Give Four Former Circus Lions A Sanctuary Home

Our four rescued lions - The Lions of Lockdown - are doing well and have settled into their lifetime home here at our Julie Ward Centre at Born Free’s Big Cat Sanctuary at Shamwari Game Reserve.

Sanctuary personnel who live on-site report hearing the four lions roaring in the evening and early morning, just before sunrise. It is a truly magnificent sound to hear, especially when all four lions are roaring together.

Lions do what lions do best - sleep. And our lions of lockdown do a lot of sleeping! For everyone who cares for these lions it is comforting to observe this behaviour and see how peacefully they sleep. In their past lives this may not have always been possible.

Having lived for years in a circus and being forced to perform to the crowds several times a day, Louga, Bellone, Angela and Saida would have been denied the luxury of privacy and any control over what activities they did and when. Now in our care they can behave more naturally, waking when they wish, taking a stroll around their territory at their leisure, seeking privacy whenever they want and for as long as they want and of course, sleeping.

In the coming months, a small team of carers will be removing and thinning the unwanted thorns, trimming the grass, and mushrooming some of the trees. This will not reduce the privacy of our cats but will make the best of their space and prevent large areas becoming unusable thorny, thicket.

We are always grateful to our supporters, and your donations help us to continue our work here on the ground, and the day-to-day care of these four amazing individuals. Without your help and generosity, we would not be able to do what we do; thank you.