Africa Wild

Here's your daily dose of feel-good news. These lions were facing a cruel end to their lives, before a campaign to rescue them from Ukraine was launched.

Tom Head 2019-12-12 11:33



Welcome home, guys! Five cubs have safely returned back to South Africa, after they were controversially shipped to the Ukraine. The animals from Mzansi were facing certain death in the European country, but a committed rescue effort has got the young lions home for Christmas.

The campaign has been lead by Lionel de Lange, a homegrown animal rights activist. He secured the ownership of the cubs earlier this year, then made arrangements in South Africa for a “forever home” to host the five lions at a wildlife sanctuary in the North West.

Five lions return home from Ukraine

He has all CITES documents, import and export permit weres sorted, there is a vet at the facility to assess the lions, and a flight for the cubs in the cargo hold of a commercial plane to Johannesburg, which departed from Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on 10 December, was arranged. This flight, however, came at a cost of R126 000.

The good folks of Jacaranda FM, the Good Morning Angels Programme and Mazda have helped to raise the money for the six-figure sum. Following their long-haul flight on Tuesday, they’ve been caged-up and held at a secure location. On Thursday, they were finally set free. And they were bloody loving it!

NSPCA liberate tigers in North West

This comes on the same day that The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) laid criminal charges against a well-known game farm facility on the outskirts of Klerksdorp, also in North West. The Hawks have taken over the investigation, as this has become a high priority case.

Tigers on the property appeared to be suffering from heat exhaustion and were living in dirty and unhygienic conditions – it was evident that their enclosures had not been cleaned in some time. Other issues found included tigers being confined with unpotable drinking water, inadequate shelter, and a lack of bathing facilities.

Although this particular story is a sad one, we can take comfort in the knowledge that the animals have been liberated and after a quick check-up, they will be freed into the wild where they belong.

Lets hope they settle in to their new environment

It is a bit tricky, as you have all sorts of sanctuaries, some on hunting farms, some with petting, and so forth with good economic reasons. But well done!

There is something wrong with people who can treat animals in such a horrible way. It is not only a question of growing up in a certain culture, it's about heart, soul (whatever that might be) and empathy. When I for the first, and only time, at 4/5 years was in a zoo with my parents, I wanted to open the cages of the felines...... from the inside. Maybe a good thing that I did not manage to squeeze through the bars

Lisbeth wrote: ↑Sat Feb 29, 2020 9:59 am There is something wrong with people who can treat animals in such a horrible way. It is not only a question of growing up in a certain culture, it's about heart, soul (whatever that might be) and empathy.

Agree 100%
But if you look at the way mankind treats each other, it’s no surprise that there is no respect for nature and the environment

Seven lions held captive in Ukraine have been set free in South Africa!

Tom Head - 29.04.2021


Photo: Love Lions Alive Project / Facebook

We didn’t realise we’d be crying at our desks on a Thursday afternoon, but here we are: Thanks to some exceptional work from two charities, a total of SEVEN lions were set free for the first time in South Africa this week.

All of the lions, who will be heading to game reserves in Free State and Gqeberha respectively, had been experiencing a torturous time in captivity, at various locations in Ukraine. Some were exhibited in zoos, whereas others were kept as pets. Their inhumane treatment riled local interest groups, and sure enough, the rescue work began in earnest.

From Ukraine to open plains: Caged felines get new lives

The Warriors of Wildlife are welcoming four lions to their sprawling estate, and they have an even mix of boys and girls. Alex and Caesar will no doubt settle into their role as local trouble causers very soon, and Akera and Nala will be sure to keep the boys in check as they begin their new lives together in the Eastern Cape.

Elsewhere, the Love Lions Alive Project is also welcoming a trio of feisty felines to its vast grounds. Cecil, Joy, and Xanda have already got to grips with their new surroundings, tasting and feeling freedom for the first time in their lives.

All seven of the beautiful beasts had to endure a 15-hour flight via Doha, landing in Johannesburg, to reach their new forever homes. Clearly, the journey was WELL worth it: Everyone involved in this awe-inspiring rescue has truly achieved something marvellous here. Yes, we know you’ve only come for the videos… so here we go:

Watch: Free at last – rescued lions set foot in South Africa for the first time!
Love of Lions Alive
– Joy most certainly lived up to her name when she paused to take in her new home. We’re blubbering already…







Warriors of Wildlife
Director Lionel de Lange explained that the quartet heading to Gqeberha face a more gradual introduction to their spacious new surroundings. Although a full integration into the wild will never be possible, this is quite easily the next best thing…

“The conditions over there living in private zoos, somebody’s small garden to be poked by tourists for photos. It is absolutely not on. We have a lot of people who support us, who feel the same way. They will never be released fully into the wild, unfortunately, but at least we can give them a better life.”