Virginia and Bill campaigned to give Pole Pole a better life but, despite their best efforts, she died at London Zoo in 1983.
“October 17th , for me, will always be a day of remembrance, a day of deep regret that we couldn’t save her. But it also became the day that began the rest of our lives.
My husband Bill, our eldest son Will and I decided we would start a little group called Zoo Check, to expose the conditions that so many wild creatures are forced to endure in zoos and circuses. To this day, now as a part of our charity, the Born Free Foundation, we continue this work, uncovering and spotlighting wild animal suffering wherever in the world we find it.
Pole Pole is always remembered. Her legacy lives on.” Virginia McKenna OBE
On this important and poignant day for Born Free and the elephants we work hard to protect in Pole Pole’s name, please adopt an African elephant and help us stop elephants being poached and killed for their ivory, support wild elephant ranger patrols, and help us overcome human-elephant conflict, creating increased tolerance of elephants amongst local communities.
Together let’s give elephants the safe future they deserve!
From your friends at Born Free
PS Inspired by Pole Pole’s heartrending true story? Support our vital work by adopting The Elephant Family in Kenya. Just £3 per month, includes gift pack.
