Lions of Born Free
To celebrate international wildlife charity Born Free’s Year Of The Lion in honour of the 100th birthday year of its founder, Bill Travers MBE, Born Free partnered with Drawing for the Planet (DftP) to create Lions of Born Free project. The project was created for Born Free's Mane Event, on 23 September 2022. Students from Born Free's Conservation Clubs in Ethiopia participated in workshops and unleashed their artistic talent.
"Through these workshops students learnt the importance of conserving wild lions, whilst connecting with the individual animals they were depicting. Each biro drawing, signed by the young artist, is a study of a lion Born Free works to care for and protect." Born Free
THE ARTWORK
Lions of Born Free 2022 Jane Lee McCracken
The Lions of Born Free artwork by artist and DftP's Founder and CEO Jane Lee McCracken, features 35 Biro drawings by Ethiopian children. These drawings were selected by Jane for exclusive print designs to be displayed at the Mane Event and auctioned to raise funds for lions.
Born Free Ethiopia's Lemessa Goshu presenting Lions of Born Free Print to Membere, Oda Primary School's Environmental Club Leader and Oda Primary children
Prints of the Lions of Born Free artwork, which was also on display at the event, were presented as gifts from DftP to each participating Ethiopian school so that children can celebrate their astonishing art and the majestic lions they drew.
THE WORKSHOPS
Workshops involved an educational program about lions by Born Free’s Education Team and a drawing workshop designed by Jane, delivered to Ethiopian schoolchildren by Lemessa Gosha, Born Free’s Education Program Leader, Ethiopia. Children were given the opportunity to create Biro drawings of Born Free lions, Black, Cora, King, Louga, Makena and Nelson. In total 94 drawings were created.
Jane said:
"Each child worked exceptionally hard to create their stunning lion drawings and I am tremendously proud of the children and their drawings. Choosing a final selection for the print designs and Lions of Born Free artwork was extremely hard. The selection had to appeal to an eclectic audience and therefore includes drawings that are bold, colourful, characterful, abstract, realistic, contemporary and uplifting and that truly reflect the characters of the lions of Born Free."
THE DRAWINGS
The following gallery features all 94 drawings created for the Lions of Born Free project including the 35 lion drawings selected for the Mane Event:
35 LIONS
Cora Abeba, Class 6B, Sadamo School
Cora Abel, Class 7A, Oda School
Black Abraham, Ethio-Yougozelove School
Iman Amebese, Class 5A, Ethio-Yougozelove School
Louga Amen, Class 7B, Oda School
Makena Asante, Class 5A, Oda School
Makena Beza, Class 8F, Kolobo School
Nelson Buze, Class 6B, Sadamo School
King Chala, Class 7D, Goro-Kerensa School
Nelson Dagemi Asheber, Class 6A, Sadamo School
King Daniel, Class 6B, Goro-Kerensa School
King Derartu, Class 8, Sadamo School
Makena Eyob, Class 6A, Sadamo School
Nelson Gadisa, Class 6C, Ethio-Yougozelove
Nelson Getahun, Class 7G, Kolobo School
Iman Gizawu, Class 8B, Sadamo School
Cora Hachaltu, Class 5C, Goro-Kerensa School
Cora Hiwot, Class 8B, Sadamo School
King Hunda’ol, Class 6B, Goro-Kerensa School
Makena Hunda’ol, Class 6A, Sadamo School
King Hymanot Terecha, Class 8A, Sadamo School
Black Mati, Class 6C, Ethio-Yougozelove School
Cora Moa, Class 6A, Oda School
Black Natinael, Class 7D, Goro-Kerensa School
Makena Natnael, Class 7B, Oda School
Makena Oliksan, Class 7A, Kolobo School
Iman Rabiraa, Class 7A, Oda School
Makena Rahel, Class 5A, Oda School
Cora Semale, Class 5A, Oda School
Nelson Sena I, Class 8A, Oda School
Cora Sena L, age 10
King Singitan, Class 6A, Goro-Kerensa School
Cora Tigist, Class 8E, Kolobo School
Cora Tsion, Class 8, Oda School
King Worknish, Class 8, Goro-Kerensa School
ETHIO-YOUGOZELOVE SCHOOL
Cora Derertu, Class 8A, Ethio-Yougozelove School
Cora Ebisa, Class 5, Ethio-Yougozelove School
Nelson Galana, Class 8, Ethio-Yougozelove School
Left: Iman Hana, Class 7B; right: Iman Helen, Class 8A, Ethio-Yougozelove School
Left: Makena Hindursen, Class 5A; right: King Sena, Class 5A, Ethio-Yougozelove School
King Koket, Class 7B, Ethio-Yougozelove School
Nelson Sena, Class 5A, Ethio-Yougozelove School
Cora Tiru, Class 7A, Ethio-Yougozelove School
Makena Yomi, Class 6A, Ethio-Yougozelove School
GORO-KERENSA SCHOOL
Cora Bontu, Class 6A, Goro-Kerensa School
Makena Chaltu, Class 6, Goro-Kerensa School
Left: Cora Dawit, Class 6B; right: King Ifa, Class 8A, Goro-Kerensa School
Cora Dereje, Class 7B, Goro-Kerensa School
King Elias, Class 7B, Goro-Kerensa School
Left: King Medahanet; right: King Sifan, Class 5C, Goro-Kerensa School
Makena Sifan, Class 6E, Goro-Kerensa School
Nelson Tasfaye, Class 8D, Goro-Kerensa School
Left: Makena Tizeta, Class 5A; right: Makena Wada, Class 5A, Goro-Kerensa School
Nelson Tsahay, Class 5C, Goro-Kerensa School
Cora Yosiyas, Class 8C, Goro-Kerensa School
KOLOBO SCHOOL
Makena Asante, Class 8C, Kolobo School
Cora Bethelem, Class 6E, Kolobo School
Left: King Elili, Class 5A; right: Makena Kegna, Class 8B, Kolobo School
Cora Fekadu, Class 7A, Kolobo School
Nelson Hunda’ol, Class 8A, Kolobo School
Cora Rabira, Class 8C, Kolobo School
Makena Tegene, Class 7G, Kolobo School
Black Tigist, Class 7, Kolobo School
Left: Black Yabesera, Class 7; right: Louga Yenework, Class 8E, Kolobo School
ODA SCHOOL
Makena Gemechis, Class 8A, Oda School
Left: Makena Belen, Class 5C; right: Makena Besfukad, Class 5A, Oda School
King Hayat, Class 6B, Oda School
Left: Cora Besufekade, Class 6B; right: Makena Kalkidan, Class 5B, Oda School
King Nightlight, Class 7B, Oda School
Left: Cora Lamrot, Class 6B; right: Makena Yonas, Class 6C, Oda School
King Selamyehun, Class 7A, Oda School
Makena Yared, Class 5A, Oda School
Makena Yohanes, Class 6C, Oda School
SADAMO SCHOOL
Nelson Abeba, Class 6B, Sadamo School
Iman Dagmawit, Class 8B, Sadamo School
King Frezer, Class 5B, Sadamo School
Left: Cora Fufa, Class 6A; right: Cora Lencho, Class 6A, Sadamo School
Black Mara, Class 5B, Sadamo School
King Meheret, Class 6A, Sadamo School
King Samule, Class 6A, Sadamo School
King Tedy, Class 5B, Sadamo School
King Workitu, Class 6, Sadamo School
Cora Woynishet, Class 5A, Sadamo School
MANE EVENT
Left: Virginia McKenna Co-Founder Born Free at the Mane Event; right: Jane Lee McCracken with 'Lions of Born Free' print
The Mane Event took place at Denbies Wine Estate, Surrey, and was attended by over 260 guests. Inside the main reception was a stunning display of the 35 unique prints featuring the children's drawings for the Lions of Born Free project. Many people took time to admire the drawings and acknowledged how beautiful and accomplished they are.
Born Free said of the event:
"The audience was treated to a spectacular speech by our very own lioness, Virginia McKenna OBE. At once riveting, emotional, informative, and engaging. Once again, tears were flowing as we remembered the reason we were all there, and why we are proud so to be part of the Born Free family."
Prints of the children's drawings on display at the Mane Event
Born Free's Mane Event brochure stated:
"Everyone can draw, and everyone should have the opportunity to. This is the philosophy of artist Jane Lee McCracken, founder of Drawing For The Planet (DftP), an environmental education charity, that works in partnership with Born Free. DftP runs free educational workshops around the world, creating beautiful portraits of wild animals and giving children and wildlife a voice through art. Amongst the penned pride, you will find King, Cora and Nelson, lions all rescued from appalling captive conditions, all now given a second chance at life, thanks to Born Free."
The children wished their drawings to be auctioned at the event and and it is with great pride for all involved that the prints did indeed raise vital funds for Born Free.
ABOUT LIONS
Lion Panthera Leo
IUCN* conservation status: VULNERABLE*
Population: 20,000 DECREASING
*International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world’s main authority on the conservation status of species.
Information via Born Free:
BIOLOGY
Lions, with their powerful bodies and excellent senses, are formidable hunters. Lions are the only large cats that live and hunt in groups, or prides, with the females doing the majority of the hunting. Prides vary greatly in size, but can include up to three males, around a dozen females, and their young, which are raised co-operatively. Typically, the lionesses in the pride will be related to one another, with the female cubs staying with the group for life. Young males leave the pride, often in small cohorts, and live a wandering existence until they may succeed in establishing a pride of their own by driving out and replacing other males. Mating occurs throughout the year, with females giving birth to a litter of between one and four cubs after a 110-day gestation period.
*International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world’s main authority on the conservation status of species.
THREATS
Lion populations face a risk of extinction from numerous threats, including habitat loss due to encroachment by humans. Livestock farmers may use poisons, rifles and snares to remove lions from their land. In addition, prey species have been depleted by the bushmeat trade, and lion populations have become increasingly fragmented as a consequence. In some countries it is still legal to shoot lions for sport. Lions also suffer in captivity and unfortunately, we often encounter lions that have been bred in captivity or captured from the wild for use in zoos and circuses, or sold as pets.
HOW YOU CAN HELP LIONS
Drawing for the Planet has created a downloadable PDF of 3 ways you can help lions. Please share by clicking on the image above to download or send the link.
ABOUT BORN FREE
"We work tirelessly to ensure that all wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild, are treated with compassion and respect and are able to live their lives according to their needs. As a leading wildlife charity, we oppose the exploitation of wild animals in captivity and campaign to keep them where they belong – in the wild. We promote Compassionate Conservation to enhance the survival of threatened species in the wild and protect natural habitats while respecting the needs and safeguarding the welfare of individual animals. We seek to have a positive impact on animals in the wild and protect their ecosystems in perpetuity, for their own intrinsic value and for the critical roles they play within the natural world."
ABOUT DRAWING FOR THE PLANET
We are a global art and environmental education charity with drawing, one of the oldest forms of communication, at its core. Founded by Artist, Jane Lee McCracken, to share her passions for drawing and wildlife, we partner with international wildlife charity Born Free, conservationists, artists, educators and cultural institutions. Through our art, education, exhibition and conservation fundraising projects we give children, communities and wildlife a voice. Watch our video and visit us at: www.drawingfortheplanet.org
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Support our global projects, help protect wildlife and give the gift of art and wildlife by donating or becoming a member here:
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DftP would like to thank Born Free and participating Ethiopian school wildlife clubs and children.