Nature: Elsa's Legacy: The Born Free Story [Blu-ray] [Import]

As the eldest son of Virginia McKenna and the late Bill Travers - and as CEO of Born Free USA and The Born Free Foundation - I found it hard to watch Elsa's Legacy: The Born Free Story since it touched on so many issues that lie close to my heart. The footage of the old days, the extracts from George's diaries, clips from the movie (Born Free), all these resonated terrifically with me as I recalled the year spend in Kenya while my parents (who portrayed Joy and George) worked on the film. The legacy of those days, so wonderfully told in the PBS show, is a profound message - that wild animals do not belong in zoos but should be permitted to live wild and free. Today, this lies at the heart of what Born Free does all around the world. The deprivation and suffering imposed on wild animals in so many zoos, the crude animal exploitation of the circus, the (frankly) madness of keeping wild animals as 'pets', are issues that we must challenge, expose and bring to an end with every ounce of our compassionate soul. Joy, George, Virginia and Bill have set our moral compass for the future when it comes to our relationship with wild animals. We must do all in our power - supported by growing numbers of compassionate people all around the world - to concentrate our efforts, our money and our dedication on protecting wild animals in wild places for, without them, we shall end up with zoos - perhaps we'll call them 'living museums' - where a few hundred carefully-selected species will exist to remind us of what we once had and what we lost. The wild is the conservation front line. It is where we must take a stand. Elsa's Legacy is the change of mind-set that Born Free (the book, the film, the Nature TV show and now the two organisations I have the honour to serve) have brought into sharp focus. I invite everyone who cares to join us by going to the Born Free USA website and becoming part of the next chapter in this amazing story. Thank you. Will

This is a most fascinating glimpse into the lives of George and Joy Adamson after Elsa came into their lives. The highlights are actual film footage of Elsa that the Adamsons shot at various stages of Elsa's life, including after her return to the wild. This is a must have, especially if you own the Born Free DVD.

It's an hour filled with laughter and tears.

Last year, the BBC produced an excellent 60-minute show titled, "The Born Free Legacy". It was an excellent look at George and Joy Adamson and their pioneering work with animals, most notably (of course) Elsa the lioness. It lived up to its title of describing the world-changing effects "Born Free" has had. One of the most striking visual examples was of pictures children sent to Dr. Desmond Morris--before Born Free, children saw lions as creatures behind bars, unhappy and fierce. After Born Free, they started drawing lions as happy animals living on vast plains. (None of this is in the 50-minute, completely altered PBS version of this show titled Elsa's Legacy.)

I have serious doubts about whether whoever scripted the PBS show ever read the book Born Free, or saw the movie. Repeatedly throughout the show, Born Free is referred to as a "fairy tale" and a "myth". What is going on here?

The PBS show also has a fascination with death, spending a long time on Virginia McKenna visiting Elsa's grave, and on an emotional re-telling of George Adamson's murder and funeral. But what's most amazing is that PBS's version says practically nothing about the "legacy" mentioned in the title.

The BBC show, "The Born Free Legacy", not only does not have these faults, it is overall a more realistic and compelling telling of the events that began over 50 years ago and continue to shape the world today.

If the BBC ever releases "The Born Free Legacy" on DVD, THAT is the version of this show that is worth watching.