Disney’s new ‘Lion King’ won’t roar into movie cinemas until July 19 but the company is already looking to ‘protect the pride’ with a global conservation campaign to raise awareness of the crisis facing lions and other wildlife across Africa.
Throughout the month of July, special edition Simba and Nala plush lions will go on sale online and in selected Disney stores across the UK.
However, those looking to snap up a collectors item will restrictions as there will be an online order limit of 1 per person, 2 per household of each design and a limit of one of each design per person will apply in stores.
Each toy will represent one of the 40,000 lions Disney and the Lion Recovery Fund are working to ensure a future for lions in the wild.
And for every one that is sold, Disney will donate to the Wildlife Conservation Network in support of the Lion Recovery Fund and its local partners.
It’s been 25 years since Disney released the original version of The Lion King; sadly, during that time Africa has lost half of its lions, and only about 20,000 remain.
The Lion Recovery Fund , a joint effort by The Wildlife Conservation Network and the Leonardo di Caprio Foundation to bring back the king of beasts.
Disney has already donated more than $2 million (£801,500) to the project but plans to double the figure through additional grants, as well as participation from fans.
The live-action adaptation of the classic animation, which is directed by The Jungle Book’s Jon Favreau, sees Solo: A Star Wars Story's Donald Glover take on the voice of Simba, whilst Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor voices the villainous Scar.
The Lion King will open in cinemas on July 19.
