The White Lion Trust: Making a difference, one pride at a time
The Global White Lion Protection Trust (WLT) is a non-profit scientific and community organization located in Timbavati, South Africa, the only region on earth to which White Lions are indigenous. The organization was founded in 2002 by conservationist and author, Linda Tucker, after an incredible and life-changing encounter during a visit to a friend's game reserve in the early 1990s (a full accounting of this event can be found in her book Children of the Sun God ). She and her partner, scientist and researcher, Jason Turner, are fully committed to conserving the White Lions as well as indigenous communities in the region. Eighty-five to ninety percent of all income earned by the Trust goes directly towards ensuring the survival of the species.
The White Lion Reintroduction Project is the first reintroduction project of its kind; they have reintroduced three prides back into the wild that have bred—and there are currently seven White Lions and two tawny females at Tsau Conservancy.
A community/partnership-based approach
The WLT believes "an empowered community is a giving community." In 2007, WLT and local communities initiated a foundational craft development project in the Timbavati region. The purpose is to empower the community and to showcase the importance of the White Lions in their cultural beliefs and rituals—and to create products, many of which feature the White Lion icon, that can be sold as a means to 'give back' to the White Lions that they hold sacred. Though all proceeds of White Lion arts and crafts are returned to the community, the communities donate a percentage to the WLT at their discretion.
The WLT's Board of Trustees and global advisors include representatives from the South African Government, local and international conservation organizations, as well as the South African business sector. The WLT continues to campaign for the protection of the critically endangered White Lion at both provincial and national levels, and it is pursuing World-Heritage status for the White Lion site.
Visit their site directly to learn more.
The White Lion Reintroduction Project is the first reintroduction project of its kind; they have reintroduced three prides back into the wild that have bred—and there are currently seven White Lions and two tawny females at Tsau Conservancy.
A community/partnership-based approach
The WLT believes "an empowered community is a giving community." In 2007, WLT and local communities initiated a foundational craft development project in the Timbavati region. The purpose is to empower the community and to showcase the importance of the White Lions in their cultural beliefs and rituals—and to create products, many of which feature the White Lion icon, that can be sold as a means to 'give back' to the White Lions that they hold sacred. Though all proceeds of White Lion arts and crafts are returned to the community, the communities donate a percentage to the WLT at their discretion.
The WLT's Board of Trustees and global advisors include representatives from the South African Government, local and international conservation organizations, as well as the South African business sector. The WLT continues to campaign for the protection of the critically endangered White Lion at both provincial and national levels, and it is pursuing World-Heritage status for the White Lion site.
Visit their site directly to learn more.
