Description
The Brigitte Bardot Foundation is a French foundation dedicated to animal protection created by French actress Brigitte Bardot in 1986. Since 1992, the foundation has been recognized as a "public utility" (French: Déclaration d'utilité publique).
History
Bardot's initial involvement with animal rights was in 1962, after seeing photographs of the conditions in which animals were killed. Upon this, Bardot immediately began advocating against the use of painful electric shock pistols in slaughterhouses, and became a vegetarian. In 1967, Bardot was received at the Élysée Palace where she met with Charles de Gaulle, the then president of France. It was a few years later that Bardot obtained the "stunning before slaughter" rights from the government.
In 1977, Bardot went on to campaign against the hunting of baby Harp seals. Upon invitation from Paul Watson, of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Bardot embarked on a five day trip to the ice fields in Blanc-Sablon, Canada, receiving significant media attention. In addition, the trip also gained Bardot the support of French president, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, leading to changes regarding the import of seal products.
The Brigitte Bardot Foundation (La Fondation Brigitte Bardot) was launched by Bardot in Saint-Tropez, in 1986 where she auctioned her jewellery and other personal possessions to raise 3 million French francs for her campaigns and activities.
In 1988, the organization moved to Paris. It was here that Bardot led a television series entitled S.O.S. Animaux. The show aired from 1989 through 1992, over which time it spread its purpose of influencing public opinion of animal cruelty.
In 1991, Bardot donated her Saint Tropez property, La Madrague, to the foundation so as to raise the capital required to obtain a declaration of public utility. The declaration was granted on 21 February 1992, by the Conseil d'État.
In 1995, the Dalai Lama became an honorary member of the foundation.
The Foundation celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2006. It reached 75,000 members by the year 2014.
