The loss of half the lions in Africa over the past 25 years demands that donors and conservationists alike unite and bring our best, collaborative investments and actions forward for the recovery of lions and the restoration of their landscapes.
There is hope. Lions can recover if entrepreneurial conservationists are empowered to address the biggest threats to lions—such as human-lion conflict, bushmeat poaching, and habitat loss. If the core protected areas in Africa were more effectively managed and the local communities around them were supported, we could have three to four times the number of lions we have today.
Created by the Wildlife Conservation Network in partnership with the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, the Lion Recovery Fund funds game-changing conservation actions by the most effective, vetted partners who work collaboratively to bring lions back. Through strategic investments and collaboration with other public and private donors, the Lion Recovery Fund aspires to double the number of lions in Africa, regaining those lions lost over the past 25 years. We are committed to seeing thriving savannah landscapes where Africa’s people, its economic development and its lions all co-exist.
Our Strategy for Lion Recovery:
- Expand the Conservation Footprint
Increase the extent and effectiveness of the management of lion landscapes across Africa.
- Build the Will
Build the public, political, and philanthropic will to bring lions back.
- Scale the Funding
Elevate the amount of funding available for—and encourage greater focus on—the conservation of lions and their landscapes.
Please download our Strategy to Recover Lions and Their Landscapes document for a more detailed look into our strategy for lion recovery.
The Lion Recovery Fund will operate until lions are on a clear path toward doubling their numbers, indicating healthier protected landscapes across Africa.
