Donate Broken Holiday Lights to Help Protect Lions

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's 'Lights for Lions' program turns holiday waste into wildlife conservation funds

Apr. 11, 2026 at 6:15pm

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A highly textured, abstract painting in earthy tones of green, brown, and ochre, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the interconnected relationship between human activity, holiday waste, and wildlife conservation.Broken holiday lights find new purpose in protecting Tanzania's endangered big cats through an innovative recycling program.Garfield Heights Today

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is collecting broken or malfunctioning holiday lights and extension cords through February 15, 2026, to recycle them and generate funds for conservation efforts that protect lions and cheetahs in Tanzania. The program, called 'Lights for Lions', partners with the non-profit Lion Landscapes to address human-wildlife conflicts and support sustainable coexistence strategies.

Why it matters

Lions and cheetahs are apex predators essential to their ecosystems, but their territories often overlap with farming communities, leading to conflicts where predators are killed in retaliation for livestock loss. This program aims to find solutions that benefit both wildlife and local residents, preserving these magnificent big cats for the future.

The details

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is accepting donations of broken or damaged holiday lights and extension cords at the main zoo entrance or the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District facility. The materials will be recycled, with the proceeds going to the zoo's partnership with Lion Landscapes to fund education, livestock protection tools, and economic opportunities that promote coexistence between humans and carnivores in Tanzania.

  • The donation period is open now through February 15, 2026.

The players

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

A zoo located in Cleveland, Ohio that is spearheading the 'Lights for Lions' program to recycle holiday lights and support lion and cheetah conservation efforts in Tanzania.

Lion Landscapes

A non-profit organization dedicated to fostering long-term strategies that protect large carnivores like lions and cheetahs while also benefiting nearby human communities in Tanzania.

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What’s next

Residents can drop off their broken holiday lights and extension cords at the main entrance of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo or the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District facility in Garfield Heights, Ohio.

The takeaway

This innovative program demonstrates how even small acts of recycling can have a meaningful impact on wildlife conservation efforts, turning holiday waste into a lifeline for endangered big cats in Tanzania.