WEST Midland Safari Park is set to host an exciting fundraising week, dedicated to the protection and conservation of lions.
The Protect Lions week will run at the Park between June 17, and June 25 - during which, staff aim to inform guests of the threats wild lions face, as well as highlight the work the Park does with their resident lions.
All funds raised during the week will go to the African Lion and Environmental Research Trust (ALERT).
Katie McDonald, research and conservation officer, said: "Lions are such well-known and popular animals it is hard to imagine a world without them. Many people would be surprised to find out that African lions are declining in the wild.
"It is estimated that the lion population has reduced by more than 40 per cent in just over 20 years. This is due to habitat loss, prey depletion and indiscriminate killing by humans.
"Because of this, the International Union of Conservation of Nature lists them as 'vulnerable'."
A variety of fun activities will take place during the week, both at the Park and online. Guests can take part in a free quiz, enter competitions and enjoy lion-related crafts and games.
Additionally, on the weekends of Protect Lions Week, the Park is running some exclusive VIP Lion Tours. This will include a tour of the lion house, a tour of the lion reserve where they will watch the lions eat their breakfast and they will also get to feed them a chunk of meat.
Katie added: "During Protect Lions Week we hope to make our guests aware of the threats to African lions and to celebrate this brilliant species.
"Lions hunt as a pride and our keepers are going to cycle as a team to raise as much sponsorship as possible. They will be clocking up 1,000km on a static bike beside our conservation tent over the nine-day period.
"We hope our guests will enjoy learning more about lions and will help us raise vital funds for these majestic animals."
For all of the Park's conservation weeks, local artist Zaza Shelley will be producing limited edition prints of the Park's animals. Proceeds from the sales of lion prints will go towards ALERT. To buy a print, visit zazashelley.com.
ALERT's main aim is to assist the conservation of the African lion and the ecosystems on which the species relies. Funds raised during Protect Lions Week will help fund anti-poaching scouts in the Chizarira National Park, in Zimbabwe. For more information, visit lionalert.org.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here