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Stuart
R1,000.00 – R10,000.00Stuart was born in January 2019 and arrived at the sanctuary on 01 June 2019. Stuart was rescued from a private zoo in Lebanon where he was kept chained by the neck in a barren concrete cage. -
Issam
R1,000.00 – R10,000.00Issam was born on 2023-07-23, and arrived at the sanctuary on 2023-11-23. Issam's sister, Kelly, also successfully made the trip to us.
Issam was confiscated from smugglers in transit from Syria to Lebanon. He was found crammed into a small cat carrier with no food, water, or space available. Animals Lebanon took Issam into their care until he could be placed safely into our care and both teams worked together tirelessly to ensure he could find his permanent home with us where he will be able to live out his life with the care and respect he deserves. These lions are true survivors, and we are proud to be their new home.
Many thanks also go to Animal Survival International for their fundraising efforts with their campaign to support Issam and Kelly’s care costs. See more of their work hereMany thanks go to Animals Lebanon for taking Issam and Kelly into their care until they could be relocated to us, and to Animal Travel Services for assisting once again with the import process.
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Little Leo
R1,000.00 – R10,000.00Little Leo, found living on a 14th floor balcony in central Beirut, was successfully relocated to our sanctuary on 06-11-2011. Little Leo was born in August 2011. Lebanon has no laws governing the keep of wild animals as pets and Little Leo is one of the lucky ones. Animals like lion and cheetah cubs are smuggled into Lebanon and sold as pets, but their lives are often short lived as incorrect diets and inappropriate housing often lead to their demise. Often those surviving end up living in terrible conditions in backyard cages or private zoos. Without the hard work of Animals Lebanon and the generosity of Elizabeth Elstob, the Marchig Animal Welfare Trust, DHL and Emirates Airlines, his rescue would have not been possible. Special thanks must also be given to Animal Travel Services (www.animal-travel.com/) and Havillam Abrahams from Highmoor Freight who once again assisted with the import free of charge. -
Freya
R1,000.00 – R10,000.00Freya was born on 2023-12-22, and arrived at his forever home at the sanctuary on 2024-06-27.
Freya, like Pythagoras (Pi), was rescued in Lebanon at the age of just four months old. Freya was surrendered to our friends, Animals Lebanon, so that she could enjoy life in a true sanctuary, and we are proud to be her forever home.
Many thanks go to the following parties for their help in allowing us to improve the life of yet another rescued lion: Animals Lebanon for their tireless work facilitating the rescue and caring for Freya until she could be relocated to us, Animal Travel Services for their repeated help with imports and clearance, and Humane Society International for sponsoring Freya’s flights.
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Kelly
R1,000.00 – R10,000.00Kelly was born on 2023-07-23, and arrived at the sanctuary on 2023-11-23. Kelly's brother, Issam, also successfully made the trip to us.
Kelly was confiscated from smugglers in transit from Syria to Lebanon. She was found crammed into a small cat carrier with no food, water, or space available. Animals Lebanon took Kelly into their care until she could be placed safely into our care and both teams worked together tirelessly to ensure she could find her permanent home with us where she will be able to live out her life with the care and respect she deserves. These lions are true survivors, and we are proud to be their new home.
Many thanks also go to Animal Survival International for their fundraising efforts with their campaign to support Issam and Kelly’s care costs. See more of their work hereMany thanks go to Animals Lebanon for taking Issam and Kelly into their care until they could be relocated to us, and to Animal Travel Services for assisting once again with the import process.
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Pi (Pythagoras)
R1,000.00 – R10,000.00Pythagoras, or Pi for short, was born on 2023-12-22, and arrived at her forever home at the sanctuary on 2024-04-24.
Pythagoras was rescued from a social media influencer who had purchased him to use as a prop to grow his following. This influencer subjected him to appalling abuse while he was held prisoner, including being dragged around on a chain and being poked and prodded with his mouth taped shut. Despite his efforts to make Pi disappear, this little warrior was found and taken to safety.
Many thanks go to Animals Lebanon for caring for Pythagoras until he could be relocated to us, as well as their help with the initial rescue, to Animal Travel Services for assisting with the import process, and to Humane Society International.
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Ena
R1,000.00 – R10,000.00Ena was born in January 2010 and arrived at the sanctuary on 24-06-2010. Ena was confiscated from a French circus where she was kept in horrific conditions and was discovered hidden underneath a circus horse trailer in a wooden box, where she had been kept prisoner for most of her short life. Her rescue was made possible by the following organizations: Foundation Assistance Aux Animaux and the Bridget Bardot Foundation. We are also most grateful to Elizabeth Elstob, who generously sponsored the construction costs of Ena’s enclosure. Special thanks must also be given to Animal Travel Services (www.animal-travel.com/) and Havillam Abrahams from Highmoor Freight who once again assisted with the import free of charge. -
Kala
R1,000.00 – R10,000.00Kala was born on 01-07-2016 and arrived at the sanctuary on 30-05-17 We were asked to provide a lifetime home for this lion by Panthera Africa, who did not have the capacity to house her. The lion originates from the Free State (the epicenter of canned hunting). -
Simba
R1,000.00 – R10,000.00Simba was born in a European circus. For most of his life he would have been confined to a “beast wagon” with hardly enough room to move. He would have undergone brutal and barbaric “training” and lived a miserable existence. Fortunately for Simba intervention saw him being confiscated from the circus and temporarily placed in a wildlife refuge, the Natuurhulpcentrum in Belgium. Months of logistical planning took place before Simba could be successfully relocated to us. On 13th February 2008, after a journey of almost 10 000 kilometers, Simba safely arrived at the Sanctuary and for the first time he had freedom to roam outdoors. Simba was born in May 2007. His rescue was made possible because of the generosity of the following sponsors: British Airways, The Animal Reception Centre (London), James Cargo Services, Animal Travel Services (Cape Town), Beauty Without Cruelty and Jeanne and Ian Bathgate. His enclosure was sponsored by the Marchig Animal Welfare Trust -
Nala
R1,000.00 – R10,000.00Nala was born on 24-01-2010 and arrived at the sanctuary on 06-04-2010. Nala was donated to the sanctuary, where she will remain for life and not be used for breeding. We cannot disclose any information about her origin at this time as such disclosure may affect plans to relocate other lions to our sanctuary. White Lions White lions are technically extinct in the wild. White lions are not albinos, but rather a genetic rarity. White lions have been ruthlessly exploited by the captive breeding industry and intensively inbred to produce victims for canned hunting. -
Juno – White Lion
R1,000.00 – R10,000.00Juno was born at the sanctuary on 15-12-2015. Parents: Brutus & Nala Her birth was a complete surprise as her father, Brutus, had been surgically sterilised five years prior. -
Asad
R1,000.00 – R10,000.00Asad, found living in central Beirut, was successfully relocated to our sanctuary on 11-04-2012.Asad was born in August 2011. Lebanon has no laws governing the keep of wild animals as pets and Asad is one of the lucky ones. Animals like lion and cheetah cubs are smuggled into Lebanon and sold as pets, but their lives are often short lived as incorrect diets and inappropriate housing often lead to their demise. Often those surviving end up living in terrible conditions in backyard cages or private zoos. Without the hard work of Animals Lebanon his rescue would have not been possible. Special thanks must also be given to Animal Travel Services (www.animal-travel.com/) and DRA Customs Clearing & Forwarding who assisted with the import free of charge.
