Pup and Purr Life Unleashed | Page 13

everything bright and cheery this time of year . Even after their twinkle ends , those strings of lights can do good both here and around the world thanks to a conservation project called “ Lights for Lions ” at Audubon Zoo .
The Zoo is collecting string lights for recycling now through Jan . 9 , 2023 . Participating is as easy as bringing your old , broken , or unused lights to the Zoo and tossing them in a donation box at the front entrance . Most string lights are not bio-degradable and shouldn ’ t be thrown in the trash . They are also dangerous to animals if they get tangled in the strands . Audubon will recycle them safely and help lions at the same time .
Lions are a favorite animal of Zoo visitors , and sadly their numbers in the wild are declining at an alarming rate . In just a quarter century ,
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the wild African lion population has dropped by half . The main threats to African lions are conflicts with humans , poaching , the decline of their natural prey as well as habitat loss , climate change and illegal wildlife trade . With around 23,000 African lions left in the wild , they are now officially classified as ‘ vulnerable .’ Their loss signals the loss of the wild in Africa .
All proceeds from Audubon ’ s “ Lights for Lions ” recycling program will support the Wildlife Conservation Network ’ s Lion Recovery Fund . Every string of lights donated makes a difference . The Lion Recovery Fund hopes to increase the numbers of wild lions by protecting them , their prey and their habitat .
“ The ‘ Lights for Lions ’ project is a conservation project that benefits wild lions and our local community ,” said Daine Appleberry , Senior Vice President and Director of Operations at Audubon Zoo & Park . “ It provides a way to recycle old , unused , or faulty lights instead of them ending up in the landfill , and our community members know they are helping save animals in the wild .”
The drop box for the “ Lights for Lions ” project is at the front entrance at Audubon Zoo .
Once the lights are removed , you can also recycle your real Christmas tree . Local parishes