With its 57.000 donators, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation is the protector of animal welfare (domestic and wild animals) all over the world.
The whole story began in 1962, when Brigitte Bardot, a famous young actress at the time, denounced the methods used to kill animals for slaughter. A few years later, she obtained from the government the right for those animals to be stunned before slaughter.
January 1962 : for the first time on television, Brigitte Bardot defends animals for slaughter.
In 1977, images of baby seals massacred on the ice floe shatter the whole world and Mrs Bardot, who choses to defend them at all costs, succeeds in having a ban enacted concerning the sealskin trade.
After those first victories, she endeavours to create her own Foundation for the protection of animals.
Consequently, in 1986, Brigitte Bardot creates her Foundation in Saint-Tropez, in the South of France.
In June 1987, she sells many items at auctions, jewellery and personal belongings to gather the FF 3 million required by the French legislation for the creation of her foundation. End of the year 1988, the registered office of the Foundation moves to Paris.
From May 1989 to October 1992, Brigitte Bardot becomes the spokeswoman of a series of 13 TV programmes called "S.O.S. animaux" (managed with the help of the Foundation), which became very successful.
In December 1991, Brigitte Bardot donates the famous "Madrague", her country property in Saint Tropez, to the Foundation, to increase its capital and obtain the recognition of the common public interest status. On the 21st of February, 1992, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation is acknowledged of common public interest by the State Council.
