Image of a family of four lions sitting in the grass, and text saying '2024: Our Special Year Ahead'

Dear John,

Happy New Year! Wishing you and your loved ones a wild and wonderful 2024. With you by our side, it’s looking like a bumper year for wildlife.

Can you believe 2024 marks 40 years of Born Free? Now, THAT’S staying power! We’ll be in touch soon with details, not least anniversary events and 40 easy ways for YOU to help wild animals thrive.

Do you remember Tsar and Jamil (pictured right), the lion brothers rescued from Ukraine? Plans for their move to our sanctuary in South Africa near fruition – we hope this spring! Meanwhile Simba, who you helped rehome in 2022, will move into his new, purpose-built enclosure; a more enriching lifetime home at Animanatura Wild Sanctuary.

Talking of big cats, we’re about to celebrate 20 golden years of our tiger programme in India. Can you believe tiger numbers have increased 2½ times since this began?! Other impactful conservation action planned for this year include a new ‘Safari Science’ initiative to encourage tourists to monitor wild lions, ‘conflict toolkits’ to help farmers humanely deter elephants in Kenya, plus employing local people to protect rare gorillas in Cameroon.

A dolphin in a glass tank, with people posing for a photo in front

We never forget the plight of wild animals in captivity and this year we'll redouble efforts to stop dolphins being exploited for ‘entertainment’ in Europe. We’ll also seek tighter rules on the legal trade in exotic pets in the UK and Europe, AND a global agreement to combat devastating illegal wildlife trade – animals aren’t commodities to be bought and sold!

With a UK election expected, we aim to persuade ALL political parties to adopt progressive measures to restore nature and protect wild animals – from ending cruel badger culling to stopping grotesque hunting trophy imports. And, with your help, we won’t stop campaigning until the UK is an elephant-free zone.

Primary school children in Kenya facing a teacher in front of a blackboard

We will be announcing some major news for schools soon - watch this space! And with a new Junior Ambassador, climate change mitigation in Kenya and a bespoke conservation curriculum in Cameroon, much positivity looms on the UK and international education horizons as well.

Of course, all this awe-inspiring work for wildlife is only possible because of your loyal support – thank you for sharing our vision for a kinder world. Let’s resolve to make 2024 Born Free’s best year ever for wild animals!

Together, let’s do everything we can to bring about more compassion, less exploitation and more respect for the natural world.

From, your friends at Born Free

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