With the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic still being felt around the world, it is safe to say that few people on the planet have been able to escape its effects.
In Zambia, Southern Africa, the ban on international travel devastated an already fragile economy reliant on the financial benefits of tourism. The hospitality industry collapsed without visitors, and a significant proportion of the local workforce lost its livelihood overnight.
In the Dambwa Forest on the outskirts of the Zambian city of Livingstone, 39 captive lions were also suffering. As part of a conservation programme welcoming volunteers from around the world, when its primary source of income disappeared, and the project was forced to close down, the lions faced an uncertain future.
Livingstone Lions was formed during the pandemic as an emergency response to keep the lions alive. Without the support of generous sponsors and donors, they would undoubtedly have died of starvation.
While the lions remain firmly at the heart of everything we do and are our constant inspiration and motivation, a return to tourism has now allowed us to widen our focus.
As Livingstone starts to rebuild itself, the long-term aim of our charity is to bring positive benefits to communities and increase awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation to the local economy. We are doing this by delivering conservation education programmes and educational and life-skills programmes to empower local people and increase their employment opportunities.
Livingstone Lions is a non-profit charity run entirely by volunteers. We are passionate about the welfare of the lions within our care and the well-being of their human neighbours, but we can’t do any of this without your help.
