Spot the lion!
SPOT THE LION!
IT’S BEEN 24 HOURS SINCE KING WAS INTRODUCED TO HIS NEW HOME AT SHAMWARI, BUT HOW’S HE GETTING ON? BORN FREE’S BETH BROOKS EXPLAINS
It’s been 24 hours since King was introduced to his new home at our Jean Byrd big cat rescue centre and there’s been a lot for the little cub to take in.
King has walked on grass for the first time; met his new neighbours; and spent his first night in his new surroundings.
This morning, I walked the perimeter of King’s enclosure with our animal care manager Glen Vena. We scoured the bush for him, but wherever he was, King was determined to stay hidden.
Glen explained to me that not seeing King is far from unusual. The big cats in our care relish the privacy and space they were denied before they were rescued. The team at Shamwari will allow him to take some time out to get used to his new home. He was left food and water and will continue to be closely monitored.
But the team were quickly rewarded. Late this afternoon, King was spotted in the undergrowth. Can you spot him too?
The Jean Byrd Centre is already home to big cats like lion brothers Jora and Black who were rescued by Born Free from a circus wagon in Bulgaria three years ago. And Ciam – a former illegal exotic pet, just like King – who arrived at Shamwari last year after being discovered in a small cage in a garden in France.
Born Free’s two big cat rescue centres at Shamwari are currently home to 16 other lions and leopards rescued from appalling captive conditions around the world. They have come to Shamwari from zoos and circuses, or from private homes where they were kept as ‘pets’. Because they would be unable to fend for themselves if released into the wild, they are given expert lifetime care in a spacious, safe and natural environment.
We have been providing a home for rescued big cats since 1996 when lions Anthea and Raffi were rescued from a cage on the roof of a restaurant in Tenerife, Spain. All the big cats in our care highlight the plight of captive animals worldwide. We will continue to campaign to Keep Wildlife in the Wild until rescue centres like ours are no longer needed.