DO ZOOS REALLY EDUCATE?
Zoos have long claimed to be centers of education and conservation — but how much of that is fact and how much is fiction?
In our latest opinion piece, we examine the history of zoos, the effectiveness of their educational programs and the ethical implications for the animals in their care.
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF CAPTIVITY ON WILD ANIMALS
Take a deep dive with us as we explore the profound psychological and physical impacts of captivity on wild animals in our latest feature.
From the vast oceanic travels of orcas to the complex social structures of elephants, discover how confinement and isolation starkly contrast with their natural behaviours and lifestyle, leading to significant health and safety risks... for both the animals and the people involved.
REIMAGINING CONSERVATION: HOW SANCTUARIES CAN REPLACE ZOOS
Explore a future where zoos transition into sanctuaries, prioritising animal welfare and true conservation over entertainment. What role do zoos play in today's society and what can be done to inspire better conservation efforts globally?
Read our latest blog post, "Reimagining Conservation: How Sanctuaries Can Replace Zoos," to discover how we can transform animal habitats into spaces of respect and care.
THE ETHICS SURROUNDING CAPTIVE BREEDING FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES
Explore the intricate ethical landscape of breeding endangered species in captivity. We delve into the contrasting realities behind conservation efforts, highlighting both remarkable successes and concerning practices within zoos and sanctuaries worldwide.
Learn about the challenges, triumphs and what truly constitutes ethical breeding programs.
Join us in understanding these critical issues to ensure your support genuinely contributes to conservation.
FUNDRAISING FOR RESCUE & CONSERVATION
Join us in making a difference! Free The Wild is actively supporting the Landmark Foundation in their vital leopard conservation efforts in Southern Africa and partnering with ACS Animal Rescue to save trafficked monkeys in Pakistan.
Read more about these two missions and please consider making a donation to these crucial causes through the link below. Every bit of support counts towards securing a better future for these animals.
Donate now and be a part of the change!
WHAT ZOO VISITORS DON'T SEE
Explore the hidden side of zoos, where the enchanting presence of wild animals often masks their hidden distress. From the confining spaces that restrict natural behaviours to the psychological impact of captivity, learn about the complex reality faced by zoo animals.
Discover how some leading institutions are making strides in conservation and animal welfare, and find out how you can make informed choices about visiting zoos. Dive into the full article to uncover the truth and join the movement for a more ethical approach to wildlife conservation.
ASH DYKES X FTW
Adventurer and Free The Wild Global Ambassador, Ash Dykes has just completed a world-first expedition, kayaking from the unmapped source to the sea of the Coppename River in Suriname's Amazon!
This record-breaking journey, supported by Free The Wild, wasn’t just about adventure — it highlighted the stark contrast between animals thriving in the wild and those in captivity.
Ash’s courageous trek through jaguar territory, caiman-filled waters, and untamed rapids offers valuable insights into wildlife conservation as well as a glimpse into the thrilling life of a true adventurer!
Click through to read the full story!
LEOPARDS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
Leopards are facing increasing pressure in Southern Africa as they venture beyond game reserves in search of food, often targeting livestock such as sheep, pigs, and chickens. This has created significant conflict between these majestic predators and local farming communities.
Free The Wild is proud to partner with the Landmark Foundation to address this human-predator conflict, working to protect both people and leopards. Together, we aim to find sustainable solutions that benefit wildlife and communities alike.
Learn more about our collaboration and how you can help by following the link below.
STAND UP FOR CAPTIVE WILDLIFE
Today, 25 Sept 2024, Senator Marty Klyne is advancing Bill S-15, a landmark piece of legislation that seeks to end the future captivity of elephants, great apes, big cats and other large mammals in Canada.
The bill, supported by Free The Wild’s founder Cher and Dr Jane Goodall, focuses on safeguarding these majestic creatures by prohibiting their use in entertainment and ensuring their welfare in the few exceptional cases where captivity may still be permitted.
We need your help! Please join us in amplifying Cher’s message of support by sharing and retweeting her tweet. Together, we can help ensure Bill S-15 passes and create a brighter future for elephants, great apes, big cats in Canada - and hopefully - the rest of the world.
FTW X ASH DYKES
Free The Wild is proud to partner with world-renowned explorer Ash Dykes on his latest groundbreaking expedition: Uncharted: Suriname. As our first official Ambassador, Ash will navigate through one of the world’s last truly wild places; Suriname’s untouched rainforest. This extraordinary journey is not just about setting records - it’s a powerful mission to raise global awareness for the preservation of our planet’s most vulnerable ecosystems.
Join us as we follow Ash’s adventure into the depths of the Suriname jungle, where he’ll document the beauty and fragility of this pristine environment. Discover how this partnership is driving vital support for Free The Wild’s conservation projects, and learn how you can be part of our mission to protect endangered species and their natural habitats.
BURUNDI CHIMPS
Join us in an urgent mission to improve the lives of five chimpanzees; Avril, Chippy, Flora, Joy and Lulu residing at Musée Vivant in Bujumbura, Burundi.
We're collaborating with JGIA, 3C and local partners to drastically enhance their living conditions by renovating their housing, enriching their diets and training staff.
There's a lot to be done to ensure these chimpanzees can live in the comfort and dignity they deserve, and we, JGIA, 3C and the local environment ministries really need your help to make it happen.
Every donation helps us continue these vital improvements and supports our broader mission to protect and free wildlife globally.
Donate today to make a difference for Avril, Chippy, Flora, Joy and Lulu, and join us in standing up for wildlife across the world.
UPDATE ON LUCY & EVZ
A long-await update on Lucy's situation at Edmonton Valley Zoo, Alberta, Canada, exploring the processes and negotiations between FTW and EVZ, along with a deep dive into how the 2022 and 2023 assessments and their results were presented.
We provide insights into the challenges and developments in fighting for Lucy's best interests and address the ever-relevant question of a potential relocation to a sanctuary.
Click below to understand the current state of affairs, our interactions with the zoo and how we can all help make a difference in Lucy's life.
JOIN US FOR AN INTIMATE DINNER WITH CHER!
Experience an unforgettable evening with Cher at the exclusive "Good Evening with Cher" event in Malibu on April 27th, 2024!
Hosted by Charitybuzz, this intimate gathering offers cocktails, fine dining and engaging conversations with the legendary star for you and a friend, all in support of Free The Wild's mission to rescue and rehabilitate wild animals suffering in captivity.
Seize this rare opportunity to create lasting memories and contribute to a vital cause 🧡
Join us for a night of glamour and compassion.
YOUR ZOO ASSESSMENT FORM
🐘 Help Us Evaluate Zoos Worldwide! 🦓
Planning a zoo visit or maybe you've just returned from one?
Your observations can make a monumental difference! Participate in our international zoo survey and voice your experiences. We understand that many zoos play a vital role in education and conservation, offering endangered species a lifeline in challenging times. However, we aim to identify and address zoos that may fall short in their responsibility to the animals. By taking the survey, you're helping us pinpoint areas of concern and ensure animals everywhere are treated justly!
👉 Take the survey every time you visit a zoo, anywhere in the world. Together, let's champion the well-being of captive wildlife and Free The Wild!
FREEING ZION NIV
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Experience the extraordinary journey of Free The Wild's latest rescue mission as we worked with Warriors of Wildlife over the last two months to save and relocate an illegally smuggled lion cub named Zion-Niv.
Partnering with the Ukraine and South-Africa based big-cat rescue specialists, and together with your support, Free The Wild funded the entire operation to regime Zion-Niv, taking him from government custody in a temporary holding pen in Israel to the Simbonga Game Reserve & Sanctuary in South Africa.
Witness his incredible transformation from captivity to freedom, as he makes himself at home in the lush South African bush, free of trauma and free to live out the rest of his days in peace.
Join us in our commitment to protecting and advocating for the rights of animals suffering in captivity.
LUCY'S ASSESSMENT
After a thorough health assessment by carried out by four of the world's leading elephant experts, Free The Wild and the professional panel have recommended that Lucy, the 47-year-old asian elephant remain at Edmonton Valley Zoo until her health improves. Lucy suffers from a unique and baffling breathing impairment which makes sedation and any tests thereunder impossible to carry out.
The panelists have recommended significant changes be made to her facilities and care regimens, including additional space for her to roam, access to fresh water to drink and bathe in, air quality improvements, a modified diet and a protected contact management system.
Free The Wild will work closely with the zoo over the coming months to monitor Lucy's progress as collectively aim for her health to improve and breathing issues to subside.
To read the full press release and gain access to the individual panelist reports on Lucy, please follow the link below.
MIR & SIMBA, SAFE & SOUND
After several months of uncertainty surrounding the fates of the male lions, Mir and Simba, from Ukraine, we are delighted to announce their safe arrival in South Africa.
The two were slightly dazed following the 17-hour journey, but have both made a speedy recovery and are now enjoying the open African air and acres of space, along with the company of Simbonga's growing pride and dedicated staff.
There are still a concerning number of animals in distress throughout Ukraine as a result of the conflicts there, but the zoos, circuses and private owners continue to believe that they and their animals will be able to bounce back once the war is over. We continue to investigate potential solutions to get them out, and hope in the meantime that the shelling, gunfire and elevated sense of dread and anxiety doesn't take a deadly toll on those that remain.
WORLD LION DAY
10 AUGUST
AUGUST 10 IS WORLD LION DAY!
Free The Wild are working on a number of international projects to help protect wild lion populations and improve the lives of those kept in captivity.
Right now, there are 12 lions in Lahore Safari Park, Pakistan, which are scheduled for auction to private collectors this week. We're working with ministers in Islamabad and WWF Pakistan to prevent this from going ahead!
As a result of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, many of the zoos in Ukraine have taken damage, lost their staff or fallen into disrepair, meaning their animals can no longer be supported. We have already worked to save 5 lions, a tiger and a bear from the war zone, but now our partners are on the ground trying to save two more, Mir and Simba. Please donate to our cause so that we can get them out safely, and have them moved to an accredited sanctuary in South Africa.
MASHA SAFELY RELOCATED
A MISSION FROM UKRAINE TO ROMANIA
With your support and the courage of a few amazing people on the ground in Ukraine, Masha has been successfully collected from her temporary housing facility and safely transported to her new sanctuary home in Romania!
Liberty Bear Sanctuary is a 70 hectare stretch of land in the Romanian wilderness, home to over 100 brown bears rescued from across Europe and Asia - a wonderful place for Masha, the 22-year-old ex-circus bear to call home.
Thank you all for your amazing efforts 🧡
THREE MAGICAL WORDS - FREE THE WILD
We did it again. Free the wild’s latest rescue mission is complete. Five happy lions and one magnificent tiger received a new lease on life after being transferred from their appalling captivity in Ukraine to their new sanctuary home in South Africa. The big cats touched down in Johannesburg on Friday, 14th January 2022, courtesy of DHL and were then transferred by road to Simbonga Sanctuary in Gqeberha (previously known as Port Elizabeth). Our mission started some 6 months ago when we learnt of 7 lions and a tiger’s struggle for life and survival from Lionel De Lange. The cats lived depressing lives in horrific, antiquated concrete cages in Ukraine. They endured freezing conditions in winter, living on concrete floors and looking at the outside world through thick steel bars. None of the cats had ever felt soft soil under their paws, they never knew the smell of grass, neither did they sense the heat of the sun nor experienced the shade of a tree.
Their cramped, caged and neglected conditions in the Ukraine zoo, regrettably led to one of the male lions being killed in a fight before we could complete the rescue and very sadly, another one of the older, frail males suffered a heart-attack and died during sedation. He could not be resuscitated. COVID played a significant role in the loss of these magnificent lions as delayed travel arrangements hampered their earlier release. This was a heartbreaking setback for all of us at Free the Wild and the Warriors of Wildlife teams who were working on this project. But, despite this tragic result, the five remaining lions and their female tiger companion made it, and for the first time in their lives they stepped out of their caged existence into the fresh African air, where they started familiarising themselves immediately with their new sanctuary home on Saturday morning.
The 14-hour transfer by road from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth was hopefully their last ordeal and we hope and pray that the experience in total was not too traumatic for them. News from Simbonga reports that they are settling in and fast acclimatising to their new surroundings and the weather.
Finally, these beautiful big cats have a chance to live out the rest of their lives in peace and care in the warmth of Africa.
We cannot thank everyone involved in this relocation enough. From Lionel and Anya who brought their plight to our attention, their team at Simbonga Sanctuary, the vets in Ukraine, DHL for sponsoring this precious cargo and our amazing Co-founder Cher for all her help and the financial support and care from all our wonderful donors and supporters. On behalf of all of us at Free the Wild, here’s to the lions and the tiger’s future in their happy new home.
Thanks to all of you for helping us make this happen and to Si Cunneen for the wonderful images!
Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne
Co-founder & Trustee
Free the Wild
BIG CAT RESCUE
MISSON ACCOMPLISHED
Free The Wild has successfully completed our work in Ukraine, to rescue and relocate the lions and tigress brought to our attention by Lionel De Lange and have them safely transferred to sanctuary in South Africa.
Their epic journey from Ukraine, to Turkey and then Johannesburg by air followed by a 14-hour overland haul to Simbonga Sanctuary in Port Elizabeth is complete and they are now home free.
Thank you for your amazing support - we couldn't have done it without you!
Please click on the link below to learn more about the project and to read Co-Founder, Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne's mission statement.
URBAN WILDLIFE & NATURE
PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION
Our competition winners have been selected!
A huge congratulations to the top three contenders and our Under 15s winner! Follow the link below to see all 15 Finalist photos and the overall winners.
Prizes are currently being processed, so be sure to check your emails to see if we've reached out to you for additional information.
A YEAR TO REMEMBER
As an amateur wildlife photographer, a conservationist at heart, and through all my travels visiting wildlife reserves and conservancies around the world, I am all too familiar with how animals live and survive in the wild.
I am aware of how they mix with their own kind, stimulated but their natural surroundings and how they behave like wild animals should.
Seeing what happens in some of the world’s worst zoos and circuses, where wild animals are kept in confined spaces, frequently in solitary confinement, all too often in the wrong or no natural habitat at all, is simply heart-breaking.
For those of us who care about these rights and wrongs, we find the treatment of these animals and their living conditions unbearable to look at. But, then it’s so much easier to simply look away.
May I please request that we don’t turn our backs on these poor souls in 2021? Please start this new year by opening your eyes to their plight and need for help.
With the very complex year of 2020 behind us all, I can honestly say that we can be happy to have been able to focus on the positives too. In the face of COVID, Free the Wild still managed to achieve the freedom of Kaavan and the other animals in Islamabad. Relocating this elephant from his solitary confinement in Pakistan to his new and peaceful home in Cambodia was a giant leap for a small charity like Free the Wild. No matter how difficult it was for us at times, to know that were able to achieve this task after five years of very difficult work, it has now spurred us on to continue on our future missions.
For Free the Wild, 2021 is not only the beginning of new year, but also the start of our critical work to help some of the other persecuted, imprisoned, isolated, abused and neglected captive wild animals around the world.
Whilst many of us may sometimes feel like just burying our heads in the sand and walking away, we must look at this new year as a gift of time and pull together our strengths as human beings to face each new challenge.
Please help us achieve the rescue and release into sanctuaries of the ± 300 primates, reptiles and other animals in Pata Zoo. Naturally our work does not end with this particular zoo in Thailand. There are animals suffering in many terrible zoos who need our help immediately. We have a massive task this year and as a very small charity, we simply cannot do it alone.
On behalf of Kaavan, and all the other animals that were released from the zoo in Islamabad, may I take this moment to thank all our amazing supporters again for the help you’ve given us in 2020 and ask you to continue with your assistance. It certainly was a year that we will never forget but let’s make 2021 the year to remember.
Cher, Mark and I, along with our trustees wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.
Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne
Co-founder & Trustee
Free the Wild
HELP US DO MORE
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We did it!
We did it!
KAAVAN IS IN CAMBODIA!
Kaavan is Free! Long live Kaavan!
After five years of an incredibly bumpy journey, having had to negotiate with zoo employees and officials, municipalities, local and international wildlife associations and authorities and even high level governments – Free the Wild won and we managed to free Kaavan!
We have freed this amazing 35 year old elephant from chains, abuse and neglect from the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan and now have him safe, sound, happy and healthy on the ground, with three new lovely female elephant friends, at the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary in Siem Reap.
In the process not only did we have an immensely long struggle but Kaavan also set a new world record for being the biggest, heaviest Asian elephant to travel the longest distance by air.
We are so grateful for the support and assistance from so many people and organisations around the world who made this happen. Thank you to our trustees and friend without whom this would never have been possible.
Everyone is congratulating us for enable Kaavan’s freedom and we could not be more proud of what we have achieved. But we must not forget that it is also the government and people of Pakistan and the government of Cambodia who needs a massive thanks from us, but most of all the donors and supporters of Free The Wild, without whom we can not continue our ongoing work. To tackle our next missions with Bua Noi the gorilla, the orangutan and her baby, the bonobo and all the primates in Pata Zoo in Bangkok, Billy the elephant in the LA zoo and any other projects, we desperately need your continued support.
So, on behalf of Cher, Gina, myself, our trustees Anika, Jen and Sagan, our whole Free the Wild team in London, LA, Canada and Pakistan as well as all the animals we work for – we thank you, sincerely!
Together, we did it - Kaavan is free.
Mark Cowne
Co-Founder & Trustee
Free the Wild
In the News:
Free The Wild Campaigns to Rescue Bua Noi
MEET THE FOUNDERS
Cher
Cher is internationally recognised as a leading authority on animal welfare, humanitarian issues, women’s rights, LBGT issues, inclusion and US politics.
Mark Cowne
Mark runs a business in the UK and shares in over 30-years experience in wildlife conservation across Southern Africa and Europe.
Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne
Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne heads a leading UK, talent management agency and continues to fuel her life-long passion for wlidlife and conservation through her work with Free The Wild.
In honour of Kaavan's incredible journey from Pakistan to Cambodia and in order to raise awareness for other animals suffering in captivity, the wonderful team at Umano put this tear-jerking animation together, based on the true story of Kaavan: Kahani Meri
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