Donate Unwanted Lights to Audubon Zoo’s “Lights for Lions” Project
While you are finishing the Thanksgiving celebrations and getting ready to put up your holidays lights, Audubon Zoo wants to remind you that old, broken, or unwanted strands of lights can help protect wild animals.
The annual “Lights for Lions” recycling project at Audubon Zoo has new meaning this year as the Zoo has three new additions to its lion pride. Cubs Nandi, Tatu, and Zawadi are now just over a month old. Their wild counterparts need help as their numbers are dwindling, and helping fund lion conservation is as easy as dropping off old, unwanted or broken strings of holidays lights.
From now through January 12, 2026, Audubon Zoo will have a large collection box set up for people to drop off old unwanted string lights for recycling. The box is located just in front of the Zoo entrance. Audubon will recycle the lights and proceeds from the “Lights for Lions” project will be used to help support lion conservation. Every string of lights helps increase the number of lions in the wild by protecting them, their prey and their habitat.
Audubon Zoo has four adult lions in its pride: Arnold, Kali, Nia and Zuri in addition to the three cubs. While our lions receive world-class care, the numbers of these beautiful animals in the wild are rapidly declining. In just a quarter century, the population of wild African lions has dropped by half. The main threats to African lions are poaching, conflicts with humans, decline of their natural prey, as well as habitat loss, climate change and the illegal wildlife trade. With just 23,000 African lions left in the wild, they are now officially classified as 'vulnerable'. Their loss signals the critical loss of the wild in Africa.
Most string lights are not bio-degradable and are dangerous to animals if they get tangled in the strands, so recycling through the “Lights for Lions” project also helps protect other animals from harm closer to home. “Lights for Lions” is a way everyone can help these beautiful and iconic animals for future generations. For regular updates on the newest members of Audubon Zoo’s lion pride, follow us on social media for weekly “CUBdates” as the cubs grow!