Art / The Downs
A Safari For Survival
Twenty five life-sized bronze lions have been unveiled on the Downs thanks to a new charity campaign.
Born Free aims to protect the welfare of wild animals and carry out compassionate conservation.
The organisation, which aims to protect the welfare of wild animals and carry out compassionate conservation, was founded by Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers – who starred in the 1966 film, Born Free.
Following three month residencies in London and Newcastle, an outdoor exhibit, Born Free Forever, has been set up in Bill Travers, a wildlife campaigner’s, memory and raise awareness and funds for lions.
The 25 lifesize lion sculptures are cast from bronze – Photo: Robert J Browne
Behind the artworks are Australian artists and couple, Gillie and Marc Schattner, who aim to spread messages of love, equality, and conservation around the world through the creation of public sculptures.
The pair have been called “the most successful and prolific creators of public art in New York’s History” by the New York Times.
The piece by the Schattners aims to raise awareness of the plight facing the world’s lion population.
The 1966 film starred the real-life couple Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers as Joy and George Adamson, another real-life couple who raised Elsa the Lioness
When the film Born Free was originally made in 1966, there were around 200,000 lions in the wild. Now there are 20,000, according to Born Free.
Born Free’s mission is to ensure all wild animals, living in capacity and the wild are treated with the respect.
Any money raised from the Born Free charity exhibition will go towards the Forever Lions Fund – helping to protect wild lions, resolve human predator conflict, care for rescued lions, and help stop the slaughter of lions for trophies and as part of canned lion hunting.
Will Travers, co-founder of Born Free said: “Lions are confronted by many challenges, both in the wild and in captivity. We simply cannot ignore their declining numbers for a moment longer.
“This life-size, outdoor, bronze sculpture exhibition, featuring iconic lions, including Elsa on top of a 4×4, tells the true stories behind the issues they face.”
“I encourage everyone to visit us in Bristol, not only to marvel at the exhibition and learn more about the plight of these emblematic and majestic creatures, but to help us fundraise and campaign so that there is a forever for lions.”
The exhibition is set to finish on October 1 when it will travel to Edinburgh.
Main photo: Robert J Browne
Read more: Inside the wildlife photographer of the year exhibition
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