Fifty male lions are prowling around Nairobi! Fifty life-size decorated male lion sculptures, that is. Conceived by the Born Free Foundation and Wild in Art, Pride of Kenya is a public art event designed to raise both awareness of the increasingly threatened species and funds for the conservation of lions in Kenya.

Life-size fiberglass lion “canvasses” cast from a mold by Artist Gakunju Kaigwa, then decorated by Kenyan artists, including Philip’s son Jan Allan who designed and built the exclusive seasonal camp Ol Seki Mara Camp which offers a genuine Safari Experience. His lion is pictured here under the awning. See all the lions by clicking here.

These lions, sponsored by local and international companies based in Nairobi, are being displayed all around Nairobi and will be auctioned at the Born Free Foundation’s 25th Anniversary in November, with proceeds used for the lion’s conservation effort.

As we reported in our blog dated April 15, 2009, Philips’s brother, Richard Leakey (pictured below second from the left), chairman of WildlifeDirect, a foundation dedicated to the conservation of endangered species, was interviewed on 60 Minutes, speaking out against the Furadan poisoning of lions in Kenya. WildlifeDirect will continue to publicize this message about the contribution of Furadan to the decline of Kenya’s lion population, which now stands at only 2,100 and is being lost at a rate of 100 lions per year. This pink lion, designed by artist Mary Collis, is sponsored by WildlifeDirect.

We are hopeful that this project, along with the continued efforts of these and other sponsors, will save the few remaining lions in Kenya and preserve the legacy of the “King of the Jungle.” As Dr. Noah Wekesa, Director of the Kenya Wildlife Service, stated at the opening ceremony, “Kenya without wild lions would be a tragedy.”