When we introduce a new big cat to our sanctuaries at Shamwari it’s a nerve-racking moment because it’s impossible to predict how they will react. When King entered his new home earlier today, it couldn’t have gone any better.

With a skip and a jump, King ran out of his crate into the bright, winter sunshine. Stopping after a few metres, he surveyed his new kingdom. One by one he tentatively lifted his front paws to examine the grass under his feet – a whole new experience for a cub who had never felt, or probably even seen, grass before.

Then he spied his neighbours – former circus lions Jora and Black – who were watching with keen interest. They welcomed him with a roar that reverberated around the Jean Byrd Centre, joined by Queen and then Ciam. It really was a goosebump moment that will never be forgotten.

As King was so calm, the team took some meat up to his hospital camp. King finished the meat with relish and set off once again to explore. Later, as we left the centre, King had headed into the dense bush at the top of his enclosure to rest in the shade – a well earned rest for a young lion cub who can now enjoy life where he belongs in the African sun. 

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.

Sadly, an increasing number of wild animals are kept as pets worldwide. Born Free opposes the keeping of wild animals as pets because they have complex social, physical and behavioural needs and are, therefore, particularly susceptible to welfare problems when kept as pets. 

Latest research by Born Free has revealed more than 5,400 dangerous wild animals are being kept privately, and legally, under licence in Great Britain under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, including at least 240 primates, 1,300 venomous snakes, and 250 dangerous wild cats. And it is thought that many more are kept illegally.

On behalf of everyone at Born Free, thank you so much to every single one of our amazing supporters for your generosity in making King’s move to Africa possible. Thank you for every penny, share, like, comment, retweet and regram we received. We couldn’t have done it without you!