Disney’s The Lion King CGI movie is not going to be just a movie. It will also help raise awareness for protecting real-life lions in a new campaign.
Disney and the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund will work together on this. They will launch a new The Lion King Protect the Pride campaign, ToyNews reports.
The campaign will feature special Simba and Nala plush toys. The stuffed animals will represent one of the 40 000 lions Disney and the Lion Recovery Fund want to help.
Disney will donate $5 for every plush Simba or Nala which is sold. The company also shares some worrying statistics.
“Disney is committed to saving wildlife and The Lion King is the perfect story to remind us of the role we each have in helping ensure a world where these majestic animals are treasured and protected. These Special Edition Simba and Nala lions being sold at Disney Store and online at shopDisney give our fans and guests the opportunity to be part of our efforts,” said Amy Pearson, marketing director, Disney Stores EMEA.
For example, in the 25 years that have passed since Disney first released the original version of The Lion King, Africa has lost half of its lions. Only around 20,000 remain today.
The Lion Recovery Fund wants to try an double the lion population by 2050 and needs help from the local community, too. Disney has already donated $2 million and hopes that with the plush animals it will raise that to $3 million.
