviewed on Riz Khan's One on One. Watch the full interview now »

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Minnesota Department of Natural Resources officials are asking the federal government to remove the gray wolf from the list of endangered and threatened species, saying the state's wolf population has fully recovered and is beginning to cause more conflicts. ... However, at least one animal advocacy group is concerned about Minnesota's petition to remove the wolf from federal protection. Born Free USA, a California-based group involved in the lawsuit to keep the wolf on the endangered list, believes it might be too soon to lift protections for the wolf.

DNR asks feds to remove gray wolf from endangered list
Elizabeth Dunbar
Minnesota Public Radio

On January 20, Will Travers and Adam Roberts (CEO and Executive Vice President respectively of Born Free USA) joined Big Blend Editors Nancy Reid and Lisa Smith for “The Nature Connection” on Big Blend Radio, in a special segment honoring Joy Adamson's 100th Birth Anniversary. Nancy worked for Joy Adamson in late 1970s, and of course Will’s mother, Virginia McKenna, portrayed Joy Adamson in the movie Born Free.

Listen to the show online or download an mp3 of it at www.bigblendmagazine.com/The-Nature-Connection/Jan-20-2010.htm

A leading rights group that works to protect the well-being of wild animals in Canada says that the mauling death of an Ontario man by his tiger is a wake-up call to governments at all levels to prevent people from owning exotic animals. Rob Laidlaw, the executive director of Zoo Check Canada, said the death of Norman Buwalda on Sunday was the result of Ontario's weak laws that make it too easy for people to keep wild animals as pets without any oversight. ... Barry Kent MacKay, the Canadian representative of Born Free USA, another animal rights group, said his organization has been warning communities for years to toughen laws. "We warned these communities to pass these bylaws, because people can have a plethora of animals," MacKay said. "Private owners don't see the danger, they think everything is fine."

Animal groups urge tougher laws after Ontario tiger owner killed
Mark Iype, Canwest News Service
National Post

After years of legal wrangling, a decision has been rendered in the Ringling Bros. Circus case. Unfortunately, Judge Emmet Sullivan dismissed the case on the grounds that the plaintiffs lacked legal "standing" to pursue their claims. Because he dismissed the case for a lack of jurisdiction, the Judge did not address any of the extensive evidence in the case which showed that the Asian elephants are kept on chains for hours on end and are hit with bull hooks to make them perform tricks in the circus.

Judge rules in favor of circus in lawsuit over treatment of Asian elephants
Del Quentin Wilber
Washington Post

... I opted for mink because, as a farmed animal, my conceit was that its treatment could be no worse than other livestock, as those of us who have read Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma or Jonathan Safran Foer's just-published Eating Animals know. I still feel that way, although no way would I now accept a fur coat. (Just this week, Born Free USA came out with yet another indictment of fur farming practices, in both the U.S. and Canada.) I'm not even keen on down-fill since that, too, is also cruelly obtained. ...

My love/hate of fur
Antonia Zerbisias
The Toronto Star

A national animal rights group is blasting Idaho for its treatment of mink, calling the Gem State the third-worst in the nation for its treatment of animals farmed for their fur. According to a news release by the national wildlife advocacy organization Born Free USA, Idaho earned its place near the top of the list for its high number of unregulated mink farms.

Mink treatment draws group’s wrath
Sean Ellis
Idaho State Journal

... Born Free USA has sued Ringling Bros. in federal court hoping for a ruling that the use of bullhooks and the chaining up of Asian elephants, which are endangered, violates the Endangered Species Act. A six-week trial in Washington, D.C., concluded in March but no decision has been issued. ...

PETA targets Mitchell Elementary students to protest circus
Kathy Steele and Sherri Ackerman
The Tampa Tribune