Born Free USA 2023 Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT 2023

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.

Gizmo came to the sanctuary after biting a family member of his former “owner.”

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.”

Participants examine a crime scene kit during basic investigator training for the Wildlife Law Enforcement Task Force of Nigeria.

Participants learn to identify commonly traded protected species during an extended customs training for enforcement authorities in Ivory Coast.

Participants learn to process, analyze, and disseminate intelligence during basic intelligence training for the Wildlife Law Enforcement Task Forces of Nigeria and Ghana.

Participants at the judge and prosecutor training for country representatives of Benin, Togo, Senegal, and Niger, which focused on CITES requirements and wildlife crime.

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