It was an eventful 24 hours for King the lion as he travelled by train, plane and automobile to Born Free’s big cat sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape.

As Britain continued to bask in a much-welcomed heatwave, King boarded a plane from London Heathrow Airport to Africa yesterday evening courtesy of Born Free’s long-term corporate partners Kenya Airways. Conditions were hot on the tarmac, but thanks to the expert teams of Swissport and Kenya Airways – and Born Free’s own Head of Animal Welfare & Captivity, Dr Chris Draper, and Big Cat Consultant, Tony Wiles, who health-checked King right up until the hold doors closed – King left the UK without a hitch.

Arriving in Nairobi, King was met by Born Free South Africa’s Glen Vena. Glen is Animal Care Manager at Born Free’s big cat rescue centres and will be caring for King in his new home. Joining the team, Glen travelled with King to Johannesburg and then on a special charter plane to Port Elizabeth. King was then driven the short distance by road to Shamwari.

King arrived just as darkness fell, so he is being kept in a safe and secure location overnight ahead of his introduction to his new home tomorrow morning.

King’s new life at our big cat rescue centre will be a world away from the Paris apartment in which he was discovered half-starved and cowering in a dirty cage. Kept illegally as an exotic pet, King had been beaten and kicked by his owner who then posted videos of the abuse on social media.

Unfortunately, millions of wild or exotic animals are kept as pets worldwide. Born Free opposes the keeping of wild animals as pets because they have complex needs that cannot be met in a domestic environment.