BORN FREE USA

Born Free USA aims to Keep Wildlife in the Wild, where they rightfully belong, as free as possible from human interference. We address the following specific needs:
• Protecting species in their natural habitat
• Rescuing wild animals from appalling captive situations
• Implementing practical solutions to enable humans and wildlife to live in harmony
• Uncovering and raising awareness about cruelty to wild animals
• Supporting legislation to protect captive animals and their wild counterparts
• Preventing illegal trade in wild animals and their body parts
• Developing public policy changes in various arenas

Millions of animals suffer at the hands of human beings, kept as “pets," displayed as attractions in conditions that compromise their physical and mental well-being, or killed in the name of fashion or décor. In our campaigns against such cruelties, we use powerful tools including legislation, public education, litigation, grassroots advocacy and work actively with media to spread the word about challenges facing animals.

Animals in captivity: Prohibit private possession of wild animals. Activities center around opportunities to bring this issue to light in the public eye. We are a leader on the Captive Primate Safety Act, which bans the private possession of certain primates a big blow to the pet trade. We are also a leading for behind the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which would ban the private possession of certain big cats, as well as public contact with them.
Animals are sentenced to a lifetime of misery for the sake of a few moments of human entertainment at circuses and in zoos, roadside attractions, and aquariums. Born Free USA's reports educate the public on substandard conditions in zoos. We track incidents involving captive wild animals in the United States through our Exotic Animal Incidents Database. We work with lawmakers and alongside other animal protection organizations to advocate for laws to put an end to wild animal captivity and to improve conditions for captive wildlife. We have also rescued monkeys from inadequate facilities through our Primate Sanctuary.

Trapping and Fur: End the use of body-gripping, leghold, and snare traps in the United States with emphasis on banning trapping in National Wildlife Refuges and in state and local areas as opportunities arise, and to reduce the supply, demand, and social acceptance of fur fashions. We plan to continue to press for passage of the Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act. We track incidents of non-target animals caught in traps through our Non-target Trapping Incidents database. Through reports and investigations we seek to expose the threat to human health posed by trapping and fur farms.

Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary: Provides a safe, permanent home in spacious, natural habitats for hundreds of primates, giving them a second chance to live a peaceful life as close to what nature intended as possible. At the sanctuary monkeys experience – often for the first time in their lives – sunshine, trees, the ability to run and play, and the companionship of their own kind.

Wildlife Trade: We fight against the over-exploitation of wildlife through international trade that results in extreme animal cruelty and serious population declines. We are a participant at CITES and we have projects supporting 14 West and Central African countries to combat illegal wildlife trade.

Born Free USA and its leadership team are internationally respected experts on wildlife conservation matters, many with several decades of experience under their belts. As an organization we work hard to make positive change through legislation, litigation, public education, advocacy, and animal rescue and care. We engage an international audience of supporters who we support and assist in grassroots advocacy. In 2007 Born Free USA merged with the well-respected Animal Protection Institute. As a combined organization we have over 50 years of experience in the animal welfare field. Our headquarter's location near the nation's capital gives us unique access to lawmakers and federal agencies. Our primate sanctuary in Texas is situated on 175 acres of land, giving us the ability to create free ranging naturalistic enclosures for our residents, and care that is seen as a gold standard among primate sanctuaries. Our membership in various coalitions and relationships with outside experts and organizations around the world give us the ability to accomplish even larger goals than we could on our own. Our experience and relationships with delegates in African countries allows us to support international policy and capacity building in the fight against illegal wildlife trade. Our well established reputation as a leader among wildlife groups gives us the ability to advise on policy, wildlife management, and legislation on the municipal, national, and international levels.

Born Free USA has a history in making tangible differences for animals in need. Some examples include:

1.In 2019, California passed A.B. 273, which prohibits the trapping of any furbearing or nongame mammal for purposes of
recreation or commerce in fur, and A.B. 44, which prohibits the sale, display, trade, distribution, or manufacturing of fur. We had advised on and rallied behind both of these bills.

2. In 2019 the 18th Conference of the Parties for CITES, we fought for and won greater restrictions on the trade of dozens of species, including giraffes, small-clawed otters, and captured baby elephants.

3. Our petition to have the African Lion listed to the Endangered Species Act was successful, providing vital protections to one of the world's most beloved species.

4. In 2011, the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary took on the one of the largest single rescues in the history of sanctuaries – 107 macaques and one baboon from the bankrupt Wild Animal Orphanage. Had we not stepped up, these animals would have been put to death. Since then we have saved dozens more monkeys from roadside zoos, research labs, and abusive private homes.

5. In July 2020 after more than three years in court, we won a lawsuit against the USDA, which forced them to restore all inspection records for zoos, circuses, research labs, and other animal facilities, to their public database. This was a major victory for transparency and captive animal welfare!