Washington, D.C. — Two rescued lionesses are settling into their new home at the Born Free Foundation’s Big Cat Rescue and Education Centre at Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa, following an epic 6,000 mile journey across two continents earlier this week.[teaserbreak]
Born in 2006, Maggie and Sonja spent the first eight years of their lives at a circus in Germany. Along with regular performances, they spent the rest of their time confined to a circus trailer in appalling conditions. When the animals were confiscated by the German authorities in 2013, the Natuurhulpcentrum, a wild animal rescue and rehabilitation centre in Belgium, stepped in and offered them temporary accommodation. They have been there for the last year undergoing rehabilitation and treatment for wounds sustained whilst living in the circus, before being declared fit to travel to a permanent new home in Africa.
This week, the eight-year-old sisters travelled from Natuurhulpcentrum in Belgium to London’s Heathrow airport early Tuesday, January 20, then were safely loaded onto the inaugural Kenya Airways Dreamliner flight to Johannesburg via Nairobi. After touching down in Johannesburg on Wednesday, January 21, they were handed into the expert care of Land Rover Experience for the last leg of the journey to their new home at the award winning Shamwari Game Reserve in Port Elizabeth. They travelled in specially arranged trailers, towed by Land Rover Discovery vehicles. Once they arrived, they were released straight into their large natural enclosure, where they were introduced to the sights and sounds of Africa for the first time.
Katrina Hanson, Cargo Manager, Kenya Airways, said, “We were thrilled to offer our services to carry this amazing, unique cargo. With the expertise of our support teams and our African network, it is great we made this logistically happen for Maggie and Sonja.”
Richard Gouverneur, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and sub-Sahara Africa, said, “It’s difficult to imagine the hardships faced by these lions, and sad that people could even do this to animals meant to roam free. Land Rover is proud to have been part of their 6,000 mile journey that now sees these majestic animals set paw on African soil, where they’ll have a second chance to live out their days in a nurturing and natural environment.”
Shamwari Wildlife Director and vet, Dr. Johan Joubert, and Born Free’s big cat expert, Tony Wiles, were present at every step of the journey. Joubert said, “I am very satisfied with the rescue and translocation of the lionesses from Natuurhulpcentrum in Belgium to Shamwari Game Reserve. Although it was a long journey for them, they travelled well. It was snowing when they left two days ago, and now they are adapting to a hot African summer’s day. They experienced natural grass and trees today for the first time in their life. I am sure they have a good life ahead of them here.”
Wiles, who has more than 20 years of experience working with big cats, is pleased that the lionesses are already growing in confidence in their new environment. He added, “These are relatively young cats, and so despite being a bit tired from the journey, they should adapt quickly to their new surroundings. Already, they are exploring the enclosure’s natural features and taking the opportunity to stretch their legs and bask in the Southern Hemisphere’s summer sunshine. After spending most of their lives in cramped and squalid conditions, it feels great to be able to offer these girls a safe, happy, and natural place to live out the rest of their lives. That’s what it’s all about.”
British singer, television star, and Born Free Patron, Peter Andre, watched the process at Heathrow. Andre, who has supported Born Free’s compassionate conservation work for a number of years, was overwhelmed by the opportunity to get close to these majestic creatures, as they waited in their crates at the airport. He said, “What an incredible day! A once-in-a-lifetime chance to be involved in a project which will make a huge difference to these animals’ lives. It’s heartbreaking to think that Maggie and Sonja spent the first years of their lives in misery, but I’m absolutely delighted that they will now be enjoying a more natural environment in Africa, thanks to the Born Free Foundation and their fantastic supporters around the world.”
The lionesses’ move to South Africa was supported by Kenya Airways and Land Rover.
Editor’s Note: Photographs available at
https://www.bornfreeusa.org/sonjamaggie
Born Free USA is a global leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation. Through litigation, legislation, and public education, Born Free USA leads vital campaigns against animals in entertainment, exotic “pets,” trapping and fur, and the destructive international wildlife trade. Born Free USA brings to America the message of “compassionate conservation” — the vision of the U.K.-based Born Free Foundation, established in 1984 by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, stars of the iconic film Born Free, along with their son Will Travers. Born Free’s mission is to end suffering of wild animals in captivity, conserve threatened and endangered species, and encourage compassionate conservation globally. More at www.bornfreeusa.org, www.twitter.com/bornfreeusa, and www.facebook.com/bornfreeusa.
Media Contact: Rodi Rosensweig, 203/270-8929, therodicompany@gmail.com