Every euro entrusted to the Leo Foundation is invested with one goal: protecting wildlife and supporting the people who live alongside it.
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CSI-style ‘lion DNA fingerprinting’ leads to conviction of poachers
Wildlife crime is a multi-billion-dollar industry. After drug, arms, and human trafficking, the illegal trade in wildlife is among the most lucrative forms of crime, with an estimated value of over $20 billion per year according to Interpol. Gaining insight into trafficking routes and poaching hotspots is therefore crucial.
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A special project in South Sudan
In South Sudan lies a vast and difficult-to-access area covering approximately 18 million hectares. Yet it is this inaccessibility that is also offering exceptional opportunities for wildlife. The Boma–Bandingilo landscape is known for the largest terrestrial mammal migration on Earth, with millions of tiang antelopes, gazelles, and kob migrating through the area each year.
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A new collaboration with the West Africa Conservation Network
For many years, the Leo Foundation has maintained a strong presence in West Africa. We are actively involved in the last two remaining strongholds for lions in the region: the border area between Senegal and Guinea, and the border region of Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger. In addition, there is another protected area that most likely still harbors a small but important lion population: Kainji Lake National Park in Nigeria.
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Successful nature auction ends with sad news
On October 1st, board members Monja, Marieke and Kim attended the 14th Nature Day at Burgers’ Zoo in Arnhem. GlobeGuards organized an auction of nature experiences for international conservation. GlobeGuards is a partnership of several small conservation organizations, including the Leo Foundation. Each organization within the GlobeGuards offered various auction items to benefit their chosen cause.
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Proud to support the work of Rama Mishra and WILD CARE Nepal
We are proud to support the work of Rama Mishra and WILD CARE Nepal. Recently, her inspiring report ‘Wild Cats Series 2025’ was published. Her research forms the foundation of training programs that emphasize education and community involvement – essential for wildlife conservation and reducing human–wildlife conflict.
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Annual Report 2024: Working Together to Protect Big Cats
In 2024, the Leo Foundation continued its mission to protect large carnivores in Africa and Asia. Thanks to the support of our donors and partners, we were able to carry out several impactful projects focused on research, education, and strengthening local capacity.
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Wolves in the Netherlands feed mainly on wild animals – but also target grazing cattle in areas with less prey
Wolves in the Netherlands mainly feed on wild animals such as wild boar and red and roe deer. But in areas such as Drenthe where these are scarce they also prey on free-roaming cattle used for nature conservation. This is according to new research analysing wolf scat across the country.
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New Study: Fishing Cats Have Much Larger Home Ranges Than Previously Thought
A recent study in Nepal revealed that the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) has a significantly larger home range than previously assumed. GPS tracking in the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve found that home ranges of these rare cats average between 29 and 40 square kilometers.
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Warm Farewell to Chairman and Founder Hans de Iongh, Leo Foundation
The journey of the Foundation Panthera leo leo, better known as Leo Foundation, began in November 2007 on the terrace of Porte Mayo in Maroua, Cameroon. During a conversation about the projects of CML (Centre for Environmental Sciences at Leiden University) and field visits to Bénoué National Park and Waza National Park, the seed for the foundation was planted.
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