Leo Foundation

Dedicated to saving large carnivores

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Our mission

History

The Leo Foundation, formally called Foundation Panthera leo leo, was founded on April 24, 2008. She emerged from the research group Environment and Development of the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), part of Leiden University. This group has been doing research in West and Central Africa (i.e. Benin and Cameroon) and East Africa (i.e. Kenya and Ethiopia), mostly on lions and other large carnivores. Until 2010, the CML possessed a field station in Maroua, North Cameroon, that she exploited together with her Cameroonian partner, the CEDC.  The Leo Foundation was born out of a great need for practical field projects, which was outside the CML’s mandate. All initial board members are or have been affiliated with the CML either as teacher or student. Where possible, Leo Foundation and CML still work together.

We execute our own projects, but also support initiatives from local organisations and individuals. Leo Foundation has ongoing projects in Benin, Cameroon, Senegal and Kenya. We work together with local partners, like non-profit organisations, park management and government and research institutes. Our approach is hands-on and solution-oriented and based on the latest scientific insights. Our contribution to projects consists of providing knowledge and expertise and financial support through fundraising.


Our objectives

  1. The promotion of the protection of lions in Africa and India.
  2. The promotion of responsible management of lion populations, with special attention to responsible tourism, local income generation and mitigation of conflicts.
  3. The promotion of responsible management of other large carnivores.
  4. The stimulation of the exchange of knowledge and knowledge gathering on the subjects mentioned above.

We intend to achieve our objectives through the formulation, funding and implementation of projects which stimulate a responsible management and protection of lions and associated large carnivores.

Globeguards

Leo Foundation is member of Globe Guards. A non-profit federation of Dutch organisations involved in nature conservation worldwide.