Dean Schneider

Dean Schneider is a Swiss animal sanctuary founder and social media personality based in South Africa.

Schneider studied finance and at age 21, became an entrepreneur.

Schneider was a banker and financial planner in Switzerland before moving to South Africa in 2017 to establish a wildlife sanctuary and rehabilitation center, Hakuna Mipaka (Swahili for "no limits").

It is a 400 ha (4 square kilometer) estate for lions born in captivity.

A separate area hosts zebras, impalas, kudu, hyenas, baboons and cheetahs.

, Schneider has 10 million followers on Instagram.

Schneider was inspired by Steve Irwin to help people connect with wildlife.

In May 2020, UK's The Times newspaper reported that Schneider is the subject of an animal abuse investigation by South Africa's animal welfare agency with regard to a video Schneider had uploaded of himself striking at one of his lion cubs with his fist after one of its claws caught on his face, that led to bleeding above his right eye.

Schneider defended his actions and blamed his critics, saying the lion was unharmed and he was teaching it about boundaries.