Born Free, in partnership with Shamwari Private Game Reserve in South Africa's Eastern Cape, operates two big cat sanctuaries providing safe, lifelong homes for lions and leopards rescued from zoos, circuses, private ownership and other captive facilities. After years of suffering in unsuitable conditions, these animals now have space, privacy and compassionate care in natural bush environments.
Many rescued lions and leopards arrive having endured years of captivity in poor conditions. As a result, they often suffer from trauma-related behavioural issues, malnutrition, and lasting physical and psychological scars caused by abuse and neglect. Having been born or held in captivity, these animals cannot be returned to the wild and require specialist, lifelong care in a safe environment.
Born Free provides lifelong refuge at its GFAS-accredited big cat sanctuaries at Shamwari Private Game Reserve in South Africa. We rescue and relocate lions and leopards from captive facilities worldwide, rehoming them in spacious bush enclosures filled with natural vegetation. The animals have space, privacy, and the chance to express natural behaviours, with expert veterinary care and compassionate management.
While sanctuaries provide vital lifelong care for lions and leopards already harmed by captivity, Born Free's long-term goal is to prevent such suffering from happening in the first place. We educate the public and local communities about the harm caused by captivity. Through advocacy, education, and compassionate conservation, we aim for a world where big cats are respected and protected in the wild, not exploited in captivity.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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