Disney has relaunched their global “Protect the Pride” campaign in celebration of “Mufasa: The Lion King,” arriving in theaters on December 20.
Disney’s “Protect the Pride” Campaign
This conservation campaign aims to support the Wildlife Conservation Network’s (WCN) Lion Recovery Fund (LRF) and LRF’s partners working across Africa to double the number of lions in the wild by 2050.
In the last 30 years since the original “The Lion King” film was first released, Africa has lost half of its lion population.
Disney first launched their “Protect the Pride” campaign in 2019. During that time, the campaign initiative has enabled LRF to expand its reach and cumulatively fund more than 300 projects working across 25 countries in Africa.
In a press release shared by The Walt Disney Company, Peter Lindsey, Director of WCN’s Lion Recovery Fund (LRF), has stated that:
“The fight to recover Africa’s lions must begin with a holistic approach that protects not only the species, but also the landscapes they depend on and the people who share their environments. Truly protecting lions means addressing the full spectrum of threats they face, from habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict to the growing pressures of wildlife trade. Our sustained collaboration with Disney has helped the LRF make significant improvements in these areas. We look forward to continuing our work together.”
Peter Lindsey, Director of WCN’s Lion Recovery Fund (LRF)
This campaign also reflects Disney’s longtime dedication of taking action to support a healthier planet for both people and wildlife. Since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund has directed more than $125 million, including nearly $25 million to projects across Africa, to community-based efforts. In doing so, they have helped protect more than 1,000 species of wildlife across half the countries in the world and all five oceans.
“Protect the Pride” Campaign Featurette
Disney also launched an all-new featurette that includes Lin-Manuel Miranda. Other actors from the upcoming film “Mufasa: The Lion King,” also join Manuel including Aaron Pierre (Mufasa), Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Taka), and Anika Noni Rose (Afia).
Disney’s announcement of the campaign’s relaunch also coincides with the debut of the new lion pride that recently arrived at Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
You can learn more here about Disney’s commitment to “Protect the Pride,” and ways to support the campaign.
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