Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary
Born Free Rescue Section at Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary
South Africa
Born Free works in collaboration with Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary to provide safe, natural enclosures for wild cats rescued from zoos, circuses and other captive facilities.
The Born Free Rescue Section at Panthera Big Cat Sanctuary was built in 2019, with thanks to Born Free’s corporate partner British Airways Holiday. Alpha and Cora, two lionesses rescued from a failed zoo, were the first big cats to arrive in October that year, and the sisters enjoyed five happy years before both passing away in 2024.
The area will provide a safe haven for many more rescued cats in the future.
Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary is a non-profit organisation founded by Lizaene Cornwall and Cathrine S. Nyquist in 2014, located 140 kilometres from Cape Town, in South Africa’s Western Cape. It is a sanctuary for captive-bred wild cats where they will be protected for the rest of their lives.
Meet the Panthera Africa Big Cats
KAMOGELO
Kamogelo the serval © Panthera Africa
Date of Birth: Estimated January 2019
Arrived at Panthera Africa: 15th March 2022
Kamogelo (previously ‘Kinrooi’) was confiscated from private ownership in the municipality of Kinrooi in Belgium, having been kept in poor conditions.
Along with three other servals which were also rescued from Belgium – Balozi, Mahaba & Lekanya – he was looked after by Natuurhelpcentrum before being transported to South Africa where he now lives in the Born Free Rescue Section at Panthera Africa. Being a solitary species, each individual lives in their own spacious enclosure.
See Kamogelo arrive at Panthera Africa Wild Animals as Pets
BALOZI
Balozi the serval © Panthera Africa
Date of Birth: Estimated January 2019
Arrived at Panthera Africa: 15th March 2022
Balozi (previously ‘Mechelen’) was found wandering the streets of the Belgian city Mechelen, having escaped from private ownership. He was caught in a humane trap and taken in by Natuurhelpcentrum in 2019.
In 2022 he and three other servals – Kamogelo, Mahaba & Lekanya – were transported to South Africa where they now live in the Born Free Rescue Section at Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary. Being a solitary species, each individual lives in their own spacious enclosure.
See Balozi arrive at Panthera Africa Wild Animals as Pets
MAHABA
Mahaba the serval © Panthera Africa
Date of Birth: 30th April 2017
Arrived at Panthera Africa: 15th March 2022
Mahaba (previously ‘Roesalare’) escaped from private ownership and was spotted running around the rooftops of the city Roeselare in Belgium.
He was captured and taken to Natuurhelpcentrum in 2019 where he was cared for until 2022, when he was transported alongside three other servals – Kamogelo, Balozi & Lekanya – to South Africa, where they now live in the Born Free Rescue Section at Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary. Being a solitary species, each individual lives in their own spacious enclosure.
See Mahaba arrive at Panthera Africa
LEKANYA
Lekanya the serval © Panthera Africa
Date of Birth: Estimated October 2020
Arrived at Panthera Africa: 15th March 2022
Lekanya (previously ‘Diepenbeek’) was confiscated from private ownership in early 2021 in the municipality of Diepenbeek and was taken in and cared for at Natuurhelpcentrum in Belgium.
In 2022 he and three other servals – Kamogelo, Balozi & Mahaba – were transported to South Africa, where they now live in the Born Free Rescue Section at Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary. Being a solitary species, each individual lives in their own spacious enclosure.