Lubee’s Founding History

Fruit Bat Conservation

Lubee Bat Conservancy (formerly called The Lubee Foundation, Inc.) was founded as a non-profit (501-c-3) organization in 1989 by the late Luis F. Bacardi, a Bacardi family member with a strong passion for endangered wildlife and a particular fondness of bats.

It is important to note that Lubee Bat Conservancy is now an independent non-profit, relying on grants and donations to function, and is not funded by the current Bacardi Corporation.

The name "Lubee" is derived from Luis F. Bacardi’s name. Luis Bacardi devoted his life to the preservation of endangered species, and played a key role in ensuring a future for flying foxes throughout the Pacific. In 1990, Lubee’s support of a landmark conference held in the Pacific Islands resulted in the Pacific Island Flying Fox Declaration, which pledges to safeguard against the over-exploitation of flying foxes and against the loss of the rain forests upon which flying foxes depend and maintain. Luis Bacardi's dream of helping wild animals overlooked by others continues through his legacy, Lubee.

The site on which Lubee Bat Conservancy exists is a 110 acre ranch, and was at one point in time used as a temporary holding quarantine area for animals that were transferred to Disney's Animal Kingdom. Today we still maintain a close working relationship with Disney.