Two captive South African lions safely back home from Ukraine
Tsar and Jamil, the three-year-old lion brothers, arrived at the Shamwari Private Game Reserve over the weekend.
The Eastern Cape in South Africa has welcomed back two lion brothers from captivity in Ukraine.
Tsar and Jamil, the three-year-old lion brothers, arrived at the Shamwari Private Game Reserve over the weekend. This marked the successful culmination of an effort led by the international wildlife charity Born Free.
RESCUED FROM UKRAINE CONFLICT
The goal was to rescue the lions from a life of mistreatment, starvation and conflict.
Maggie Balaskas, Born Free’s head of rescue and care, recounted the meticulous planning around rehoming the lions.
“After a traumatic start in life, and having already lived in five different homes, it’s a huge relief to know that Tsar and Jamil have arrived safely at their forever home,” Balaskas told HeraldLive.
BORN INTO CAPTIVITY
Tsar and Jamil were originally born into captivity in a Ukrainian zoo and separated from their mother as cubs. The pair had been subjected to exploitation as a tourist attraction on a farm.
Their fortunes changed when they were relocated to a rescue centre in Kyiv. Proper care at the rescue centre helped the lions recover from calcium deficiencies.
A collaborative effort in 2022, involving a team at the Ukrainian rescue centre, a Polish zoo, and Natuurhulpcentrum (NHC) facilitated the evacuation of the lions.
The pair were then moved to NHC’s wildlife rescue centre in Belgium after a brief stopover in Poland.
From there, they embarked on a journey to Johannesburg aboard a specialised flight in custom-made travel crates.
From Johannesburg the lions travelled more than 1 000 kilometres before arriving at the Shamwari Big Cat Sanctuary.
Upon their arrival, Tsar and Jamil wasted no time in exploring the natural bush of their 2.5 acre enclosure.
“In our 40th year of fighting for wild animals, I’m delighted Born Free has been able to provide the last piece of the puzzle by giving Tsar and Jamil safety and sanctuary at our Big Cat Sanctuary at Shamwari,” Balaskas added.
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