Stars gather to celebrate 25th anniversary of ‘Born Free’

On the quarter-century anniversary of ‘Born Free’, an appeal is being launched in aid of our planet’s threatened wildlife. Dozens of celebrities from the world of music and entertainment are due to attend the “Wild & Live” event, including Sharon Osborne, Martin Clunes, Nick Knowles and Mark Austin.

Maestros including Bryan Adams and Rolf Harris will also be on hand to lend their support to the cause.

The concert is hoping to save the lives of over 25,000 animals in the wild and alleviate the suffering of animals in captivity, including many threatened and endangered species. Supporting the work of Born Free is perhaps more important now than ever. As the concert takes place, there are less than 3,000 tigers surviving with half of these officially endangered, while lion populations have fallen from 100,000 in 1980 to just 23,000 now. Elephant populations in Africa have dropped from 1.3 million to 450,000 in the last 30 years, and Lowland gorillas now number just 5,000 worldwide.

Over the past 25 years, the charity has saved the lives of tens of thousands of baby turtles in Bali and Tanzania by overseeing their hatching in nests protected from poachers, rescued hundreds of orphaned and abused animals in Uganda and Malawi, and also helped introduce dozens of wild cats and primates back into the wild.

A special range of Wild & Live merchandise has been specially produced, including specially designed t-shirts and ribbons, with profits from each sale going to reach the charity’s target to save 25,000 animals.

Born Free was established as one of Land Rover’s five Global Conservation Partners in 2002.  The sponsorship forms part of Land Rover’s integrated approach to sustainability, and includes financial and vehicle support, providing Born Free with the backing needed to carry out frontline conservation on a daily basis.

Virginia McKenna, OBE and founder of Born Free, comments: It’s a desperate situation for so many animals and we have to do something about it. Wild and Live gives us the chance to really make a difference and save endangered species. If you care about wildlife and love great entertainment then I urge you to join us!”

She added: “I am so overwhelmed – so many talented performers willing to stand up and be counted for animals in need.”

For more information visit bornfree.org.uk.