Lööf Foundation supports Andi Rive who runs Love Lions Alive Sanctuary. She can be better known as “The Lion Queen” from her documentary on Animal planet. We are happy to help her goal of saving lions by supporting her with the Lööf Foundation Lion Lagoon enclosure!
Ever since our first visit in March 2016 we have continued to support Andi Rive, who started and runs the Love Lions Alive Sanctuary in South Africa. The Love Lions Alive Sanctuary first started when Andi wanted to protect a reserve of lions from being used for sale for hunting, or for their body parts. Lööf Foundation has helped her by sponsoring a lion enclosure called the Lööf Foundation Lion Lagoon enclosure at Andi’s lion sanctuary. We held the inauguration for the lion enclosure during our second visit in July 2016. The lion enclosure is spacious enough to accomodate two-three lions and has plenty of water, cliffs, trees for shade and electric fencing. During November 2016, our representative Morgan Young helped at the sanctuary and checked up on the Lion Lagoon enclosure! In December 2016 we visited for a fourth time to help build a bigger water pool, and roofs for Andi’s new tented camp area for Love Lions Alive Sanctuary volunteers! Now we are returning to the sanctuary during July 2017 for our fifth visit to continue to support Andi’s lion sanctuary!
Lion situation in Africa
The killing of lions in Africa is happening at an exponential rate. Many are killed only for their body parts. Whether that be to use the skins of the lions, as a trophy on a floor, or hung on a wall. In South Africa, a tourist can pay up to $50,000 to choose a lion they would like to hunt, and kill for sport. Many lions are bred only to be hunted. Lions are viewed as more valuable dead, than alive. In the far east of Africa, many lion body parts are used to sell for medicinal purposes. It is believed that lions provide men with wonderful powers and strength. This creates a high demand for lion body parts, so many lions are only being raised to kill, and then export their bodies to buyers. Since the 1950’s, the lion population has reduced by 50% to only a mere 20,000 lions left in South Africa today.
Andi’s main focus is to spread awareness about the issue surrounding these beautiful creatures, and to allow people the chance to come to her lion sanctuary to see lions in their true glory, and educate the public about this devastating issue. This is why Andi has created and lives by her mission statements.
A few of Andi’s mission statements are:
– Never sell, breed with or misuse a lion.
– Her farm will be a haven for the misused, the abused, the unloved and those who have been seen as a quantum or livestock to their owners.
– Strive to create awareness in the world that live lions are more valuable than dead lions.
– Be a retirement home for elderly lions who have outlived their use to their current owners and who deserve to live out their lives in quiet dignity.
What the Love Lions Alive Project is all about
Love Lions Alive Project is based out of the farm Appin in Swinburne, Free State, South Africa. There, she has a lion sanctuary that started out with lions she has rescued. She takes in lion’s coming from zoos, private owners, or lions from other parks. Andi can also be known as “The Lion Queen” from her program on Animal Planet that airs in 185 countries. The show gives an insight on the struggles Andi faces daily with trying to keep the lion sanctuary going, as it is a costly job caring for lions.
Lööf Foundation Lion Lagoon inauguration
On July 14, 2016 Lööf Foundation held the inauguration for the Lion Lagoon enclosure at Love Lions Alive Sanctuary! A vet was present in the afternoon to do a check up on Carl, the newest two month old lion cub on the farm. Lööf Foundation helped cover the cost for this check up. Next the vet and Andi’s staff helped to dart Mandla and Isibindi to be able to move them to the new enclosure. It took six men to lift a sleeping lion into the back of a pick-up truck. Once the two lions were safely in their new enclosure, they were both given an antidote which would wake them. Sophie and Andi started the inauguration off by cutting the Swedish ribbon to the entrance of the Lion Lagoon enclosure. Sophie gave a short speech which was followed by a wonderful speech made by Andi. She expressed her dream for creating a safe haven for lions and thanked Lööf Foundation for believing in her and helping her. After the speeches Andi’s father played the South African Anthem on the bagpipes while walking down the hill.
Andi had organized for there to be African dancing to the beat of drums. After watching the performance Lööf Foundation handed out Lööf Foundation teddy bears to all children present. The party had plenty of food and treats for everyone that came out to celebrate the opening of the Lööf Foundation Lion Lagoon enclosure.
Lööf Foundation Lion Lagoon enclosure
The Lööf Foundation Lion Lagoon enclosure is two hectares large. The fences surrounding the enclosure are electric as Andi has solar panels set up to generate electricity. The enclosure is situated by a steep hillside and has three large rocks for the lions to climb and play on. As well, there are trees for shade and a ditch that runs into a watering hole so that water can naturally run off the hillside and into the enclosure for the lions. A new water tank has been installed at the top of the hillside, to provide fresh and clean water to the lions in the Lion Lagoon enclosure during times of drought. A small slaughter area is being built at the bottom of the enclosure so Andi has a proper area to prepare meat for the lions.
Plans for Lööf Foundation Lion Lagoon enclosure
During Lööf Foundation’s visit in November 2016, Mandla and Isibindi were moved out of the Lööf Foundation Lion Lagoon enclosure and into a different enclosure. This allowed for workers to clean out the enclosure, give the lions a new area to explore and most importantly to install a water pipe that will deliver fresh water into the enclosure during a drought. It is anticipated that Lööf Foundation Lion Lagoon enclosure will be a new home for a lioness and her two cubs in the future!
Do you want to contribute or give support?
If you would like to join with Lööf Foundation in supporting this great sanctuary, or to learn more, you can contact us by e-mail to sophie@nordfasinvest.se or morgan@nordfasinvest.se.
Blog posts - Love Lions Alive Sanctuary, South Africa
Here you can see Carl, the beautiful lion king that we helped and saved during 2016. Carl is all well and healthy and is now 4 years old. He lives together with Mela in an…
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We have helped support the Love Lions Alive Sanctuary many times in South Africa. The sanctuary is a haven for lions, run by Andi Rive the “Lion Queen” from her program on Animal Planet. In…
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Sophie’s Diary – July 22, 2017, I started the morning by doing a fence check. It was so beautiful to walk alongside the lions in their enclosures with a beautiful view of South Africa. Everything…
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Sophie’s Diary – July 21, 2017 We were up and ready to help do the fence check with the British volunteers when we met Andi who was headed up to check on Natacha. I went…
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Sophie’s Diary – July 20, 2017, This morning we walked with two British volunteers along all of the enclosures to do a fence check and check on the lions. We saw Mela and she looked…
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Today was a very exciting day at Love Lions Alive Sanctuary. A veterinarian Peter Caldwell from Old Chapel Vet Clinic in Pretoria South Africa came to the sanctuary to spayed two lions. He originally studied…
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Watch here for scenes from the season finale of Lion Queen that aired last night on Animal Planet!! We are so happy and proud to continue to contribute to Andi's ongoing work at the Love…
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Get the chance to see Lööf Foundation's contribution to the Love Lions Alive Sanctuary on the season finale of The Lion Queen by tuning in next Thursday night on Animal Planet!! Check your local TV…
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When we woke up today it was raining and only 13 degrees. A bit of a difference from 38 degrees when we arrived here a couple of days ago. Work started for Johan, Stuart and…
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Today the Lööf Foundation team has been able help quite a lot at Love Lions Alive sanctuary! We have assisted in building a bigger water pool in Carl’s enclosure. He loves to play in the…
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Lööf Foundation team is off on a mission trip to Love Lions Alive Sanctuary where we are going to help out with the lions as much we can. Today it is 36 degrees! Sophie Lööf…
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Morgan's Diary - December 1, 2016 Today was a little bittersweet for me as it was my last day doing work here, as tomorrow I will be packing and preparing for my trip back to…
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Morgan's Diary - November 30, 2016 What it's like to work at the Love Lions Alive Sanctuary: I have now spent almost two weeks working at the Love Lions Alive Sanctuary and I have had…
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Morgan’s Diary - November 28, 2016 This morning I said goodbye to Zoi who is part of an organzation TIA (This is Africa) as she is headed to Namibia. She had been here for a…
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Morgan's Diary - November 27, 2016 We took the day fairly easy today as it is Sunday. I got up a bit later than normal and made a big breakfast for everyone! It was very…
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Morgan's Diary - November 24, 2016 I was so fortunate to experience so many new things today. My morning started early as there was a cow that had been struck by lightening yesterday. Andi was…
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Morgan's Diary - November 23, 2016 Today was so great because it felt like we got so much done. We finished cleaning out the enclosures that the lions will be moving into tomorrow of old…
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Morgan's Diary - November 22, 2016 Line, Tale, Martin and I helped the workers this morning to unload the big water tanks and pipes that will be set up at the top of the enclosures,…
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Morgan's Diary - November 20, 2016 I got up early this morning to do a fence check with Martin. We went along the outside of the fences with this remote to check the electricity. You…
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Morgan's Diary - November 19, 2016 I slept so well last night and I think it's because I spend my whole day outside in nature. Line, Tale, Martin and I started our day by getting…
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Morgan’s Diary – November 18, 2016 I slept great last night after my travels and excitement of arriving here at the Love Lions Alive Sanctuary. I was up early this morning to help Line and…
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Morgan's Diary - November 17, 2016: I have finally touched down and made it to South Africa earlier this morning! Line from Norway came to pick me up and we had around a three hour…
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Morgan's Diary - November 16, 2016: I am now at Arlanda about to head out on my flight to South Africa! Words cannot even begin to describe the amount of excitement, wonder, and eagerness I…
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Morgan's Diary - November 2, 2016, Ever since I could remember lions and tigers have always been my favourite animal and still are to this day. However sadly in South Africa and many places around…
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We are trying to raise SEK 40 000 :- for a cold/freezer room to store food for the lions at Andi Rives’ Love Lions Alive Sanctuary in South Africa. You can make your donation out…
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Sophie’s Diary - July 17, 2016: I got up at 8:00am this morning. It was foggy today and the mountain was in the clouds. It was chilly to eat breakfast outside this morning, as there…
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Sophie’s Diary – July 16, 2016 After breakfast I went into Harrismith with Andi and her son Rowan who had just arrived from the Cape area. Andi had to pick up a few items in…
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Johan’s Diary – July 15, 2016 I got up fairly early this morning, before 8:00am. I went outside and had breakfast in the sun, where it was quite windy but nice. After breakfast I went…
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Sophie’s Diary - July 14th, 2016 I woke up to another beautiful morning, with the sun shining; we ate our freeze-dried breakfast outside. It is around three degrees this morning so it’s a bit chilly.…
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Johan’s Diary – July 13, 2016 Today Sophie and I together with Andi's daughter Taiga went to buy food in Harrismith for the inauguration of the Lööf Foundation Lion Lagoon enclosure tomorrow. We purchased two…
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Sophie’s Diary – July 12, 2016 I woke up this morning and met Andi in the kitchen. She was feeling ill with a fever, so I made her breakfast and gave her medicine, hoping that…
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Sophie’s Diary – July 11, 2016 This morning I woke up in the guesthouse on the farm. It was quite cold so I slept in a sleeping bag with a duvet and blanket on top.…
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Johan’s Diary - July 10, 2016 I woke up today in Durban, South Africa. It was a cold winter day for the people in Durban, but for us it felt like a nice summer day.…
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Johan and I could not be more excited to finally be traveling to South Africa for the inauguration of the Lööf Foundation Lion Lagoon enclosure and to visit our Star for Life school that Lööf…
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On March 5, 2016 Sophie Lööf and her father TorBjörn Lööf visited the Love Lions Alive Project in South Africa. After getting to know Andi Rive and her project, it was decided that Lööf Foundation…
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Lööf Foundation starts new partnership with Love Lions Alive Project, or better known as “The Lion Queen” on Animal Planet! Lööf Foundation would like to announce that we are launching our co-operation with Andi Rive,…
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Sophie’s Diary March 5, Part 2: I started my day this morning at 9:00 from the Hilton Hotel in Durban. We had a lovely lady who was our tour guide for the day and she…
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Sophie’s Diary 5 March, Part 1. I am now on my way to the farm Appin in Swinburne, Free State, South Africa. I will be meeting Andi Rive who runs the Love Lions Alive Project!…
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