Born Free Foundation Born Free Foundation The Born Free Foundation is an international conservation and animal rights organisation based in the United Kingdom focusing on wild animals. It originated in 1984 as the "Zoo Check Campaign" by actors Virginia McKenna and her husband Bill Travers along with their son Will Travers and four associates. McKenna and Travers had been greatly affected by the plight of wild animals after starring together in the 1966 film "Born Free" which told the story of George and Joy Adamson as they returned Elsa the Lioness to the wilds of Africa. They appeared in several more films about
Mara the Lioness earlier when they had attempted to release her back into the wild. Eventually only Ugas was released into the Meru Game Reserve. It was decided that Mara was too tame and she and the other lionesses should be relocated to Whipsnade Park. Just prior to her departure Mara gave birth to male and female twin cubs, sired by Ugas during the filming of "Born Free". In 1966, Irene Grindlay wrote a book titled "Velvet Paws" which detailed the life of Mara up to and including her appearance in the movie "Born Free". ""We have no reason to reproach ourselves. We