7 Tons of Texan Christmas Lights = $344 for African Lions

The Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, Texas gave an endangered species the gift of conservation this holiday season – thanks to their ‘Lights for Lions’ campaign! Ask East Texans to donate broken and outdated Christmas lights instead of just throwing them away, the zoo collected 14,000 pounds of string lights that were then taken to a local recycling center for $344. To continue this good work, the zoo plans to make it an annual event and is donating the money from this year’s collection to Lion Guardians – a lion conservation program in Africa. Since 2006, Lion Guardians have been finding long-term solutions to help people and lions coexist peacefully.

Read more from CBS 19

What is Lights for Lions?

‘Lights for Lions’ is an initiative started by the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, Texas to help endangered species. They asked East Texans to donate broken and outdated Christmas lights instead of throwing them away and collected a total of 14,000 pounds of string lights. These were then taken to a local recycling center for $344. The money from this campaign is being donated to Lion Guardians – a lion conservation program in Africa that has conserved lions and preserved cultures since 2006.

What is the Caldwell Zoo?

The Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, Texas is a family-owned zoo that has been open since 1937. It’s home to over 350 species of exotic and native animals, reptiles, fish and birds. They are dedicated to educating and inspiring future generations about conservation through interactive displays and education programs. Recently, the zoo started their ‘Lights for Lions’ campaign which asked people to donate broken and outdated Christmas lights instead of throwing them away. This resulted in 14,000 pounds of lights being collected and recycled for $344 which will now be donated to Lion Guardians – a lion conservation program in Africa.

Where is Tyler, Texas?

Tyler, Texas is a city located in the East of the state and is known as the ‘Rose Capital of the World’. It’s home to around 105,000 people and has an abundance of outdoor activities with various nature parks such as Tyler State Park or Caldwell Zoo. There are many historic sites and attractions like The Goodman-LeGrand House, The Cotton Belt Depot Museum or The University of Texas at Tyler. With its vibrant culture and friendly atmosphere, Tyler makes for an interesting destination.