Through decades of service-based leadership in support of Lions, Land and People in one of the most important UNESCO Biosphere regions on the planet, and one of the last viable lion ranges on Earth, the Global White Lion Protection Trust has lived up to its name against great odds, establishing the White Lions as the pre-eminent apex animal within its ancestral lands of South Africa, and an inspirational living heritage around the globe.

To ensure the success of White Lion conservation in the region of their origins, Jason A. Turner’s scientific research has included two decades of research of White Lion predation in their endemic habitat, speaking at global environmental conferences and drafting of scientific papers. In our initiatives, modern scientific methods work in respectful collaboration with ancient knowledge systems, in service of Nature. This way, leading-edge science becomes reconcilable with the ‘sacred science’ associated with Indigenous cultural beliefs honouring the White Lions as a Sacred Animal.

To identify the unique traits that have led to the White Lions’ reoccurrence in this specific region, the Global White Lion Protection Trust initiated the successful collaborative efforts in DNA research with geneticists from seven different inter-continental countries, comparing White Lions with Snow Leopards, Tigers, and the “Spirit Bear” of British Columbia. In 2013, this collaboration achieved the watershed discovery of the White Lion ‘genetic marker’. The next step in the White Lion Protection Plan™ is to identify the frequency of occurrence of this unique gene in the K2C Biosphere, and thereby have lions in this critical ecosystem protected by national and international law, including CITES and the IUCN Red Data Book.

To ensure the protection of the White Lions’ ancestral territories, we have raised millions of Dollars to purchase large tracks of wilderness land in the epicentre of the White Lions’ natural endemic habitat, and more strategic heritage land identified, with the aim of protecting the primary river corridor supplying the life-support system to the entire ecosystem.

To ensure that the White Lions, as well as their ancestral lands, are protected as a living heritage, we have pursued all available governmental and procedural processes. The Global White Lion Protection Trust is pursuing “Protected Area” status for Tsau, White Lion Heartlands as a Sacred Natural Site, in perpetuity. Today, the White Lion Heartlands, which Indigenous record keepers recognised as a Sacred Site many hundreds of years before proclamation of the Kruger Natural Park in 1926, is once again granted Sacred Natural Site status, the first to be officially declared under the ASSEGAIA Declaration (2019).

To preserve and reignite the cultural knowledge about these legendary animals, Linda Tucker’s cross-cultural initiatives have included the record keeping and documentation of Indigenous oral knowledge. The importance of the White Lions as a sacred heritage has been recognised through Linda Tucker’s efforts cross-culturally and is supported by Indigenous leaders from around the globe. Linda Tucker’s publication of definitive works on the White Lions: Mystery of the White Lions (2001) and Saving the White Lions (2013) is based on more than 2 decades of collaborative research with Indigenous elders.

To activate and nurture LionHearted Leadership™ both locally and globally, Linda Tucker has launched a number of successful eco-educational initiatives: firstly, the StarLion Eco-Cubs programme (since 2004), which presented to Nelson Mandela in 2007 and now supports 7 StarLion Centres, and secondly, Academy for LionHearted Leadership™ (since 2012), attended by local community members and students from around the globe. LionHearted Leadership™ is the central focus of Linda Tucker’s international programme.

To benefit the local communities of the region the Global White Lion Protection Trust started by building infrastructure for its StarLion Centres: classrooms and ablution facilities, while also setting up nurseries and food gardens that serve as nutritional hubs. However, Linda Tucker’s greatest contribution may be seen in the development of a uniquely inspiring eco-educational programme and curriculum, based on the 13 Laws of LionHearted Leadership™, using leadership lessons exemplified by the White Lions and Nature’s laws to inspire human nature in restoring right-relationship with our planet. The indicators of the success of this eco-educational program include high attendance, increased literacy and confidence in public speaking and performing arts, and increased interest in environmental sciences, all of which are indicative of individual confidence-building as well as community-building.

To achieve urgent legislative protection for the White Lions as a global heritage, our ongoing campaigns have included engagement in legislative processes at local, national and international levels, with submissions of legislative documents, 4 presentations to South African Parliament (2007, 2008, 2018, 2019) and 2 addresses at British Parliament (2013, 2019).

To raise awareness about the White Lions and the crisis surrounding Panthera leo in general, our ongoing efforts include many international awareness campaigns, with Jason A. Turner and Linda Tucker invited as guest speakers to present at more 25 than world congresses on conservation strategy and related issues over the past 2 decades.

To call upon governments and all appropriate bodies to protect White Lions and other ‘Climate Indicator Species,’ Linda Tucker was joined by key Indigenous leaders and climate activists, supported by delegates from 54 countries, who signed Resolution 33 at World Wilderness Congress (Mexico 2009) and Bioneers (USA 2018). The ASSEGAIA Alliance, which included key Indigenous representation has identified the White Lion Heartlands as one of the world’s most important Sacred Natural Sites. Read the ASSEGAIA Declaration.

To ensure public participation in our united efforts for establishing the White Lions as a global heritage, our awareness-raising initiatives include co-operative management with many other international conservation and animal welfare organisations. In 2014, our NGO helped mobilise the Global March for Lions, which galvanised 62 cities around the world, and presented nearly 1.5 Million signatures calling for an end to the captive lion killing industry by AVAAZ to South African Parliament.

To ensure a cultural and socio-economic revival in community stakeholders, our strategy has included directing eco-cultural tourism in support of the local living economy; creating jobs; developing art & craft and performing arts; and other opportunities in support the fabric of traditional living, known as Ubuntu. The Global White Lion Protection Trust has initiated and developed an eco-cultural route, with activation points known as ‘StarLion Centres’ on a Lion Starmap, and is in the founding stages of developing a StarLion Heritage Centre in a community-based partnership with local and international communities.

To correct wide-spread misinformation and ensure the message of the White Lions’ cultural and conservation importance reaches global audiences, our initiatives have generated international media attention, with coverage in over 350 magazine and newspaper articles (many cover stories); with more than 40 interviews with Linda Tucker and Jason A. Turner including Forbes and BBC; Reuters and CBS News; 25 TV documentaries; as well as full-length broadcasts on National Geographic (Return of the White Lion documentary), Animal Planet, 60 Minutes, 50/50, BBC, CBS and full-length Japanese documentaries on NHK scientific channel.

To conserve and protect these rare and iconic animals as a global heritage of inestimable conservation and cultural value, our collaborative approach includes constant engagement with the South African government, local and international communities, traditional authorities, corporate entities, scientific bodies as well as individual benefactors, always welcoming close partnerships with other powerful NGOs, both local and international, including the generous donor support of NoVo Foundation, founded by the Peter and Jennifer Buffet.

To ensure good governance and accountability, our funding is underwritten by wide-ranging incremental support from national and international donors, and our books are audited by Deloitte & Touche.