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Sharon
R1,000.00 – R10,000.00Born: 2025-04-17Rescued: 2025-10-15Ozzy and Sharon were confiscated from an illegal zoo in Hazmieh in Lebanon that was abusing them as photo props to make a quick dollar, letting them be pawed at by the public without a second of thought for their wellbeing or needs.The owner of the zoo (who, in the words of his lawyer, does not care about the law) disappeared with the cubs when the authorities initially tried to confiscate them, but the cubs were fortunately finally confiscated.Ozzy and Sharon were in poor condition when they were discovered, weighing just 7 kilograms each, but are recovering well. On 2025-10-14, they began their journey to us at Drakenstein Lion Park to live out the rest of their natural lives happily in our expert care.Animals Lebanon reached out to Qatar Airways to assist with the transport of Ozzy and Sharon’s specially-designed travel crate, and they kindly offered to sponsor the cost of the flights for this rescue. -
Ozzy
R1,000.00 – R10,000.00Born: 2025-04-17Rescued: 2025-10-15Ozzy and Sharon were confiscated from an illegal zoo in Hazmieh in Lebanon that was abusing them as photo props to make a quick dollar, letting them be pawed at by the public without a second of thought for their wellbeing or needs.The owner of the zoo (who, in the words of his lawyer, does not care about the law) disappeared with the cubs when the authorities initially tried to confiscate them, but the cubs were fortunately finally confiscated.Ozzy and Sharon were in poor condition when they were discovered, weighing just 7 kilograms each, but are recovering well. On 2025-10-14, they began their journey to us at Drakenstein Lion Park to live out the rest of their natural lives happily in our expert care.Animals Lebanon reached out to Qatar Airways to assist with the transport of Ozzy and Sharon’s specially-designed travel crate, and they kindly offered to sponsor the cost of the flights for this rescue. -
Simba
R1,000.00 – R10,000.00Born: 2024-04-02
Rescued: 2025-05-23
Simba is yet another lion rescued from the illegal pet trade in Lebanon. He was surrendered by his owner so that he can live out his life with the respect, dignity, care, and space he deserves in our species-appropriate Sanctuary.
Although the start of his life was far from ideal, Simba is a self-assured lion and has fully embraced his life in safety.
Many thanks go to Animals Lebanon for all of their help in Simba’s rescue, as well as Animal Travel Services and Emirates, and everyone else involved in ensuring Simba could be rescued.
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Sara
R1,000.00 – R10,000.00Born: 2024-05-01
Rescued: 2024-11-15
Sara was rescued from a criminal lion seller who had brutally declawed and scarred her. The process to have her confiscated from this individual was long and fraught with danger, particularly given the bombings and war in the Middle East at the time of her rescue, but she was fortunately able to be placed into Animals Lebanon’s safe care until she could be relocated to our sanctuary. After months of logistical planning to get her out of the warzone, Sara is now safe from being a criminal’s prop, and will remain in our expert care for the rest of her natural life.
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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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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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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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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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Tarzan
R1,000.00 – R10,000.00Tarzan 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 him. The lion originates from the Free State (the epicenter of canned hunting). -
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. -
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.
