Born Free’s two big cat sanctuaries at Shamwari Private Game Reserve are home to lions and leopards rescued from appalling captive conditions around the world.
They have come to us from zoos and circuses, or from private homes where they were kept as pets. The nature of their background means they would not be able to fend for themselves if released into the wild, so they are given expert, lifetime care in a spacious, safe and natural environment.
© Glen Vena / Born Free
DATE OF BIRTH: January 2021
ARRIVED AT SHAMWARI: 11th March 2024
SANCTUARY: Julie Ward
Tsar and his brother Jamil were born in a zoo in Ukraine, before being taken from their mother as cubs and sold to an ostrich farm where they were exploited, being used as an animal handling encounter and photo props for visitors. Kept in utterly unsuitable conditions, fed a poor-quality diet and without specialist care, the young lions became malnourished and sickly.
Thankfully, following pressure from local animal protection organisations, the lions were handed over to a wildlife rescue centre in Kyiv. Here, the full extent of their suffering became apparent. Veterinary examinations revealed both lions had calcium deficiencies and Tsar had bone fractures. However, with proper care and nutrition, Tsar and Jamil began to recover from their ordeal – until further hardship came their way.
When war broke out in Ukraine they were evacuated to Belgium, via Poland, where they received temporary care at wildlife rescue centre Natuurhulpcentrum. In March 2024 we were able to offer them a safe and permanent home at our big cat sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, where they live happily together.
WATCH TSAR & JAMIL ARRIVE AT SHAMWARI CAPTIVE ANIMALS
DATE OF BIRTH: January 2021
ARRIVED AT SHAMWARI: 11th March 2024
SANCTUARY: Julie Ward
Jamil and his brother Tsar were born in a zoo in Ukraine, before being taken from their mother as cubs and sold to an ostrich farm where they were exploited, being used as an animal handling encounter and photo props for visitors. Kept in utterly unsuitable conditions, fed a poor-quality diet and without specialist care, the young lions became malnourished and sickly.
Thankfully, following pressure from local animal protection organisations, the lions were handed over to a wildlife rescue centre in Kyiv. Here, the full extent of their suffering became apparent. Veterinary examinations revealed both lions had calcium deficiencies and Tsar had bone fractures. However, with proper care and nutrition, Tsar and Jamil began to recover from their ordeal – until further hardship came their way.
When war broke out in Ukraine they were evacuated to Belgium, via Poland, where they received temporary care at wildlife rescue centre Natuurhulpcentrum. In March 2024 we were able to offer them a safe and permanent home at our big cat sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, where they live happily together.
WATCH TSAR & JAMIL ARRIVE AT SHAMWARI CAPTIVE ANIMALS
© Lyndon Brandt
DATE OF BIRTH: 2010
ARRIVED AT SHAMWARI: 1st May 2024
SANCTUARY: Julie Ward
Along with daughter Ginny, Alda was a victim of the illegal wild animal trade. Until 2017, they were kept in terrible conditions at an unlawful breeding facility in Poland which was subsequently shut down. The leopards, along with other animals, were confiscated, and the pair were given what was intended to be temporary refuge at Natuurhulpcentrum in Belgium.
It was not until October 2022 that Natuurhulpcentrum were able to legally start finding a permanent sanctuary home for Alda and Ginny. Hearing their story, we had to help and offered the pair a home at our big cat sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve and worked to secure permission to transport them to South Africa. In May 2024, the mother and daughter finally arrived at our big cat sanctuary, where they have settled well to their new home.
WATCH ALDA & GINNY’S RESCUE STORY WILDLIFE TRADE
GINNYDATE OF BIRTH: 2016
ARRIVED AT SHAMWARI: 1st May 2024
SANCTUARY: Julie Ward
Along with her mother Alda, Ginny was a victim of the illegal wild animal trade. Until 2017, they were kept in terrible conditions at an unlawful breeding facility in Poland which was subsequently shut down. The leopards, along with other animals, were confiscated, and the pair were given what was intended to be temporary refuge at Natuurhulpcentrum in Belgium.
It was not until October 2022 that Natuurhulpcentrum were able to legally start finding a permanent sanctuary home for Alda and Ginny. Hearing their story, we had to help and offered the pair a home at our big cat sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve and worked to secure permission to transport them to South Africa. In May 2024, the mother and daughter finally arrived at our big cat sanctuary, where they have settled well to their new home.
WATCH ALDA & GINNY’S RESCUE STORY WILDLIFE TRADE
© Tonga Terre dAccueil
DATE OF BIRTH: 22nd August 2007
ARRIVED AT SHAMWARI: 10th February 2022
SANCTUARY: Julie Ward
Angela, along with Louga, Bellone and Saïda, was surrendered by a circus to wildlife centre Tonga Terre d’Accueil in 2018. Becoming known as the ‘Lions of Lockdown’, their move to our big cat sanctuary in South Africa was delayed due to COVID, but they finally arrived in February 2022 and now live together in their spacious enclosure.
WATCH ANGELA ARRIVE AT SHAMWARI CIRCUSES AND PERFORMING ANIMALS
© Tonga Terre dAccueil
DATE OF BIRTH: 2nd June 2005
ARRIVED AT SHAMWARI: 10th February 2022
SANCTUARY: Julie Ward
Bellone, along with Louga, Angela and Saïda, was surrendered by a circus to French wildlife centre Tonga Terre d’Accueil in 2018. Becoming known as the ‘Lions of Lockdown’, their move to our big cat sanctuaryin South Africa was delayed due to COVID, but they finally arrived in February 2022 and now live together in their spacious enclosure.
WATCH BELLONE ARRIVE AT SHAMWARI CIRCUSES AND PERFORMING ANIMALS
© Tonga Terre dAccueil
DATE OF BIRTH: 22nd August 2007
ARRIVED AT SHAMWARI: 10th February 2022
SANCTUARY: Julie Ward
Louga, along with Angela, Bellone and Saïda, was surrendered by a circus to French wildlife centre Tonga Terre d’Accueil in 2018 after Louga attacked the circus owner. Louga had been castrated, meaning that he never developed a mane. Becoming known as the ‘Lions of Lockdown’, the move of the four lions to our big cat sanctuary in South Africa was delayed due to COVID, but they finally arrived in February 2022 and now live together in their spacious enclosure.
WATCH LOUGA ARRIVE AT SHAMWARI CIRCUSES AND PERFORMING ANIMALS
© Tonga Terre dAccueil
DATE OF BIRTH: 1st July 2007
ARRIVED AT SHAMWARI: 10th February 2022
SANCTUARY: Julie Ward
Saïda, along with Louga, Angela and Bellone, was surrendered by a circus to French wildlife centre Tonga Terre d’Accueil in 2018. Becoming known as the ‘Lions of Lockdown’, their move to our big cat sanctuary in South Africa was delayed due to COVID, but they finally arrived in February 2022 and now live together in their spacious enclosure. Saïda is the dominant individual of the group.
WATCH SAIDA ARRIVE AT SHAMWARI CIRCUSES AND PERFORMING ANIMALS
JORADATE OF BIRTH: 9th June 2007
ARRIVED AT SHAMWARI: 27th September 2015
SANCTUARY: Jean Byrd
Jora was rescued by Born Free from a cramped circus trailer in Bulgaria, after the country banned the use of wild animals in circuses.
Jora travelled from Bulgaria to our big cat sanctuary in September 2015 with his brother Black, who passed away in 2024.
WATCH JORA AND BLACK IN 2023 WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES
CERSEIDATE OF BIRTH: Estimated September 2018
ARRIVED AT SHAMWARI: 11th October 2019
SANCTUARY: Jean Byrd
Cersei was rescued from a garage in Marseille, France, where she was being kept illegally as a pet. She was very unwell and underweight, with skin irritation, a dull coat, gastrointestinal problems and corneal ulcers.
She was rehabilitated at Tonga Terre d’Accueil, a wildlife rescue centre in Lyon, France, before moving to our big cat sanctuary in October 2019 as part of a joint relocation with Horus, Dadou and Thea. She now lives in a large enclosure with her companion Ciam.
WATCH CERSEI’S JOURNEY TO SHAMWARI WILD ANIMALS AS PETS
CIAMDATE OF BIRTH: Estimated September 2014
ARRIVED AT SHAMWARI: 5th May 2017
SANCTUARY: Jean Byrd
Ciam was rescued from a cage in a garden in southern France in November 2015 where he was being kept illegally as a pet.
Ciam was rehabilitated at Natuurhulpcentrum, a wildlife rescue centre in Belgium, before journeying to our big cat sanctuary in May 2017 where he now lives in a large enclosure with his companion Cersei.
WATCH CIAM’S JOURNEY TO SHAMWARI WILD ANIMALS AS PETS
DADOUDATE OF BIRTH: Estimated September 2018
ARRIVED AT SHAMWARI: 11th October 2019
SANCTUARY: Jean Byrd
Dadou was rescued from a Lamborghini sports car on the Champs-Elysées in Paris, France. He was being kept illegally as a pet and his owner was taking selfies with him. The tip of his tail was missing and he had weak hind legs because his muscles had not properly developed.
He was rehabilitated at Tonga Terre d’Accueil, a wildlife rescue centre in Lyon, France, before moving to our big cat sanctuary in October 2019 as part of a joint relocation with Horus, Thea and Cersei. He now lives with his companion Horus.
WATCH DADOU’S JOURNEY TO SHAMWARI WILD ANIMALS AS PETS
© Simone Smith
DATE OF BIRTH: Estimated September 2018
ARRIVED AT SHAMWARI: 11th October 2019
SANCTUARY: Jean Byrd
Horus was only two months old when he was rescued from an apartment in the suburbs of Paris, France. He was being kept illegally as a pet and found sat on a child’s bed.
Horus was rehabilitated at Tonga Terre d’Accueil, a wildlife rescue centre in Lyon, France, before moving to our big cat sanctuary in October 2019 as part of a joint relocation with Dadou, Thea and Cersei. He now lives with his companion Dadou.
WATCH HORUS’S JOURNEY TO SHAMWARI WILD ANIMALS AS PETS
KINGDATE OF BIRTH: Estimated July 2017
ARRIVED AT SHAMWARI: 6th July 2018
SANCTUARY: Jean Byrd
King was rescued from an apartment on the outskirts of Paris, France, by French wildlife charities Fondation 30 Million d’Amis and Refuge de l’Arche. He was being kept illegally as a pet in a small, dirty cage.
King was rehabilitated at Natuurhulpcentrum, a wildlife rescue centre in Belgium, before making the journey to our big cat sanctuary in July 2018 where he now lives with his companion Thea.
WATCH KING’S JOURNEY TO SHAMWARI WILD ANIMALS AS PETS
THEADATE OF BIRTH: Estimated November 2018
ARRIVED AT SHAMWARI: 11th October 2019
SANCTUARY: Jean Byrd
Thea was being kept illegally as a pet in France but was surrendered by her owner in January 2019 when she was just eight weeks old. She had glaucoma, was under-developed and underweight, with extreme hair loss and diarrhoea.
She was rehabilitated at Tonga Terre d’Accueil, a wildlife rescue centre in Lyon, France, before moving to our big cat sanctuary in October 2019 as part of a joint relocation with Horus, Dadou and Cersei. She now lives with her companion King.
WATCH THEA’S JOURNEY TO SHAMWARI WILD ANIMALS AS PETS
MAGGIEDATE OF BIRTH: 8th May 2006
ARRIVED AT SHAMWARI: 22nd January 2015
SANCTUARY: Julie Ward
Maggie was confiscated from a circus in Germany, with her sister Sonja, where they had been living in a cramped trailer. They were rehabilitated at Natuurhulpcentrum, a wildlife rescue centre in Belgium, before moving to their permanent home at our big cat sanctuary in January 2015.
WATCH MAGGIE’S JOURNEY TO SHAMWARI WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES
SONJADATE OF BIRTH: 8th May 2006
ARRIVED AT SHAMWARI: 22nd January 2015
SANCTUARY: Julie Ward
Sonja was confiscated from a circus in Germany, with her sister Maggie, where they had been living in a cramped trailer. They were rehabilitated at Natuurhulpcentrum, a wildlife rescue centre in Belgium, before moving to their permanent home at our big cat sanctuary in January 2015.
WATCH SONJA’S JOURNEY TO SHAMWARI WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES
MOWGLIDATE OF BIRTH: 7th October 2018
ARRIVED AT SHAMWARI: 24th March 2020
SANCTUARY: Julie Ward
Mowgli was rescued from Bloemfontein Zoo in South Africa, when the zoo was closed following several animal welfare infringements. Working with our friends at Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary and Bloemfontein SPCA, Mowgli was rescued with another leopard called Zeiss, and given a lifetime home at our big cat sanctuary in March 2020.
WATCH MOWGLI AT SHAMWARI ADOPT THE LEOPARD FAMILY
ZEISSDATE OF BIRTH: 10th January 2014
ARRIVED AT SHAMWARI: 24th March 2020
SANCTUARY: Jean Byrd
Zeiss was rescued from Bloemfontein Zoo in South Africa, when the zoo was closed following several animal welfare infringements. Working with our friends at Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary and Bloemfontein SPCA, Zeiss was rescued with another leopard called Mowgli, and given a lifetime home at our big cat sanctuary in March 2020.
WILD ANIMALS IN ZOOS ADOPT A LEOPARD
IMAGES: © George Logan, Filip Fortuna, Simone Smith, Tonga Terre d’Accueil
