Virginia McKenna opens exhibition of life-size bronze lions in North East

International wildlife charity Born Free is set to bring a dramatic exhibition to Newcastle to raise awareness of the dangers facing the world’s wild lion population.

The exhibit, titled ‘Born Free Forever’ will be opened in Exhibition Park by Virginia McKenna OBE, the star of the 1966 film Born Free, and her son and co-founder of the charity, conservationist Will Travers OBE.

The free exhibition will be the largest of its kind in the UK and will remain at the park until June 30, 2022.

‘Born Free Forever’ is set to feature 25 life-size bronze sculptures of lions each with its own story to tell of grave threats to the wildlife population, with numbers of wild lions declining from the estimated 200,000 a century ago to just 20,000.

Estimates say wild lions could be extinct across much of the wild range within 30 years.

Animal campaigner McKenna and Born Free’s Executive President Travers will be joined by 10-year-old Tyne and Wear youngster Thea Caine, a Born Free Junior Ambassador and 50 of her classmates from Burnopfield Primary School.

They will be taking part in a lion-based art workshop led by North East based wildlife artist Jane Lee McCracken.

McKenna said: “I am deeply moved to be bringing our beautiful lion exhibition Born Free Forever to the North East, the region where my beloved husband Bill was born and raised. He always remembered his roots, his loyalty and affection for the community never dimmed, and I know the people here will share his desire to save the majestic lion.”

Travers added: “Lions face many challenges, both in the wild and in captivity. We simply cannot ignore the calamitous decline in numbers for a moment longer. This life-size, outdoor, bronze sculpture exhibition, featuring iconic lions, including the world-famous Elsa on top of a 4x4, tells the true stories behind the issues they face.”