Here at the Virginia Zoo, we are committed to protecting not only our African lion pride, Ansel, Asha, and Kali, but also those remaining in the wild. That’s why we’re asking for your help! The Virginia Zoo, in collaboration with Disney and other Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) facilities, is seeking contributions to the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund (LRF), which supports on-the-grounds projects aimed at doubling lion populations in Africa by 2050.
Wild lions are experiencing a population crisis, and we must act now to conserve these incredible animals. One hundred years ago, there were 200,000 lions roaming the African savanna, but since 1994 we have lost more than half of the population, leaving just 20,000 individuals remaining.
Support for Disney's The Lion King “Protect the Pride” campaign in 2019, in part, allowed the LRF to fund more than 300 projects across 25 countries in Africa. At least half of these projects are already seeing results in the form of stable or increasing lion populations. Now we are joining forces to take lion conservation even further!
Join us in celebrating the release of Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King arriving in theaters December 20, 2024, by donating today to protect the magnificent big cats that inspired the story!
