CLEVELAND — Anyone taking down decorations may have noticed old or broken holiday lights. If so, there’s a way to get rid of them while helping animals.

Lights for Lions is back at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo for its second consecutive year.

Last year, nearly $1,000 was raised and put toward conservation efforts.

There is a donation bin at the front of the zoo entrance to collect any string holiday lights or extension cords. They may also be dropped off at the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District.

All funds for the recycled items go toward the conversation of lions in Tanzania.

This happens in partnership with the Ruaha Carnivore Project.

“And what they do is they work with local community groups there and really help transition folks from a community that used to hunt lions, to a community that supports lion conservation and then builds ecotourism. So, they're basically getting a financial benefit from having that wildlife nearby. So, we support that program,” said Dr. Chris Kuhar, Executive Director of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. “That program helps build schools, helps provide food, helps really build this ecotourism system, because what you're seeing is a species in lions that is really in severe decline.”

The collection in Cleveland goes to Jan. 31.

There are other holiday lights recycling events happening in other parts of the state, like this effort in Cincinnati or this option in Toledo.