AFTER nearly four years and 12 800km, Born Free’s ‘Lions of Lockdown’ have finally reached African soil and the safety and sanctuary of their forever home.
Four adult lions, all born in captivity, housed in cramped, rusty trailers, and compelled to perform in a travelling circus for most of their lives, on Thursday, February 10, finally took their first, precious steps on African soil.
Sold as young cubs, Angela, Bellone, Saïda and Louga were all removed from a French circus in 2018, after their owner relinquished them.
Since then, they’ve been looked after by experts at a rescue centre near Lyon.
In early 2019, international wildlife charity, Born Free, became aware of the lions and their heartbreaking story, and promised to give them a forever home at Born Free’s Big Cat Sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve.
Generous Born Free supporters raised the funds to transport the lions to their ancestral homeland.
Preparations were made, special crates built, permits obtained and flights booked. And then COVID-19 struck a brutal blow to the plans – travel restrictions meant the whole move had to be put on hold indefinitely.
The journey to South Africa
Their great adventure began at their rescue centre, Tonga Terre d’Accueil, near Lyon, France, travelling by road to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, before departing by air for South Africa.
All four lions were remarkably calm and relaxed during their journey, and when they reached their final destination, Born Free’s Big Cat Sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, the team were delighted to see them all emerge confidently and enthusiastically from their travelling crates, and start to explore the native landscape of their three-acre enclosure.
Louga, the only male in the group, has enjoyed sitting in the shade of one of the trees, keeping a watchful eye over the three females that have remained close together. They have all been eating and drinking well, and the Born Free vet and welfare team are confident they are quickly adapting to their new surroundings, overlooking the reserve.
Angela, Bellone, Saïda and Louga now join a proud heritage of nearly 50 big cats given new lives in the sanctuary of Shamwari, by Born Free. The Julie Ward Centre, where the lions were released, was opened on March 29, 1997, by the founder, Virginia McKenna OBE, and Shamwari’s original owner, Adrian Gardiner.
Virginia McKenna OBE, co-founder, Born Free said, “It is hard to imagine what the lions feel as they explore their new home. Born in captivity, throughout their lives they have lived in various circuses until they were relinquished by their owner and taken to safety in Tonga Terre, Lyon. I am overjoyed our ‘Lions of Lockdown’ are now at Shamwari, loved and respected as they deserve. Grass beneath their feet, sun on their backs and the shade of trees where they can rest. At last. That is the Born Free way.”
Catherine Gillson, Born Free manager, Shamwari Private Game Reserve, added, “We are delighted that Louga, Saida, Angela and Bellone are safely with us at Shamwari. The journey of our Lions of Lockdown has been long, but hopefully with each day spent with us in the peace of our sanctuary, they will continue to grow from strength to strength.
“Their rehoming to our Big Cat Sanctuary at Shamwari will allow them to get as close to experiencing the life they were denied for so many years! The sights, sounds and scents of their fellow rescued big cats will heighten their senses immediately as they begin to acclimatise to their new lives. They are now in their forever home in Africa.”
Further information on Born Free’s ‘Lions of Lockdown’ – including profiles of each lion and links to donate towards their lifetime care can be found on bornfree.org.uk.
– ISSUED BY BORN FREE
