Fifty‑five lion sculptures were auctioned in Bournemouth yesterday (Sunday 18 September) for a staggering £75,000 as part of Pride inBournemouth, a public arts event which aims to raise vital funds for charity.
The Westover Land Rover lion, Born to Be Free, went under the hammer for £1,000 which will help Born Free Foundation to fund lion‑proofbomas inKenya. The bomas are traditional community settlements which use a cut ring of thorns to enclose an area into which cattle are herded at night. This protects the cattle from preying lions who may otherwise attack; lions that do kill cattle often face persecution by communities.
Suzy Otton, Westover Land Rover said: "I'm delighted that our Born to be Free lion, and the 49 other lions that have paraded the streets of Bournemouth andChristchurchsince June have raised so much cash for charity. We are huge supporters of Born Free and fully support the vital work they do in conserving wild animals and their habitats. The money raised can really make a huge difference to the lives of lions and the local communities living inKenya."
The colourful Born to Be Free lion was designed by local artist Hazel Evans fromPoole's centre for the arts, the Lighthouse. The design of the lion captures the independence and freedom of a Land Rover.
The event, which was held at the Pavilion in Bournemouth, was hosted by celebrity auctioneer James Lewis, and well attended by other personalities including actor Martin Clunes, actress Virginia McKenna and CBeebies presenter andBournemouthresident, Chris Jarvis. The money raised from the auction will be split between Born Free Foundation and localBournemouthcharity, Julia's House.
Virginia McKenna, Founder of Born Free Foundation said: "The auction of these beautiful lions will enable us to continue to protect and conserve the wonderful wildlife and habitats inKenya. I am thrilled to see so many people attend the auction and extend my gratitude to all those who bid for a lion sculpture inBournemouth."
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For more information, please contact Victoria Webster on 020 7932 1862 or email victoria.webster@grayling.com
Notes to Editors
Photo Caption: From left to right: Born Free Founder and actress, Virginia McKenna and Martin Clunes stand next to Land Rover's Born to Be Free lion, which was auctioned for £1,000 on Sunday 18th September.
The Pride in Bournemouthproject ran from June to September 2011. Lions were auctioned to raise funds for two charities, Julia's House and The Born Free Foundation www.prideinbournemouth.co.uk.
Land Rover and Born Free
- In 2002 the Born Free Foundation became one of Land Rover's Global Humanitarian and Conservation Partners and is part of Land Rover's 'Our Planet' commitment to sustainability.
- Together Land Rover and Born Free are working to conserve wild animals and their habitats with projects throughout the world.
- The sponsorship includes vehicle support in the UK, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa and Sri Lanka, as well as dealer promotions, staff incentives, PR and merchandise opportunities, plus a clothing allowance for field projects.
- JaguarLandRover is committed to addressing the challenges of climate change and has invested £800m in sustainable technology which includes the development of hybrid technology and the use of lightweight material.
- Since September 2006 carbon dioxide generated by Land Rover manufacturing activities andUKcustomer vehicle use has been balanced through an industry leading offset programme run by Climate Care. This includes the;UK,France,Netherlands,Belgium,Norway,Sweden,Austria, the Middle East,ChinaandJapan.
The Born Free Foundation
The Born Free Foundation is a dynamic international wildlife charity, devoted to compassionate conservation and animal welfare. Born Free takes action worldwide to protect threatened species and stop individual animal suffering. Born Free believes wildlife belongs in the wild and works to phase out zoos. We rescue animals from lives of misery in tiny cages and give them lifetime care.
Born Free protects lions, elephants, tigers, gorillas, wolves, polar bears, dolphins, marine turtles and many more species in their natural habitat, working with local communities to help people and wildlife live together without conflict. Our high‑profile campaigns change public attitudes, persuade decision‑makers and get results. Every year, Born Free helps hundreds of thousands of animals worldwide.