McKenna received an OBE for services to wildlife conservation and welfare in 2004.

Date marked by award to primate conservation charity
 
Actress and wildlife campaigner Virginia McKenna OBE celebrated her 85th birthday yesterday (7 June). Fittingly, she marked the day by announcing Neotropical Primate Conservation as the 2016 winner of the Virginia McKenna Award for Compassionate Conservation.

McKenna was born in London on 7 June, 1931. She enjoyed a successful career as an actress, during which time she appeared in a film that would change the course of her professional and personal life. The 1966 film Born Free is based on the best selling book about wildlife preservationists Joy and George Adamson.

Following this, McKenna and her husband devoted their lives to wildlife causes and went on to create the registered charity, the Born Free Foundation. McKenna later received an OBE for services to wildlife conservation and welfare in 2004. She has authored and co-authored many books, speaks at numerous events and has travelled widely visiting zoos about which the charity has received complaints, as well as accompanying big cats on their journeys to Born Free sanctuaries.

Now aged 85, she has awarded $1,000 to Neotropical Primate Conservation (NPC) as part of the Virginia McKenna Award, which supports and recognises researchers, practitioners, organisations and projects that develop the consideration of animal welfare in conservation.

Since it was set up in 2007, the NPC has targeted Peru's illegal trade in wildlife by partnering with wildlife authorities, police, public prosecutors and grassroots organisations. So far, it has facilitated the rescue of nearly 4,000 wild animals.

Part of its work involves educating local communities about the impact of hunting and illegal trafficking on wildlife. The charity has created 11 community-run conservation centres with local people.

Announcing the award, Virginia McKenna said: "The environment, its vulnerable wild inhabitants and the world’s burgeoning human population, are all part of life on Earth, and NPC treats them with understanding and sensitivity. I hope that NPC and Born Free will spread our joint philosophy of Compassionate Conservation around the world – a world which needs it as never before."

NPC's co-founder Noga Shanee added that it was "a great honour" to be chosen for the award. "Our work is unique in its view that conservation, animal welfare and human rights are inseparable issues that interrelate and affect each other.

"We have often faced the criticism that conservation should only focus on species or habitats and ignore the bigger picture. Therefore, we are very happy to be recognised for our efforts to use an ethical, inclusive, compassionate and passionate approach in all aspects of our work. This generous award will help us to rescue more victims of the wildlife trade, while also working to protect their natural habitat."

Image © Born Free Foundation