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Article: Born to run: "is Born Free naive to promote compassionate conservation?" asks the wildlife foundation's website poll. Celebrating its 21st birthday, the charity best known for saving lions in Africa, is well aware of claims that it's too 'fluffy' or not a 'serious' set up.(21 Years Of Born Free)
- Article from:
- Geographical
- Article date:
- April 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Circle Publishing Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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When Virginia McKenna first launched the Born Free Foundation, then called Zoo Check, with her late husband Bill Travers and their son Will, it was branded a nine-day wonder. Twenty-one years on, however, it has a budget of 2.5 million [pounds sterling], 100,000 supporters, and 25 staff based in West Sussex. It has branched out so far that it boasts about 60 projects worldwide, many of which are helping conserve critically endangered species. Indeed, look beyond the eponymous pop ballad so many people caterwaul nostalgically whenever the charity is mentioned and you'll discover that Born Free is a very tenacious wildlife welfare organisation.
"People were all too ...