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Born Free USA – Keep Wildlife In The Wild
Auction Ends: Jun 24, 2011 08:00 PM EDT

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10-Minute Phone Call from Virginia McKenna

Item Number
119
Estimated Value
Priceless
Sold
151 USD to 4pawsmom
Number of Bids
2  -  Bid History

Item Description

You can win a 10-minute personal phone call from Born Free Founder and Academy Award Winning Actress, Virginia McKenna. 

McKenna is best remembered for her 1966 role as Joy Adamson in the true-life film Born Free. Bill Travers, her real life husband, co-starred with her, portraying conservationist George Adamson, and the experience led them to become active supporters for wild animal welfare and the protection of their natural habitat. McKenna appeared in An Elephant Called Slowly, a travelogue of what it was like years ago in Kenya, Africa. The film features her close friend conservationist George Adamson and also elephants Eleanor (raised by conservationst Daphne Sheldrick) and young Pole Pole. The death of Pole Pole in a zoo was to lead to Virginia and Bill founding the organization Zoo Check. This led to McKenna and her husband becoming involved in the Zoo Check Campaign in 1984 and to their establishing the "Born Free Foundation" in 1991.

On the stage, in 1979 she won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a British musical for her performance opposite Yul Brynner in The King and I. Over the years she appeared in more motion pictures but also was very active with television roles and on stage where she continues to make occasional appearances.

Following a successful career as an actress, Virginia started Zoo Check in 1984 with her late husband, Bill Travers, and eldest son, Will, after the premature death of Pole Pole, an elephant she had come to know during the filming of 'An Elephant Called Slowly' who was later gifted to London Zoo by the Kenya Government.  Zoo Check later became the registered charity, the Born Free Foundation.  Whilst Virginia still finds time to work occasionally as an actress, her leading role now is within the conservation and animal welfare movement.  Virginia has also authored, co-authored and co-edited numerous books as well as travelling extensively over the years visiting zoos about which the Born Free Foundation has received complaints and, wherever possible, she accompanies rescued Big Cats to Born Free’s sanctuaries in India and South Africa.  Virginia also speaks at numerous events, supports various other charitable organisations and is patron to many others.