Saturday 10 August 2013

On World Lion Day adopt a lion - they rock

Virginia McKenna & Bill Travers


Lions have had 'big hair' long before rockers did  and if you are on Twitter you'll probably be seeing the hashtag  #WorldLionDay  being tweeted by many today including @WorldLionDay  @BFFoundation  @LIONAID  ( and us at Classic Rock Radio   @classicrockeu   )

I've had some wonderful lion experiences and encounters of my own  and wanted to  remind you about the incredible work done by the Born Free Foundation


.In 1964, Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna travelled to Kenya to star in the classic wildlife film ‘Born Free’, based on the best-selling book by Joy Adamson.  Released in 1966, the film told the true story of George and Joy Adamson’s fight to return Elsa the lioness to the wild.  Few who have seen  Born Free could fail to be moved by this story

The Adamson’s story was enjoyed by tens of millions around the globe, capturing hearts and inspiring a generation. It changed the world’s attitude to lions forever.  Making Born Free profoundly affected Bill and Virginia.  Working with George and Joy influenced the rest of their lives.  Their close contact with the lions sparked a lifelong commitment to wildlife and they realised wild animals belong in the wild, not incarcerated in captivity.


From small beginnings, the Born Free Foundation has grown into a global force for wildlife.  A personal passion for wild animals and desire for positive change remain at heart.  Described by The Times as ‘Big enough to make a difference, but small enough to care,’ Born Free is not a big anonymous organisation, but a family of like-minded people who share the same goals.  They work to prevent individual animal suffering, protect threatened species and keep wildlife in the wild

Last year  we posted  about Queen's Brian May and actress-singer Kerry Ellis's  beautiful  single  'Born Free ' in aid of the Born Free Foundation (see post here ) 

 
                        Brian May, Kerry Ellis and Virginia at the Pride of Cape Town
 

                                           Kerry Ellis and Brian May's Born Free Tour

There are many ways to support the Born Free Foundation, but did you know you can also 'adopt' lions and lionesses through them? (as well as many other amazing animals )

 Meet Sinbad 




Adopt Sinbad for just £30 a year and help fund his daily food and care AND support big cat protection worldwide.  You’ll get a great Gift Pack too!  

Classic Rock Radio  have adopted Sinbad the lion and a lioness called Shada  :-)
.
For more information and to see more  adoption opportunities see http://www.bornfree.org.uk/give/adopt-an-animal/



You can also find out more about (and support!)  World Lion Day  here    http://worldlionday.com/     ( find on Twitter: @worldlionday )


Despite the lions’ symbolic importance throughout the ages on coins, flags and statues, across Africa and India they are suffering from a silent extinction    

The main threats to lions occurs when they run into conflicts with humans. Through the years lions have been killed for  so-called 'sport', and are still sadly prized as big-game 'trophies' by trophy hunters.

Habitat loss from agriculture and  logging has also affected the lions

Lions have vanished from over 80 % of their historic range and currently exist in 28 countries in Africa and one country in Asia (India). They are extinct in 26 countries.  Only 7 countries:  South Africa, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe are believed to each contain more than 1,000 lions and the numbers are falling.

Africa without lions? Extinction a real possibility? I can scarcely believe what I’m writing. But the species is on the brink of destruction. Could this be the lion’s last roar? - Virginia McKenna

I was not the lion, but it fell upon me to give the lion’s roar” Winston Churchill,


The lion is beyond dispute, allow’d the most majestic brute; his valor and his generous mind, prove him superior of his kind” John Gay, poet, 1685-1732


 
one of my lioness friends, a true beauty, as nature intended - photo Marilyn Michaels


post by Marilyn Michaels  ( @RadioGirlProds )     
(includes information sourced via BornFreeFoundation & World Lion Day websites)

1 comment:

  1. Nice post highlighting an incredibly important topic. The "Born Free" foundation is a beacon of light in a dark period for one of our planet's most iconic creatures. We should all support these important organisations that are working hard to save endangered species throughout the world.

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