Eleven Lions Saved From Conflict Zone in Sudan During Emergency Rescue
The animals have been living in a war zone for nine months, but are now safe and recovering at their new sanctuary home in South Africa.
A rescued lioness at the LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary. Credit: FOUR PAWS/Hristo Vladev
A challenging rescue mission has resulted in eleven lions being rescued from a dangerous conflict zone in Sudan.
The lions were among 48 wild animals that animal welfare group FOUR PAWS originally rescued from Sudan’s war-torn capital city of Khartoum back in November last year.
In collaboration with the Sudanese Wildlife authorities, the rescued animals were all evacuated to designated safe areas in national parks near Wad Madani. However, when fighting broke out there also, FOUR PAWS’s animal rescue team had to return again in an emergency rescue mission last month.
The rescue itself - taking place during Sudan’s ongoing civil war - was logistically challenging and required lots of planning, with FOUR PAWS describing it as one of the most difficult emergency missions they’ve ever faced. The many challenges included the difficulty of organizing fuel, food and water, as well as a cargo plane, whilst in an active conflict zone.
During the rescue. Credit: FOUR PAWS
Thankfully FOUR PAWS was able to overcome the many challenges, and on 16th february eleven lions were successfully transferred by cargo flight to the LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa.
Having endured nine months surrounded by the tragedies of war, the rescued lions are described as traumatized, weak, emaciated, and prone to injury. But they are said to be responding positively to the treatment and care they have received in the last few weeks.
At the sanctuary, they will live in four interconnected enclosures which will allow them to be monitored and grouped together according to gender and behavior. The facility is currently home to around 100 other rescued big cats, who were saved from private keeping, circuses, zoos, or conflict zones around the world. The sanctuary’s land - which is roughly over 3,000 hectares - is also inhabited by other typical South African species who live freely, like zebras, antelopes, and bird species.
Credit: FOUR PAWS
FOUR PAWS points out that all of its sanctuaries have a strict no-breeding policy, so the male lions in the rescued group will be vasectomised as soon as possible.
“We are glad that the tireless efforts of the FOUR PAWS team, with the support of the Sudanese authorities and our global network, paid off. These eleven lions are ambassadors for hope, and they symbolize a need for change in how humans treat animals,” said Josef Pfabigan, CEO of FOUR PAWS. “As we see the lions step on the grass in their new home after being stuck in the middle of a conflict zone for months, we are dedicated to care for and protect them for the rest of their lives. They will hear no more sounds of fighting or witness suffering among each other, but enjoy the natural surroundings of our South African sanctuary.”
In addition to the lions now living at the South African sanctuary, the other 37 animals originally rescued in November are also now safe elsewhere too.
They include three more lions, four hyenas, and a serval, who are all in critical health condition and require urgent treatment and monitoring. The animals have found a long-term home at Al Ma’Wa for Nature and Wildlife, a cooperation project of FOUR PAWS that is located in Jordan.
And there are hopes for the other remaining animals, which include deer and birds, to be released back into the wild after their rehabilitation.
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