Celebrating another Conservation Awareness Day with our Pride of Pembrokeshire

Members of our zoo team helped organise activities to celebrate World Lion Day last Thursday, and raise much needed funds for lion conservation.

James from the Safina Lion Conservation Fund (centre), with Conservation Officer Jack (left) and keeper Dan (right)

World Lion Day is a celebration of these majestic big cats and to raise awareness of their decline in the wild. This was one of the conservation awareness days happening throughout this year to highlight our commitment to conservation.

Folly Farm supports Lions by working with the Safina Lion Conservation Fund and we were delighted to be joined by James and Sophie from the charity to celebrate and share their knowledge of these fantastic felines.

Keepers were joined by Sophie and James from the Safina Lion Conservation Fund, who work to save big cats in the wild

On the day there was lots to keep our younger guests entertained, from colouring, appearances from character costume, Llew the lion and lots of lion-themed games. Families enjoyed watching the lions being fed and listening to talks about our pride and their cousins in the wild.

In the lion’s den at one of our feeding experiences

Our very own costume character, Llew, enjoyed hanging with the keepers and meeting our guests on World Lion Day

Lion photos were on display and guests were able to read about the projects that Safina Lion Conservation helps to contribute towards. Our raffle was incredibly popular, with the winners receiving prizes of soft toys and plaster casts of our very own pride’s paw prints.

With your help, were able to raise a ‘roar-some’ £325.20 which will go towards the newly launched Boma Strengthening Scheme. Funds will be used to improve protection of livestock that are based close to lion habitat, by strengthening the enclosures (bomas) that the animals are held in at night. This scheme helps to reduce lion attacks on livestock, and therefore reduces the likelihood of people harming lions.

Lion themed activities were a big hit with guests

James from Safina stated:

“It was great to be invited to Folly Farm to celebrate World Lion Day with the zoo team. We had a wonderful day talking to the visitors and meeting the lions. The money raised will be used to strengthen two livestock bomas, preventing human-lion conflicts with local communities by reducing predation on livestock at night. Thank you so much for organising such a great day!”

Not only a great gift for animal lovers. Did you know that a percentage of each adoption pack sale is donated straight to our conservation partners?!

Since 2018, we have been able to assist Safina with their programmes thanks to the generosity of our guests visiting the park and a percentage of the sales of our adoption packs. So far, we have helped Safina to fund the wages of a Lion Guardian named Kuya Kipampa. Lion Guardians are traditional Massai warriors that are taught the skills needed to effectively mitigate conflict between people and wildlife, monitor lion populations, and help their own communities live side by side with lions. Amazing stuff!

Learn all about our pride of six magnificent lions in our zoo

In 2020 we helped with the Future Kings Project, helping with the purchase and fitting of radio tracking collars to young male lions to monitor their movements around human settlements.

Thank you to those of you that joined us on the day and contributed to our final total. Our next Conservation Day is Primate Day on Wednesday 23^rd August, why not bring your little monkeys to meet ours?!