WELCOME FROM OUR CEO
ANGELA GRIMES
Born Free USA CEO
Three words capture Born Free USA in 2023: compassion, impact, and building.
Compassion is a core value that is infused into all aspects of Born Free USA. It is most evident in the care we provide to the rescued monkeys at our Primate Sanctuary. In 2023, we welcomed two new residents, Gizmo and Lyla, monkeys formerly kept as pets With us, they will be able to have monkey friends, open spaces to climb and play, and a chance to recover from their past trauma under our compassionate care
Providing sanctuary changes the entire world for animals in need, but it is not a solution to the problems in our world that lead to the exploitation of monkeys, elephants, lion, birds, and many others.
This is why we focus on making an impact toward ending wildlife exploitation. In January 2023, we celebrated the enactment of the Big Cat Public Safety Act, a federal law that ended private possession of big cats and their use in public handling experiences, and continued our fight for passage of the Captive Primate Safety Act, which,
would provide similar protections for monkeys in the US. We also celebrated adoption of the West African intergovernmental strategy to combat wildlife crime, following several years of planning and facilitation among the 15 ECOWAS countries – a huge step toward preserving the rich biodiversity in this region.
Building our capacity to make an even greater impact was an emphasis in 2023 We hired a Chief Development Officer and a Digital Marketing Manager Together, with their teams, they will grow our ability to engage a wider audience in our movement-building campaigns and secure the funds necessary to continue to elevate our impact It was also a year for strategic planning, articulating our goals and strategies for fulfilling our purpose over the next three years.
Thank you for being a part of Born Free’s community. Your support allows us to build our impact towards a more compassionate world for wild animals.
AT A GLANCE
DELIVERED training courses to counter wildlife crime to hundreds of enforcement agents across West Africa
BUILT New climbing structures and enclosures to improve the monkeys’ sanctuary homes
RESCUED two monkeys from the pet trade and rehomed them to our primate sanctuary
ADVOCATED for the passage of four federal bills to fight captivity, trapping, and the fur trade
PUBLISHED four reports on the devastating impact of captivity on animals.
SECURED the adoption of national wildlife crime strategies in 15 West African nations.
PRIMATE SANCTUARY
Despite inherent dangers and welfare concerns, it is estimated that more than 15,000 primates are kept as pets in the United States. Born Free USA's primate sanctuary offers a permanent refuge to hundreds of monkeys rescued from the pet trade, laboratory exploitation, and animal entertainment.
Two Monkeys Rescued from the Pet Trade
In 2023, our primate sanctuary welcomed Lyla and Gizmo. Both were kept as pets prior to their arrival with us. Lyla’s former living conditions were some of the worst we have ever seen. She was discovered living in a 3x2 ft cage, which was filthy, barren of enrichment, and in which all she had was a scrap of blue fabric that she would hide under when anxious. Her presence in a house in Round Rock, TX was discovered when Animal Control performed a welfare check for dogs who also lived at the property. As she was being illegally kept, and in terrible conditions, she was seized and rehomed to us temporarily while the case went to court. Following legal proceedings, during which her former owner admitted that he could not care for her, she became a permanent Born Free USA sanctuary resident She was underweight, pale, and had a heart condition when she arrived, but is now thriving and healthy under our care
Gizmo the vervet arrived with us in August after he bit the son-in-law of his former owner so badly that the man required 18 stitches to his head and arm This acted as a wake-up call for his former owner, who reached out to us to see if we could provide Gizmo with a more suitable home. We agreed and our staff drove Gizmo cross country from Indiana to Texas, where he began his new life. By the end of the year, Gizmo was living with others of his own kind for the first time since he entered the pet trade as a baby.
Both Lyla and Gizmo’s former owners were unaware of the dangers inherent in keeping wild animals like monkeys as pets We see this same story play out time after time when we accept monkeys into our care As such, we continue to work hard to see the private keeping of primates outlawed at a federal level via the proposed Captive Primate Safety Act Since Gizmo’s arrival, we have developed a close relationship with his former owner, who is now actively supporting us in our campaign
Lyla was rescued to the sanctuary from deplorable conditions in a private home.Beating the Heat
2023 was the hottest summer on record, with temperatures in south Texas rising above 100 degrees for more than 23 days This challenge was met with resilience by our team as they worked through the sweltering heat to ensure that the monkeys were protected from the extreme weather This meant setting up sprinkler systems and pools to help the monkeys keep cool Macaques, who make up most of monkeys at the sanctuary, are some of the few primate species who choose to spend time in water and are good swimmers. The cool respite from the heat is not just functional, but fun, too!
Women for Wildlife and the Bear Family Support Monkey Fun and Games
Monkeys in their natural habitat live in three-dimensional worlds, often leaping through tree-tops, jumping to the ground to forage for food, and moving through forest layers seeking out the best fruits and leaves. It is important for our sanctuary residents to have large enclosures in which to live and explore, but also the opportunity to climb, forage, play, and keep lookout in vertical spaces to help mimic their natural habitats. All our enclosures therefore contain trees and brush and/or human-made climbing structures to keep the monkeys healthy, happy, and active Thanks to the Bear Family Foundation and Women for Wildlife, we were able to purchase materials to create, rebuild, and repair fun and functional climbing frames and platforms for the monkeys to enjoy The building project will be complete in spring 2024
New Enclosure for Japanese Macaques
Following the successful introduction of two of our baboon groups, we were able to convert a former baboon habitat to be suitable for Japanese macaques This meant changing the style of fencing to ensure that the macaques, who are far more nimble and athletic than the baboons, could be safely contained, as well as adding in new water features and structures The new enclosure named Osaka is a nod to the Japanese macaques’ natural home The new space provides 1 5 acres of space for 10-15 monkeys in total We are grateful to the Leslie L. Alexander Foundation for their generous support in realizing this project.
WILDLIFE WELFARE
In the U.S., animals remain treated as commodities or entertainment, fueling circuses and trophy hunting. Despite evidence against it, captivity, including in zoos, is deemed conservation. Born Free USA creates evidence-based resources and galvanizes public support to address the most pressing wildlife welfare concerns.
Movement Building and Supporting Budding Activists
We began the year with the release of our Activist Toolkit, which provides advice, guidance, and examples on how anyone wanting to make a difference can build and run their own campaigns for change As part of our commitment to supporting new talent and budding activists in the animal welfare and conservation space, the Activist Toolkit provides a solid grounding on those starting their journey in animal advocacy.
Revisiting the Harmful Online Pet Trade
Selling Suffering: Exploring Online Sales of Exotic Pets in the U.S. is a report published early in the year updating our 2016 research into the ease with which wild animals can be purchased online Seven years on from our initial exploration of this issue, trade in wild animals on the internet is still thriving With serious welfare implications for the animals involved in this unregulated trade, we call for online platforms to do more to protect both animals and consumers from this unethical and harmful practice.
Fighting Animal Killing in the Name of “Fun”
Thrill Kill: Recreational Animal Slaughter in the U.S. explored the dark world of animal slaughter in the name of “fun ” Our investigative report covered killing contests, rattlesnake roundups, aerial hunting, and domestic trophy hunting of threatened and endangered species Uncovering unthinkable cruelty and animal suffering, our work serves to both shine a light on this secret world, and call for an end to these abhorrent practices
Challenging the Zoo Industry
Continuing to build our library of resources on the suffering of animals in zoos, we produced two new reports: one on the suffering of polar bears in zoos, which was developed collaboratively with our UK colleagues, and another exploring the aquarium industry and the often-overlooked plight of captive fish The two reports, Born to Roam: The Suffering of Polar Bears in Zoos and Oceans Away from Home: The Suffering of Fish in Captivity, follow work already released on elephants and giraffes, and precede work planned for 2024 on big cats in zoos. Our goal with these reports is to present compelling arguments against the keeping of wild animals in captivity by highlighting the health, welfare, public safety, and conservation concerns rife in zoos.
Spreading the Word
In addition to our core advocacy work, we helped to raise awareness around a plethora of issues by publishing 30 blogs, hosting three webinars, participating in multiple podcasts, and writing opeds and other articles for press We also spearheaded a campaign to prevent the killing of green monkeys on the Caribbean island territory of St Maarten Drawing international press attention, we worked with local representatives to hold government to account and call for non-lethal methods of control for the primates, an effort that is ongoing in 2024.
U.S. LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
Human exploitation of wildlife and wild lands leads to extinction as well as invasive species. Sparse legal protections and inadequate enforcement perpetuate animal exploitation and endangerment. Born Free USA works with constituents, partner agencies, and political advocates to push legislation forward that will protect wildlife and their habitats.
The Big Cat Public Safety Act
A proud and important moment for Born Free USA, our partners, and most importantly, big cats, was the January 2023 implementation of the Big Cat Public Safety Act. Born Free USA is the only non-profit group that has worked on this act since its first iteration over a decade ago, and we are delighted that the hard work of our team and thousands of citizen activists finally paid off with a huge victory for big cats Banning both private ownership and unethical and dangerous public interactions, this federal law will permanently prevent future generations of big cats from being exploited in the pet trade
The Mink VIRUS Act
The Mink VIRUS Act was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep Espaillat In the fallout of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, this bill was developed to shut down the mink fur farming industry in the U S based on both public safety and animal welfare grounds With a proposal for a buyout program to support mink farmers’ move away from this cruel practice, this is a strong bill that we hope will gain bipartisan support. With cases of mink carrying and transmitting COVID-19 to humans, along with the looming risk of a new pandemic if we do not take action to end close human interaction with wild animals, this bill would serve a vital role in protecting both humans and animals from harm.
The Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act
The Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act was introduced by Rep Nadler in fall of 2023 This bill is one that Born Free has championed since its first introduction years ago The bill would ban recreational trapping on National Wildlife Refuges Allowing cruel trapping in places that should be safe havens for wildlife goes against the fundamental principles upon which the refuge system was founded. Not only does trapping harm wildlife, but both humans and beloved companion animals are also at risk. Every year, Born Free USA receives notifications that companion animals – dogs and cats in particular – have been maimed or even killed by traps.
The Captive Primate Safety Act
To date, the Captive Primate Safety Act, a priority bill for Born Free USA that would ban the private keeping of primates as pets, has not been introduced into the current congress We are working hard to bring in champions and advocates to ensure it will be introduced in 2024, and our lobbying work on this legislation continues
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
Human activities trigger the global extinction crisis, particularly affecting West Africa, rich in biodiversity. Wildlife crime devastates ecosystems and species there. Born Free USA is the sole NGO collaborating with all 15 West African nations to enact broad wildlife protections, crucial in addressing this crisis.
West Africa Strategy on Combating Wildlife Crime
After six years of dedication from the Born Free team and our ambitious government partners in all fifteen West African nations, on December 7, 2023, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament and Council of Ministers formally adopted the West Africa Strategy on Combating Wildlife Crime (WASCWC). This landmark strategy will ensure that all West African countries are equipped to address the illegal trade in wildlife that is threatening a multitude of imperiled species, including elephants, leopards, lions, and sharks
At the request of governments in the region, Born Free USA first started work on the wildlife crime strategy in July 2018 This request followed wildlife crime threat assessment missions to West African
countries, which were conducted by Born Free USA as an implementing partner for the USAID-funded West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change (WABiCC) program.
In 2023, Born Free USA supported Ivory Coast, Niger, and Benin to develop their National Wildlife Crime Strategies which were all adopted that year. Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast, and Gambia went a step further in 2023 and established their Wildlife Law Enforcement Task Forces, the inter-agency mechanisms through which these national wildlife crime strategies are being implemented Needs assessment missions were carried out in Guinea and Gambia by Born Free and our counterparts in those countries with a view to establishing their own National Wildlife Crime Strategies in 2024
Building Interregional Collaboration
In July 2023, Born Free USA facilitated an interregional meeting in Abidjan, Ivory Coast focused on strengthening wildlife law enforcement cooperation between West and Central Africa. Countries represented at the meeting were Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Benin, Gabon, Cameroon, and Democratic Republic of Congo. Members of the West Africa Strategy on Combating Wildlife Crime Mentoring Panel and INTERPOL were also present. The meeting provided a forum for criminal investigators and case managers to discuss transnational wildlife trafficking intelligence, challenges, and best practices, while developing collaborative enforcement capability It also provided a mechanism for the confidential exchange of information and coordination of cross-border investigations between the participating countries
Training, Capacity Building, and Mentoring
Born Free USA delivered a comprehensive program of training and capacity building for West African countries throughout 2023, collaborating with all authorities having a role to play in the wildlife law enforcement chain. One hundred twenty-seven participants from 11 countries participated in a range of trainings over 41 days, all aimed at combating wildlife crime.
Much of the training included role playing and other practical exercises, such as the Basic Investigation training for the Nigerian Wildlife Law Enforcement Task Force (WLETF) Over 10 days, the training team followed a hypothetical case involving the smuggling of eggs of an endangered bird species Exercises included searching a vehicle for evidence, interviewing suspects, surveillance of suspects, and conducting a raid on a premises The fundamental principle of respect for human rights was carefully integrated throughout the workshop
At the conclusion of the training, participants felt very positive about putting the skills they had learned into practice. One of the participants noted: “The trainers carried and tutored the participants emphatically and enthusiastically, to the extent that we are ready to spring into action.”
Community Outreach
In 2023, Born Free USA, in collaboration with the USAID WABiLED program, facilitated the design of eight different posters in Nigeria, which highlighted that capture and trade in species such as elephants, pangolins, primates, and big cats is illegal The posters were produced in three local languages (Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa) Two hundred posters were distributed across 20 Nigerian states
Legislative Support in West Africa
Born Free USA carried out legal assessments on new or revised legislation for Liberia, Nigeria, Niger, Ghana, The Gambia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and Guinea. The assessments were conducted to evaluate ECOWAS Member States’ compliance with CITES legal requirements and included recommendations to address gaps in current legislation.
WITH GRATITUDE TO OUR PARTNERS
Wildlife Champions - $5,000+
Damian Aspinall
Susan Barbian
Eric and Janna Bear
Geralyn Gulseth
Catherine Lou Latham
Mary Love
Theodore and Margery Mayer
Sandra Moss
Waldemar Sadowinski
Morris Shafter
Vicki Ward
Lynn Gilman Williams
Carol House Furniture
Anonymous
Elsa’s Legacy Circle - Planned Gifts
Estate of Bernard Bates
Bernard & Angela Harr Trust
Estate of Donald Clark
Estate of Audrey Gardner
Mr. F. Marino D'Amato Fund at the Meriden Foundation
Estate of Mary Lou Hill
Estate of Joyce Karnofsky
L K and Shirl Adamson Foundation
Estate of Karen Lindemann
Estate of James Melton
Estate of Marcia Moore
Women
for Wildlife - $500+
Erika Leigh Agnew
Judy Baker
Corry Bazley
Erica Buhr
Renate Buri
Marguerite Greenman
Jeanie Kilgour
Lorie Zerweck
Anonymous
Nancy Wood Holmes Trust
Estate of Gloria Nash
Ouida Mundy Hill Memorial Fund
Estate of Betty Passmore Bass
Estate of Sadie Evelyn Lynn Rasmussen
Estate of Beverly Schanzer
The Estate of Ms Julie Ann Bell
The Estate of Rosemary V Petta
Estate of Virginia Wilcox
Zuma Raybun Herring Estate
Wildlife Protectors - $1,000+
Patricia Ampfer
Judy Baker
Darlene Barger
Corry Bazley
Anna Bernhard
Kathy Bernhardt
Judith Bradford
Roy Brady
Margie Brazelton
Lou Bridges
Fred and Maxi Bruhns
Renate Buri
Sean Cassidy
Barbara Chigas
Jean Conley
Sally Davidson
Larry and Patricia Egger
McKenzie Artists and Animals Fund
Robert Garbacz
Carol Gertz
Margaret Hassett
June Heilman
Mad Hippie
Alydia Jardine
Carol Kauffman
Carolyn Kleefeld
Ida Koivuniemi
Lola Langner and Richard S. Petretti
Nancy Lanning
Mariana Laufer
Barbara Magin
Valerie Marini
Gary and Karen Martin
Janis and Alan Menken Charity Fund
Larry and Claudia Mitchell
Gene and Lynn Monroe
Nancy Morgan
Ellen O’Connell
Mary O’Hearn
Leslie O’Loughlin
Corinne Pazder
Denise Rempe
May Robinson
Shani Rosenzweig
Kathleen Sanchez
John Sargent
Pam Schiller
James A Schleif and William H Morley Charitable Fund
Debra Shearer
Frances Stevenson
Gretchen Tatsch
Cynthia Thomas
Victoria Voge-Black
Carolyn Walker
Lorraine and Jack Walker Fund
Willson-Weinberger Family Fund
Alana Willroth
Kelle Young
Lorie Zerweck
BOARD AND STAFF
Board of Directors
Sean Cassidy - Board Chair
Brook Ashley - Board Vice-President
Jessica Nelson - Board Secretary
Christine Perry - Board Treasurer
Jane Lodato - Board Member
Staff
Angela Grimes - Chief Executive Officer
Noelle Almrud - Interim Sanctuary Director
Kathleen Johnson - Veterinarian
Karen Lauria - Communications Director
Gita Matlock - Chief Development Officer
Alice Stroud - Director, Global Conservation Programs
Elizabeth Tyson - Programs Director
Shelley Brend - Programs Manager, Global Conservation
Manisha Chaudhari - Bookkeeper
Paulina Clapp - Primate Caregiver
Kathryn Conway - Primate Sanctuary Manager
Wendy Coonrod - Advancement Officer
Charles Crump - Facilities Manager
Michael Reyner - Board Member
Rebecca Torrey - Board Member
Will Travers - Co-Founder and Board Member
Mary Trimble - Board Member
Suzanne Emerson - Individual Giving Manager
Vincent Lapeyre - Programs Associate, Global Conservation
Holly Roberts - Primate Caregiver
Delphine Ronfort - Programs Associate, Global Conservation
Timothy Ryan - Primate Caregiver
Larissa Saenz - Vet Tech Apprentice
Spencer Schading - Primate Caregiver
Devan Schowe - Campaigns Associate
Todd Soyck - Primate Caregiver
Rebecca Strunc - Development Coordinator
Jacob Toben - Primate Caregiver
Kyliegh Viano - Primate Caregiver
FINANCIALS
Born Free USA United with Animal Protection Institute
Statement of Financial Position December 31, 2023