AMBASSADORS FOR THE WILD

Welcome to our first conservation awareness project 'Ambassadors For The Wild'. Through this project we aim to work with zoological collections around the UK to show the importance of zoo lions and how we believe they can contribute greatly to the conservation of wild lions. Here you can find out all about the project, what is involved, what we aim to achieve and most importantly how you can get involved. Unlike other projects this is not one where specific work will be under taken this is more about awareness and will be implemented through all of the work and other projects that we undertake here at Safina.

We work with good zoos because...

Good zoos are the perfect place to educate the public about the lives of lions in the wild and the threats they face. This can encourage people to research and learn more about wildlife conservation.

Zoo lions through careful captive breeding can be a valuable genetic group kept safe away from the threats of the wild and could play their part in future reintroductions.

Good zoos give the public the opportunity to get an insight into the lives of lions by seeing them up close in near natural surroundings.

We believe that because of these reasons listed above zoo lions are a vital conservation resource and can have a huge impact on fund-raising and conservation efforts world-wide. We believe that zoo lions are 'Ambassadors For The Wild' and that they can inspire people to take an interest in the conservation of their wild cousins.

WE WORK WITH ZOOS

Without Zoos We Wouldn't Be Here

WE PROTECT

Our charity name-sake Safina and her companion Zuri descend from a long line of lions held in zoos throughout the UK, these zoo lions are incredibly important to us and we believe that they can be vital to the conservation of their wild cousins. For more information on how we are inspired by these zoo lions please click here. Here at Safina we also believe in a positive approach and believe that zoos can do and do carry out very important work which benefits species survival programmes throughout the world. We believe that only be working together we can achieve what is best for the wildlife in need of our help which is why instead of using our energy slamming the work they do we work with zoos, and we are proud to do so.

In the UK zoos legally have to contribute to conservation work. Many larger zoos actually run their own conservation programmes in the field. Smaller zoos who are unable to fund such work will raise money for smaller organisations that work directly to save animals in the wild, we are honoured to be considered as one of these organisations and receive support from several zoos across the UK.

Launching Ambassadors For The Wild

We launched the project on World Lion Day 2017 at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm near Bristol. We used the opportunity to spread awareness about the conservation of wild lions with zoo lions at the face of it as well as educating the public on all forms of lion life. As part of the project we will work with zoos to organise educational and awareness events along with our 'Learn About Lions' project highlighting how their lions are 'Ambassadors For the Wild'.

We were delighted to be invited by the Big Cat and South American Team to assist in their celebrations. On the day the Noah's team were busy selling animal goodies - book marks, keyrings and bracelets while we were next door with a display talking about lions and their conservation handing out the leaflet seen to the right. Our founder James was delighted to be asked to finish off their daily Big Cat talk to talk about the conservation work we are hoping to support very soon and the plight of wild lions. The talk, testament to keeper Ben was very busy with many fascinated by the training Ben was demonstrating between him and the tigers Khan and Tiana. Feedback from the end of the talk was great with many people asking for information leaflets or wanting to know with more detail about the plight of African lions in the wild.

There was of course a huge significance of our trip to Noah's Ark. African male lion 'Masai' is the son of our namesake Safina and her companion Zuri. It therefore seemed very fitting to us that he should head our first awareness event and become our first Ambassador For The Wild. At the end of the day James gave a presentation to the Noah's Ark Big cat team explaining how the fund began, our objectives and future plans as well as the links between Masai and our name-sake Safina.

We are proud to continue our association with Noah's Ark Zoo Farm into 2018 when we joined them for World Lion Day celebrations once again. We are also proud to work alongside the zoos whose logos can be seen at the bottom of this page. All four of these collections have donated funds directly towards our conservation work and have distributed our 'Learn About Lions' leaflets at talks too. All of their lions can be seen as 'Ambassadors For The Wild'. We are also pleased to have visited several of these zoos to give talks to their staff and members of the public as well.