Spotlight News
Our CEO Goes Toe to Toe With a Zoo Apologist
Born Free USA's chief executive officer, Will Travers, went on CNN International to debate with a zoo representative about the appropriateness of having wild animals held in captivity. Some people, including Will's debate opponent, Andrew Marshall of York University, claim zoos are educational and promote conservation of species. Will spoke for the rest of us in maintaining that most zoos represent a crass exploitation of animals, and abuse of them, for entertainment and profit. Watch the debate and see what you think. Be sure to keep with it until the end, when Marshall makes a statement that prompted Will, who was not allowed time to respond on the air, to write a blog.
Nearly 50 Rescued Monkeys and Counting!
Another week brought another delivery of monkeys to the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary from the bankrupt Wild Animal Orphanage in nearby San Antonio. Two deliveries, in fact, of 29 hybrid macaques. Watch an immensely entertaining three-minute video of their homecoming with fun-filled footage of their settling in! Now nearly 50 of the more than 100 WAO macaques (and one baboon) for whom we proudly are assuming lifetime care have arrived safely at our sanctuary. Stay up-to-the-minute on our Facebook page, see more photographs of this and our other rescues, and find out more about The WAO Group in our rescues section.
Nine More Rescued Macaques Arrive Safely!
Our biggest rescue, which began on July 25, resumed on Aug. 1 with the smooth delivery of nine more stump-tailed macaques. This summer, our Primate Sanctuary in south Texas is welcoming more than 100 monkeys (and one baboon) from the bankrupt Wild Animal Orphanage in nearby San Antonio. Watch a 10-minute video that shows what happened on that first day: The 10 stump-tailed macaques being placed carefully on the air-conditioned delivery truck, then their arrival at our sanctuary, which was highlighted by the new residents having their first meal of bananas and other goodies. In the coming days, please stay tuned to our sanctuary website and Facebook page for more updates!
Our Biggest Rescue Begins!
Some exciting news from our Primate Sanctuary in south Texas! The first move of 10 stump-tailed macaques (out of the 107 we will welcome to our sanctuary in the coming weeks from the bankrupt Wild Animal Orphanage) went like clockwork and everyone came through in great shape. The WAO team did an excellent job and we're looking forward to releasing the monkeys out into a larger enclosure within the next several days. Here's a picture of one of the males checking out his new surroundings. Check our sanctuary's Facebook page and photo and video galleries in the coming days as we bring you more updates. Meanwhile, please consider supporting this and our other rescues.
Help Certify that Born Free USA Is CLASSY!
The fourth annual CLASSY Awards, which honor philanthropic organizations, pits Born Free USA against four other finalists in the Animal Advocacy and Services category. Please help us triumph over our competitors for the top honor, which will be announced Sept. 22 in San Diego. Cast your vote for us (you'll need to scroll down a bit to reach our category, and you need not vote in any other category) by the end of the day Wednesday, July 25 — and be sure to ask your friends and family to do the same!
Introducing Born Free USA T-Shirts!
Help animals and spread the good word about Born Free USA with our 100 percent organic cotton T-shirts! Your purchase goes toward our multifaceted work on behalf of animals, in the wild and otherwise. And by wearing this shirt in public, you are bound to engage others in conversation about Born Free USA and soon they, too, will adopt our mantra: "Keep Wildlife in the Wild®." Choose from among three sizes for women and four for men. Each shirt costs $19.95, including shipping and handling.
Happy July Fourth!
As Americans mark their independence this week, animals worldwide continue to face profound and relentless challenges to their well-being. Please take a moment amid your celebrations to consider what our civilization is doing as a collective force to help animals, and perhaps come up with a few things you can do as an individual to improve their lot. The staff members at Born Free USA wish you a safe and compassionate holiday.
Born Free USA Makes the Big Leagues
When the Texas Rangers hosted the Oakland Athletics on Sunday evening in Arlington, TX, we were there — making a Jumbotron-size video pitch for support in the Lone Star State! About four years ago, Rangers pitching legend and co-owner Nolan Ryan talked onstage about having once been an "ambassador" for the snow monkeys who were living in what is now the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary. His dry recitation of what happened had the audience (or at least the two radio personalities who were interviewing Ryan) howling with laughter, and audio of the exchange attracted so much attention that Sunday's game was declared to be "Nolan Ryan Snow Monkey Day" at the ballpark.
