Five lions and one tigeress have been rescued from captivity in Ukraine and relocated safely in South Africa to a Game Farm and Sanctuary run by the head of a wildlife organisation.
DHL Global Forwarding, who are committed to supporting wildlife assisted in helping the rescue alongside the wildlife-focused non-profit organisation, Warriors of Wildlife.
On behalf of the Warriors of Wildlife, the Ukrainian-born big cats who were held in private zoos were relocated to their new home in SA.
The process saw the big cats monitored by vet specialists. They boarded their flight from Boryspil International Airport to O.R Tambo before they completed the final stretch of their journey on roads, according to Warriors of Wildlife.
The transporting process required experienced animal logistic experts to ensure the journey was smooth.
“To make the journey as pleasant as possible for our special guests, profound expertise and a well-coordinated team are key. Our ‘Lions and Falcons of DHL’, as I like to call our staff, brought the animals safely back to their wild home base. In the sanctuary of Warriors of Wildlife, they are finally back where they belong – two of them have South African parents. The lions Hercules, Cher, Khaya, Ilana, another male lion that was named Arslan by our Turkish Airfreight team, as well as the tiger Kisa, travelled with us for 72 hours. Not an easy job, but one we accepted wholeheartedly,” says Amadou Diallo, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding MEA.
The head of the wildlife organisation Warriors of Wildlife, Lionel de Lange also owns the Simbonga Game Farm & Sanctuary near Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.
“Now, the lions and the tigress are in the very best environment with the proper care they need,” says de Lange.
Warriors of Wildlife is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, relocation and future care of abused and neglected wildlife in captivity. The organization was founded in 2016 by Lionel de Lange and his wife Anya Masyach and operates from Ukraine and South Africa.
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