ADOPT A LION Your donation contributes directly towards a portion of the care costs for the adopted lion. This includes food, veterinary care and housing costs. Each adoptive parent will get an acknowledgement on the lions information board at the Park as well as on our website. Adoptions fees are R1000 (approximately: 135 USD, 95 EURO, 85 GBP) and renewable every year. We also have a LIFETIME adoption option, which entails a once off donation to adopt a lion for the rest of its natural life. If you are interested in this type of long term commitment please contact us and we will advise you of the lifetime adoption fee for the particular lion. Please contact us if you are interested in adopting one of our lions. |
Dodo has been adopted by:
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Dodo Dodo was born in approximately 2001 and arrived at the sanctuary on 23-12-2009. Dodo was an unfortunate victim of the illegal pet trade in Eastern Europe. He spent his entire life imprisoned underground in a concrete pit! Grey walls and the rusted steel bars above his head were all that Dodo had seen his entire life! In winter his jail filled with snow while temperatures dropped to minus 20! His rescue was made possible by the following organisations: SOS Dogs Romania and Hundehilfe. Special thanks to the following donors: The Jarvis Family & Avi Sivan. Special thanks must also be given to Animal Travel Services (www.animal-travel.com/) and Havillam Abrahams from Highmoor Freight who once again assisted with the import free of charge. |
Perita, Aneta and Suzanna arrived at the sanctuary late afternoon on 10-12-2009. Perita and Aneta are sisters and were born in April 2008, while Suzanna was born in August 2008. The three lionesses come from an impoverished Romanian zoo where a multitude of lions are crammed into small 4 x 4 meter concrete jails. Sadly for Perita, the suffering she had endured in her short life was just too much and she passed away on 22-12-2009, despite all of our efforts. Their rescue was made possible by the following sponsors: SOS Dogs Romania and Hundehilfe. Special thanks must also be given to Animal Travel Services (www.animal-travel.com/) and Havillam Abrahams from Highmoor Freight who once again assisted with the import free of charge. |
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Aneta has been adopted by:
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Suzanna has been adopted by:
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Gaucho has been adopted by:
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Gaucho ('Huaso') Gaucho spent most of his life jailed in a small barren circus trailer. He underwent brutal training and was found malnourished and living in appalling conditions. His paws had been mutilated when his claws were removed. Gaucho was born in approximately 2003 and arrived at the Sanctuary on 27-10-2009. Gaucho's rescue was made possible by SAG (the Chilean Agricultural Department). Gaucho was housed temporarily in Buin Zoo in Chile while awaiting his relocation. Special thanks must also be given to Animal Travel Services (www.animal-travel.com/) and Havillam Abrahams from Highmoor Freight who once again assisted with the import free of charge. |
Jack & Edina were born in May 2008 and Loti, King, Tony & Joy were born in July 2008 These six lions were rescued from the illegal pet trade in Romania. Lion cubs sold into the pet trade in Romania are normally used as photographic props and lead a terrible existence. They are normally beaten, drugged, badly fed and often declawed and defanged! Often the cubs are kept in car boots! Most of the animals caught in this industry do not live for more than a year. The six cubs arrived at the Sanctuary on 25-02-2009. Their rescue was made possible by the following sponsors: SOS Dogs Romania, Hundehilfe, The Marchig Animal Welfare Trust and Animal Travel Services (www.animal-travel.com/) who once again assisted with the import free of charge. Their enclosures were sponsored by the The Winsome Constance Kindness Trust |
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Jack has been adopted by:
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Edina has been adopted by:
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Loti has been adopted by:
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King has been adopted by:
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Tony has been adopted by:
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Joy has been adopted by:
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Samson has been adopted by:
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Samson Samson was born in approximately 2003 and arrived at the Sanctuary on 10/12/2008. Samson was rescued from a French circus where he was kept in the most appalling conditions. He spent most of his life in solitary confinement jailed in a small circus trailer with barely enough room to move. Samson's relocation was made possible by: Refuge De Le Arche, Foundation Assistance Aux Animaux and Animal Travel Services (www.animal-travel.com/) who once again assisted with the import free of charge. Samson's enclosure was sponsored by the Marchig Animal Welfare Trust |
Ziyanda has been adopted by:
Zintle was adopted by :
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Zintle and Ziyanda These two White Lion females were born on the 24/10/2008 and arrived at the Sanctuary on 03/11/2008. Due to the highly sensitive nature of their relocation to us, as well as legal restrictions, we cannot disclose any details regarding their origin. Sadly, Zintle became suddenly ill in the early
hours of 09/12/08 and despite emergency veterinary intervention, passed
away a short while later. She will always have a very special place
in our hearts.
White Lions
Drakenstein Lion Park’s white lions will not be used for commercial breeding; they have found sanctuary with us.
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Goliath, Simba and Ringo These three lions were born in a European circus. For most of their
lives they would have been confined to a “beast wagon” with hardly
enough room to move. Fortunately for Goliath, Simba and Ringo, intervention saw them being confiscated from the circus and temporarily placed in a wildlife refuge, the Natuurhulpcentrum in Belgium. Months of logistical planning took place before these three cubs could be successfully relocated to us. On 13th February 2008, after a journey of almost 10 000 kilometers, the three lions safely arrived at the Sanctuary and for the first time they had freedom to roam outdoors. Goliath and Simba were born in May 2007 and Ringo in August 2007. This rescue was made possible because of the generosity of the following sponsors: British Airways, The Animal Reception Centre (London), James Cargo Services, Animal Travel Services (Cape Town), Beauty Without Cruelty and Jeanne and Ian Bathgate. Their enclosures were sponsored by the Marchig Animal Welfare Trust |
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Simba Simba was born in approximately 1991. She arrived at the Sanctuary on 24 July 2003. She is currently housed on her own as we do not have a compatible lion to house her with. Simba is very aggressive towards humans and other lions. Simba has been adopted by:
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Kiara has been adopted by:
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Kovu has been adopted by:
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Kovu & Kiara Kovu and Kiara were born at the Sanctuary on 26 April 2000, by accident rather than design. Chippy and Sassy are the parents. Because it was Sassy’s first litter and because she was hand raised, Sassy did not cope very well with motherhood. The cubs had to be removed from the enclosure at four days old and hand reared. |
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Sandy, our oldest resident, was laid to rest on Monday 8th June. Sandy came to us when she was 14 years old and lived a happy and contented life at the Sanctuary for six years. During this time, Sandy was treated with the utmost compassion and respect and enjoyed a stress free life surrounded by members of her own kind, in an enriched environment very different to her previous home. Although we mourn her passing, we also celebrate the six years of joy we were able to give her and the happiness it brought her. Sandy is a testament that an animal is never too old to make an effort for and that even a brief moment of sanctuary can be life altering. |
Sandy Sandy was born on the 28 February 1989 and arrived at the Sanctuary on 19 March 2003. Sandy had been kept in a small area for an extended period prior to her arrival and was so obese when she arrived that she could hardly walk. Sandy has no teeth and has to receive specially prepared food. Because of her lack of teeth she cannot be integrated with other lion as she has no means of defending herself. Sandy was adopted by:
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Chumba has been adopted by:
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Mufasa has been adopted by:
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Chumba & Mufasa Chumba and Mufasa were born on 30 November 1997 and arrived at the Sanctuary on 20 January 1999. |
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PNut & Chippy PNut and Chippy, two brothers, were born on 16 June 1997 and arrived at the Sanctuary on 11 January 1999. PNut is the more aggressive of the two and enjoys nothing more than giving the occasional visitor a scare. Chippy has been adopted by:
PNut has been adopted by:
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Bai Bai was born in a Cameroon zoo on the 22nd November 2004. We were approached by the Cameroon Wildlife Aid Fund (a UK based animal welfare organization) and asked if we could mount a rescue operation to relocate her to our facility. Bai was not well and needed to be evacuated as soon as possible so that she could receive the care and veterinary attention she desperately needed. There was also very little chance that she would have any quality of life if she were eventually returned to the zoo in Cameroon. Because of the generosity of many donors we were able to evacuate Bai and bring her here. One of our staff had to fly to Cameroon and accompany her back. We arranged a seat for her on the plane, so that she could receive regular bottle feeds during the journey. Bai arrived at the Sanctuary on 17th January 2005. This rescue would not have been possible had it not been for the support of the following sponsors: The Cameroon Wildlife Aid Fund, British Airways, Mark Scholtz & Family & Ester vd Merwe. |
Bai has been adopted by:
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Shumba Shumba was born on 04 January 2005 and arrived at the Sanctuary on 19th February 2005. Shumba was destined for a hunting farm, but due to our intervention will now live out his life in safety. Shumba has been paired with Bai and although it was not love at first sight, they are now inseparable. Shumba has been adopted by:
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Badboy & Shyboy Badboy and Shyboy were born on 30 November 1997 and arrived at the Sanctuary on 20 January 1999. |
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Badboy has been adopted by:
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Shyboy has been adopted by:
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Leo has been adopted by:
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Madam has been adopted by:
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Leo & Madam Leo and Madam are brother and sister and were born in December 1996. Madam arrived at the Sanctuary on 4 January 1999, while Leo arrived shortly thereafter on 20 February 1999. Leo is a castrated male, hence his lack of a mane. |
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Sassy Sassy was born in June 1997 and arrived at the Sanctuary on 4 January 1999. Sassy lives with Leo and Madam and because of her strong personality, rules the roost! Sassy has been adopted by:
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Goliath has been adopted by:
Simba has been adopted by:
Ringo has been adopted by: