Spotlight News

How would you like to speak out for animals killed for their fur without ever saying a word — and look and feel good doing so? Thanks to fffashion designer Yan Fong, you can by buying a shirt or bag adorned with one of her creative, non-graphic inkblot designs accompanied by the message, "Please don't wear any fur." Choose from among bear, bunny, raccoon and seal images in our CafePress store. You'll feel good because for every item purchased, Born Free USA receives $5. And you'll look good because this unique design was donated by a rising star in the fashion industry who cares passionately about wildlife.

We are honored to have received permission to share with you "Menagerie," a powerful, non-graphic art film by Jonathan Hodgson. The nine-minute film's stark and haunting images take you on a journey through an all-too-common zoo. A place where wild animals are held captive in small cages so they can be on display for our entertainment. Get a glimpse into what it must be like for these magnificent animals day after day, after day, after day. All with the simple tool of a pencil and an artist's touch. Watch it now, and be sure to share the link with your friends and family.

Born Free USA's online auction is under way! Bidding is open on more than 50 fantastic items. Check them out! We have gourmet treats for you or a doggie gift basket for your four-legged friend, a selection of animal-themed pottery and artwork, luxury cruelty-free cosmetics, and much more. A number of our items are one-of-a-kind, hand-made, artisan goods. You will find several very affordable items — hand-dyed women's and children's T-shirts, "Rio" and "Planet of the Apes" DVDs, handbags and jewelry — all with starting bids under $10. And best of all, every dollar raised helps Born Free USA in its multifaceted efforts to protect wildlife.

Elephants have long been targeted for their ivory, but in the past half-century their numbers have been in especially steep decline. It's quickly reaching the point where the long-term survival of this magnificent species is in peril — especially in the wild. Recent events in Cameroon, where some 500 elephants have been poached in a national park so far this year, indicate there is much work to be done despite gains engineered by animal protection groups and a growing awareness of elephants' plight. The illegal trade in ivory must stop, and you can help. Visit our Elephants webpage for six actions you can take today.

To celebrate National Bird Day and in collaboration with Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and the DVD/Blu-ray release of its comedy about birding, "The Big Year," last month we hatched a Free Bird Photo Contest! The four-week competition was open to all and attracted some 200 entries. The winning photo of a Carolina Wren was taken by Kanokwalee Pusitanun of Cedar Park, TX. Kanokwalee will receive a pair of powerful binoculars, a bird feeder or house from the Born Free USA online store and a copy of "The Big Year." Check out the Top 20 photos from this inaugural competition — and stay tuned for details about the second annual Keep Wildlife in the Wild Photo Contest we have planned for late spring!

The Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary has welcomed a macaque! He had been found living in horrendous conditions (see how bad by watching this
53-second video, and then compare it with this 13-second video of our Primate Sanctuary!) at a roadside zoo in Mississippi after an undercover investigation by the Humane Society of the United States revealed serious animal welfare issues there. The macaque, as yet unnamed, was taken from the zoo on Jan. 25 and on the next day arrived at our 186-acre sanctuary in south Texas. According to Sanctuary Director Tim Ajax:

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You would never force an animal to live in a cramped, barren cage suspended over her own waste. But hundreds of thousands of animals on “fur farms” are forced to endure such unconscionable misery while awaiting their grim fate. While many European countries have banned or severely restricted fur farming, the United States has largely turned a blind eye to this barbaric industry. You can help by signing our petition that asks upscale Barneys New York to stop selling fur and, if you live in one of the "dirty dozen" fur farm states, by contacting your elected officials. Born Free USA’s groundbreaking report “Cruelty Uncaged: A Review of Fur Farming in North America” revealed that, in addition to the inherently cruel conditions mink, fox and even bobcats suffer, the farms also place native wildlife at risk and are sources of environmental pollution.

One decade after we hatched National Bird Day, our feathered friends are as worthy of celebration as ever before — and as deserving of their right to live freely and fully in the wild. As the 10th annual National Bird Day on Jan. 5 approaches, Born Free USA invites you to participate in a number of all-avian activities! All-new for 2012 are our inaugural NBD photo contest, our colorful posters (which can be downloaded for free or ordered from our online store for a $1 shipping and handling charge), our "10 Things You Can Do to Reduce Bird Window Collisions" and "More Ways You Can Help Protect Birds Around Your Home." Keep abreast of events set for NBD 2012, and please let us know if you have anything special planned.