>> reporter: but this month jim is going to spend time with the lions like never before. >> new year's eve when the ball dropped, the gate slammed. >> reporter: he's living with them, inside their cage, for all of january. 24 hours a day. >> i don't know, i'm a nut. i don't know. and i took a month with 31 days, my daughter keeps reminding me. >> i didn't believe him. i didn't think he was going to follow through with it. >> this is his mane right here coming in. >> reporter: jim says he's not doing this because he's some sort of thrill-seeker. he simply wants to raise enough money to keep the place open and the animals fed. >> everything goes to these animals. whatever the last dollar is, it goes to these animals. >> reporter: jim says it takes between $50,000 and $75,000 a year to run this facility. that's without major medical expenses. he hopes the publicity that comes with his stunt will bring in donations. he is taking some precautions. there's a lock-out area if play