Now about 65 years old, Ginger was a ‘begging’ elephant for six decades. Her frail body shows signs of a brutal past life. But she only knows kindness and care now, and Surender has dedicated his life to Ginger’s wellbeing. Photo by Sanjeev Marskole.
Rhesus macaques are amazingly adaptable primates. This adaptability is both a blessing and a curse … they thrive in urban environments, and this success often puts them in direct conflict with their human relatives. This little infant was rescued when her mother died giving birth in the wild. The baby found comfort and care in the arms of Wildlife SOS caregivers.
Because macaques share significant genetic and psychological similarities with humans, they are often trafficked for medical research. Once she grows healthy and strong enough, she will join a wild troop of other macaques. Photo by Chinmoy Swargiary.
Vultures are a conservation success story in South Asia. The birds were almost wiped out in the late 1990s, losing nearly 99% of the population due to Diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which was used to treat cattle. As nature’s cleaners of animal carcases, their absence caused a huge spike in cases of rabies.
Is it a lost housecat? No, actually it’s the illusive jungle cat! Despite their name, jungle cats are rarely found in rainforests or "jungles." They much prefer wetlands, reed beds, and swamps. This preference is so strong that they are sometimes called "swamp cats" or "reed cats." They thrive in the tall grass and thick vegetation surrounding bodies of water.
Small, economical drone cameras have revolutionized our ability to observe wildlife. This photo of gharials on the banks of a river is a unique perspective made possible by the stealthy aircraft. Remember, never harass wildlife and always give them plenty of space as to not disturb their natural behaviour. Photo by Atharva Pacharne.
What do you think Maya, Phoolkali, Emma and Tara are talking about? Are they gossiping about Laxmi’s weight loss? Planning a tea party? Discussing a heist of ALL the bananas? Hit reply and let us know! Photo by Mradul Pathak.
This Asian palm civet pup was treated and released back into the wild to get more training from mum. Like most carnivores, pups rely entirely on their mothers to learn how to hunt and survive in the wild, then they lead solitary lives as adults. Civets are fascinating animals that occupy a unique middle ground in the ecosystem. Often called “cats”, they’re not felines at all, but of the family Viverridae. Photo by Mradul Pathak.
For people, one of the great joys in life is a sunset walk on the beach with friends. The same holds true for elephants! This is Kalpana, Arya and Zara. Kalpana’s best friend and companion is Holly, who is getting too old and frail to go on long walks. After an evening stroll, Kalpana rushes back to check on her best friend, who she lovingly watches over. Photo by Ashray Thakur.
Born Free wants to end the suffering of wild animals in captivity, but we need your help.
Please look out for captive animal exploitation, neglect, and signs of distress. Whether in your home country or travelling internationally, flag your concerns, and speak out.
You can help stop suffering and report animal abuse with our Raise the Red Flag campaign. Our online platform highlights animal welfare problems, shares information with other travelers and provides guidance on how YOU can take action.
Your eyewitness reports provide vital information, which we record on our comprehensive global database and interactive Red Flag map. Your evidence could help raise awareness, warn other people to stay away, support further investigations and help wild animals in need.
Photo : Jill Robinson is the founder of Animals Asia
Oriole and Cuckoo during their rescue, conducted in part by Animals Asia<br>Credit: Courtesy of Animals Asia
Breezer was rescued before. This is a 'must see' video Enjoy!!
After almost 12 months of careful negotiations, a bear farmer finally agreed to release the last two moon bears still held in cages at his home into the care of Animals Asia. The rescue of the bears, nicknamed Cuckoo and Oriole in recognition of their springtime freedom, marks the closure of another of Vietnam’s bear farms in one of the country’s bear bile farming hotspots.
Breaking down the strongholds
The bears were rescued from a farm in Nghe An province, around 375 km south of Hanoi. In May 2025, a national bear farm survey (part-funded by Animals Asia) identified 15 bears remaining across 5 farms in Nghe An province. The region is one of the top 5 bear bile farming areas left in Vietnam. The farmer was so concerned about what his local community would say about his decision to break with bear farming that he even suggested conducting the rescue at night to avoid being seen by his neighbours.
Oriole and Cuckoo spent over 20 years in farm cages
A public opinion survey commissioned by Animals Asia found that, of the national regions of Vietnam surveyed, the Nghe An region was significantly more supportive of bear bile farming than any other region surveyed, with 70% of survey respondents based in the area in favour or neutral about the practice; compared to an average of just 8% across all other regions. Getting bears out of the region is very challenging because the practice is embedded in the socio-economics of the region.
Love and care are what Cuckoo and Oriole need
Cuckoo and Oriole were both in very poor condition, showing many of the physical and psychological scars caused by a life of captivity and harm.They were both underweight and dehydrated, with heavily callused paws and some fractured teeth. But their new life started as soon as we got their cages open.
Our rescue team carried out health checks as soon as the bears were free from their cages
The Jemaa el-Fna square in Marrakesh, Morocco, hosts a world-famous market selling local produce and crafts; but, it is also a site of animal exploitation and cruelty.
Born Free has received numerous reports about the mistreatment of Barbary macaques and other animals, exploited for money as props for tourist photographs, and we have visited Marrakesh several times to investigate. The most recent visit by Ian Redmond, Born Free’s Policy Advisor, in 2025 revealed that the situation sadly hasn’t changed. .
Morocco will be under more international scrutiny than ever as the co-hosts of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, so now is the time to encourage the local authorities to address the animal welfare issues and end the suffering.
Is this what football fans really want?
Wild animals in chains, dressed in the shirts of their favorite players, being exploited for profit?
We don’t think so - and that’s why we’re asking the authorities in Marrakesh to put an end to the suffering of macaques, before the FIFA World Cup arrives in Morocco in 2030.
The more people who speak up about how cruel and unwanted this treatment of wild animals is, the more likely we can make a change. So please, use our simple online template to write a letter to the Mayor of Marrakesh, asking her to put an end to this once and for all.
Please join us in writing to the Mayor of Marrakesh, using our template letter, urging the Marrakesh authorities to help bring an end to the abuse of macaques and other captive wild animals.
With numbers in the wild falling to as few as 10-15,000, Barbary macaques were classified as Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and in 2016, they were granted the greatest possible protection against international commercial trade. While this, alongside national efforts, have led to a welcome reduction in the trade in macaques as pets, their use in the appalling photo prop industry continues.
The macaques are not alone in their suffering: snakes, eagles and pigeons are also used as tawdry tourist photo props in Marrakesh
A few years ago, I spoke at an animal welfare conference in England. Afterwards, I struck up a conversation with Liz, an anthropologist at the University of Cambridge. She asked if we could help her improve animal welfare in Mongolia, where she was conducting research at the time.
I didn't have to think about that for long. Where there's a will, there's a way.
Changes in Mongolia Traditionally, the bond between nomadic herders and their animals is based on respect and reciprocity. But unfortunately, this is changing.
More and more families are moving to the city, where children often stay after their studies. As a result, the demand for meat is growing from the cities. The consequence: animals are being transported over increasingly long distances.
The animals' lives are often good: outdoors, in complete freedom, they can roam around. There are no fences or cages.
The life of many animals in Mongolia: free to go wherever they want.
The slaughterhouses, however, pose the problem. Many are old, with worn-out buildings, facilities, and equipment. But even newer slaughterhouses fall short. Knowledge regarding animal welfare, animal behavior, and correct stunning methods is often lacking.
Our visit to slaughterhouses This month, the time had come. Eyes on Animals first gave a presentation at a conference in Ulaanbaatar and then went into the field. With great thanks to Liz and her colleague Enkhbat: they have strong contacts with the authorities and the Mongolian meat sector and made all this possible. Their goal: clear animal welfare standards for Mongolia.
Eyes on Animals at the conference in Ulaanbaatar.
Visitors to the conference.
After the conference, we first visited a nomadic shepherd family and witnessed the traditional slaughter.
What Roy and I saw there stood in stark contrast to the industrial slaughter we encounter so often in Europe. No shouting, no rushing, no chaos, no transport stress, and no rough handling.
The animal was killed, admittedly, but it was done with calm, care, and respect.
Roy and I watch the nomadic slaughter. The handling of the sheep is calm and attentive.
We advised the use of captive bolt stunners so that unconsciousness is instantaneous. However, because handling is otherwise already so careful, our primary focus lies with industrial slaughterhouses — there is much more room for improvement there.
The industrial slaughterhouses In Ulaanbaatar, we visited three commercial slaughterhouses where operations are conducted on a larger scale.
Sheep and horses are now transported over longer distances to commercial slaughterhouses in the larger cities.
One slaughterhouse dated back to 1946 and was built at the time with support from East Germany. It had barely been modernized. We saw broken fences, dangerous holes in the floor, and no protection against rain, cold, or heat. Moreover, there were no proper unloading facilities, meaning animals sometimes had to jump out of the truck from great heights or be pushed down.
Roy checks the electrical installation and I walk through the cattle drive corridor — both date from 1946.
Most concerning were the electrical devices used to 'stun' animals.
Although the managers were convinced that the electrical devices rendered the animals unconscious, something else actually happened: the animals were immobilized. All muscles cramp, preventing the animal from moving but leaving it fully conscious. This causes severe pain and stress. The animals are subsequently defenseless when the slaughter process begins.
Cheap 'sedators' that do not actually sedate the animals, but inflict a lot of pain.
In newer slaughterhouses, too, we saw similar problems: painful immobilization instead of stunning, and animals being hoisted up alive by their legs.
Poor stunning equipment: a broader problem . What we saw in Mongolia is not an isolated incident.
Since our visit to the World Halal Summit in Istanbul, it has become even clearer to us: many slaughterhouses believe they are stunning animals, while the equipment used actually increases suffering. Meanwhile, these cheap devices are available online everywhere. This must stop.
Action plan . The challenge is significant. There are dozens of slaughterhouses in Mongolia, and our team is small. But every animal we can spare from a long period of suffering is one less animal to suffer.
Moreover, there is reason for optimism. The companies are open to change. There is a budget and a willingness to learn.
During our visit, we explained how effective stunning works, which equipment is suitable, and where it is available. The first investment plans have already been drawn up.
In early May, a follow-up online meeting will take place with us, Liz, Enkhbat, representatives from various Mongolian slaughterhouses, and manufacturers of suitable equipment.
Later this year, Roy and I hope to return to provide practical on-site training.
A new beginning in Mongolia. In the meantime, Liz, together with local partners, has established Mongolia's first official animal welfare organization to reduce the suffering of animals in slaughterhouses. Eyes on Animals will take a seat on the board.
That is an important and hopeful step forward.
Our visit also attracted the attention of the Mongolian media. An article about our work will soon appear in a trade journal widely read by nomadic herders and the meat industry.
Roy and I in conversation with a Mongolian journalist, with Liz as interpreter.
Concrete improvements with your support. Without your support, and without Roy's dedication, we would not have been able to do this work. In just nine days, we laid the foundation for improvements that will reduce the suffering of a huge number of animals.
You enable us to be in the field — exactly where animals need us most — and to work on practical and concrete improvements.
Your support makes a difference for countless individuals.
Would you like to help us continue and expand this work in Mongolia? Then donate via the button below.
Photo by Mradul Pathak.
