Lions rescued from captivity in freezing Ukraine enjoy sun in new home in Africa

By admin On Jun 5, 2021

There’s nothing like a nice catnap in the sun – especially when you’ve been freezing your paws off for years.

Seven lions are enjoying freedom in Africa for the first time after being rescued from chilly Ukraine, where they had been raised in captivity.

Some had spent up to seven years caged in cramped conditions to be put on show in zoos and circuses.

That was until charity Warriors of Wildlife teamed up with Qatar Airways Cargo – or should that be Catar Airways? – to transport them 9,000 miles to sanctuaries in South Africa.

Now the felines are feeling fantastic as they are able to roam freely and experience the sun on their backs in their natural environment.

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Alex and Nala — The lions are feeling fantastic in the sun
(Image: Warriors of Wildlife/ Magnus News)

The big cats spent 85 hours in crates being flown from Ukrainian capital Kiev to Doha in Qatar, and then on to Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo airport.

Lionesses Nala, 14 months, four-year-old Joy, and Akera, two, travelled alongside four males, Cecil, seven, Xanda, four, and Alex and Caesar, both aged 14 months.

Lionel De Lange, founder of WoW, said the incredible trip followed two years of raising money and obtaining visas and paperwork for the lions – plus dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

Joy the lion during the plane trip
(Image: Sam Chui/ Magnus News)

He said: “Repatriating wild animals is a major undertaking, especially over such a great distance.

“But we were able to count on the Qatar Airways Cargo teams who are 100% behind us and the work we do.

“They played a critical role. Without them, these seven lions would still be in captivity in atrocious conditions.”

Warriors of Wildlife’s own reserve in Simbonga, Eastern Cape, will now home Akera and Nala and brothers Caesar and Alex, with the other cats going to a sanctuary elsewhere in South Africa.

Lionel’s partner Anya Masiach worked to secure the release of the lions in her native Ukraine. So far WoW has freed more than 20 lions from captivity and also rescued captive bears.

Airline Qatar said it flew animals back to their natural environments for free, at the request of wildlife protection bodies, through the Qatar Airways Cargo “Rewild the Planet” initiative.

Also flying with the group was aviation vlogger Sam Chui who recorded the journey through photographs.