Shamwari Campaign

We are delighted to announce that our 2006 major fund-raising project raised a total of £8,100.00 through the annual prize draw, donations, events, and a percentage of sales from Pollyanna’s exhibition ‘An Artist’s Safari’ held during the summer.

Pollyanna and Virginia McKenna with the picture ‘All of Africa

We are pleased to have presented The Born Free Foundation with a cheque for the money, which will be used to begin work on building a new enclosure for rescued lions at the Shamwari Wildlife Reserve in South Africa.

Many big cats live in appalling conditions in tiny cages in zoos and circuses around the world, and plans can now be made for their rescue. The Born Free Foundation is at the forefront of drawing the public’s attention to the plight of these wild animals confined in impoverished captive environments .

It is the mission of both The Born Free Foundation and Shamwari Game Reserve to promote the conservation of species and the protection of habitat while maintaining a humane and compassionate approach to the welfare of animals.

In partnership with actress/conservationist Virginia McKenna’s Born Free Foundation, Shamwari Game Reserve designed the Born Free Foundation Animal Rescue and Education Centre to incorporate a museum and educational facility.

Their goal is to create an awareness of the horrific way in which wildlife is exploited in captivity around the world. Over the years the Born Free Foundation has been able to rescue several big cats from situations where they are in serious danger and provide them with excellent life time care at Shamwari. Pollyanna was please to visit the new enclosure which the charitable foundation has helped to build during the Summer of 2007.

As part of the ongoing fundraising project, Pollyanna also presented Virginia McKenna with a unique canvas print of her painting ‘All of Africa’ which was auctioned to raise further funds for Shamwari.

The winning ticket in the annual prize draw was drawn by Toyah Willcox in the summer of 2006.