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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 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, who started and runs the Love Lions Alive Project in South Africa. The Love Lions Alive Project 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 would like to help and sponsor a lion enclosure on Andi’s lion reserve. The lion enclosure will be home to two-three lions, with lots of open space, water, cliffs, electric fencing, and trees for shade. Along with the enclosure we will also provide a 20% discount to Lööf Foundation’s followers who would like to participate in Andi’s volunteer program on her lion reserve!
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 for sale 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 reserve going, as it is a costly job caring for lions.
Volunteer Program
Andi has created a volunteer program for the public where they can come and stay on the farm for a period of time and help her staff with daily chores surrounding the care of the lions from helping put up fencing to feeding the lions and keeping track of individual behavior in the lions. It costs €70 per night for the first week, €65/night week 2, €60/night week 3, €55/night thereafter. Andi would like to offer a 20% discount for the first year to Lööf Foundation followers/supporters. Therefor the cost would be €70-20% per night for the first week, €65-20%/night week 2, €60-20%/night week 3, €55-20%/night thereafter.
Lööf Foundation’s support
Upon my return from South Africa in March, it was decided that Lööf Foundation would support the building of a lion enclosure. The enclosure will consist of 1.5 hectares of land for two to three lions. The fences will be 2.4 meters high and electric. Andi has solar panels set up to generate the electric fences around the enclosures. The enclosure will have cliffs, trees for shade, and water in the form of a stream running through it. Andi and her team will work hard on getting the construction of the lion enclosure completed by July this year. Lööf Foundation anticipates having the inauguration of the lion enclosure during mid July 2016.
Enter our contest and win!
Until the inauguration, we are holding a contest to name the Lööf Foundation’s enclosure. If you win, you will get the honor of having YOUR name on the sign to the enclosure along with a Lööf Foundation t-shirt and water bottle! Send your suggestions via e-mail morgan@nordfasinvest.se or on Lööf Foundation’s Facebook messenger. The winner will be announced on June 30th via private email but also on Lööf Foundations web site and social media.
Do you want to sponsor a lion?
If you would like to join with Lööf Foundation in supporting this great project you can do so by sponsoring a lion. By sponsoring a lion, you will be covering the monthly cost for one lion. Contact us if you are interested in knowing more, e-mail to sophie@nordfasinvest.se.
We cannot wait for the inauguration of the lion enclosure this summer. Stayed tuned for updates!
Warm regards from the Lööf Foundation team,
Sophie Lööf
Chairman and Founder
Lööf Foundation