News and Stories

In celebration of Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King, Disney will once again support the Wildlife Conservation Network’s (WCN) Lion Recovery Fund (LRF) and LRF’s partners working across Africa to double the number of lions in the wild by 2050. Since Disney’s animated classic The Lion King was first released in theaters 30 years ago, Africa has lost half of its lions. LRF will support the efforts of local communities in Africa to conserve lions on behalf of the world.

Thanks to your support of Disney’s The Lion King “Protect the Pride” campaign in 2019, the LRF has been able to expand its reach and has now funded more than 300 projects working across 25 countries in Africa.

By protecting lions, we are also protecting the health and well-being of the savanna, wildlife and communities who live alongside them.

Lion Conservation

Since Disney’s The Lion King was first released in theaters 30 years ago, we have lost half of Africa’s lions. Only 20,000 remain from a population of 200,000 a century ago. The time to act is now. It takes many different approaches, which differ by regions, habitats, and local communities to help protect lions.

Support from this campaign will grow impact through the Lion Recovery Fund’s investments in lion conservation organizations working with communities across Africa to…

1. Stop the loss: We must protect lions, their prey, and their landscapes.

2. Reduce the cost: We must minimize the burden on people in Africa who share landscapes with lions.

3. Unlock the value: We must uncover and magnify the cultural, economic, and ecological benefits lions and their landscapes bring.

How to Help

Actions big or small can help make a difference for lions and communities across Africa.

Lion Recovery Fund

Thanks in part to your support of Disney’s The Lion King “Protect the Pride” campaign in 2019, the Lion Recovery Fund (LRF) has been able to fund more than 300 projects working across 25 countries in Africa, with at least 50 percent of the sites in which the LRF is investing already showing stable or increasing populations of lions. In addition, LRF support has helped employ thousands of people across Africa, remove 83,000 snares that could harm wildlife, and bring together communities to co-develop solutions that benefit both people and wildlife.

SORALO Bracelets

The Cincinnati Zoo has learned how to be conservationists by following the lead of experts who coexist with wildlife, the South Rift Association of Landowners (SORALO).  The women’s group at SORALO has partnered with the Cincinnati Zoo & the SSA Group to expand their market for these beadwork sales. Maasai women in these communities craft beadwork as a celebration of their culture. Proceeds of bead sales are reinvested by the women into community needs such as school support, public health programs, and wildlife coexistence work and research.

ADOPT a Lion

Adopt lions John and Imani and be a vital part of their well-being! As a Cincinnati Zoo ADOPT Parent, you’ll ensure they receive food, toys, and enriching experiences. Join us in delivering top-tier care to the animals you cherish!

Behind the Scenes Tour

Have a roarin’ time during our lion behind-the-scenes tour! Get up close with these majestic animals as a member of their care team guides you through their exclusive behind-the-scenes spaces. You’ll learn all about what it takes to care for these powerful creatures, and your tour will wrap up with an exciting training session with one of the lions.

Organizations to Support

AZA Safe

The Cincinnati Zoo Conservation Impact team leads the AZA SAFE African Lion program. The African Lion SAFE Program’s goal is to reinforce viable, connected landscapes and support tolerant communities coexisting with African lions to enable increasing the number of African lions in the wild.

SORALO

The Cincinnati Zoo Conservation Impact team leads the AZA SAFE African Lion program. The African Lion SAFE Program’s goal is to reinforce viable, connected landscapes and support tolerant communities coexisting with African lions to enable increasing the number of African lions in the wild.

Wildlife Conservation Action

The Cincinnati Zoo Conservation Impact team leads the AZA SAFE African Lion program. The African Lion SAFE Program’s goal is to reinforce viable, connected landscapes and support tolerant communities coexisting with African lions to enable increasing the number of African lions in the wild.

WASIMA

WASIMA (Watu, Simba na Mazingira) is a grassroots Non-governmental and Non-Profit Organization based in Western Tanzania and operates in three Regions of Rukwa, Katavi, and Tabora. We focus on promoting, supporting, and improving community livelihoods, sustainable environmental practices, wildlife conservation, and development in rural areas surrounding protected areas.