After a long and tiring 18-hour journey from Stanford in the Western Cape to Bethlehem in the Free State, five lions from the Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary are safe and slowly settling into the Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary.
“Our beautiful kings Chaka, Neptune and Oliver are all eating and drinking water, which is a fantastic step forward. It’s such a relief to see them responding so well,” Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary said this week.
Special needs cats, Karlos and Ivana, receive the specialized care they need. Both are eating and slowly relaxing.
Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary was forced to evacuate its animals after devastating fires swept through the Overberg area in the Western Cape.
Sadly, the beloved tiger, Rays, did not survive. The combination of massive smoke inhalation and the stress of shooting caused severe pulmonary edema and cardio-respiratory problems. He fell into a coma and died on January 10.
“Remember that all of our big cats have just experienced significant trauma and enormous, dramatic change. Having experienced this and long travel, it is fully expected that they will need time to adapt, with some coming into their own more quickly than others. Having lost their homes, they are adapting to new environments, new smells, new sights and sounds and a new team of zookeepers. Wild animals are extremely sensitive to change, so patience is essential, especially for those with special needs,” said Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary.
“The most important thing is that they are safe now. We can finally have some peace of mind knowing they are in excellent hands. Our sincere thanks go to Four Paws and the incredible Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary team for the wonderful care of our cats.”
Four Paws said each lion underwent veterinary checks before the long journey to the Free State Reserve to assess their general health and prepare them for the long journey ahead. After the long journey, the lions were released into their adaptation enclosures, where they will be closely monitored by Lionsrock’s dedicated zookeeper team.
“Our thoughts go out to the Panthera Africa team at this incredibly difficult time,” said Fiona Miles, Director of Four Paws South Africa. “We know how much love and dedication they have poured into the sanctuary. When they asked for help, we were ready to stand by their side and ensure these lions have a safe place to recover while their home is rebuilt.”
Meanwhile, Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary has managed to raise more than R800,000 in a backabuddy campaign to coverage of costs incurred during the fire. This includes essential firefighting support, emergency veterinary treatment and preparations to relocate the big cats to other sanctuaries in South Africa for their safety.
Cape times
Lisa Isaacs
iol.co.za