Land Rover’s Born to be Free lion is sold for £1,000, with proceeds going towards
Born Free Foundation

Fifty-five lion sculptures were auctioned in Bournemouth yesterday (Sunday 18 September) for a staggering £75,000 as part of Pride in Bournemouth, 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 in Kenya. 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 and Christchurch since 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 in Kenya."

The colourful Born to Be Free lion was designed by local artist Hazel Evans from Poole’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 and Bournemouth resident, Chris Jarvis. The money raised from the auction will be split between Born Free Foundation and local Bournemouth charity, 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 in Kenya. I am thrilled to see so many people attend the auction and extend my gratitude to all those who bid for a lion sculpture in Bournemouth."