We did it! The Kuwait 6 lions are home at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary.

Eleven days ago, Tim and I arrived in Kuwait to oversee the rescue of the Kuwait 6 lions – Muheeb, Saham, Shujaa, Saif, Dhubiya and Aziza. We worked on the final paperwork, assessed the lions, planned the loading, confirmed truck rentals, and oversaw re-construction of the travel crates we had sent flat-packed from South Africa. Our veterinarian Dr Peter Caldwell arrived, confirmed the lions were fit to travel and we were ready to go.

The young lions (only one adult) were all captured after being dumped by owners in the streets of Kuwait City or the surrounding desert.  Purchased as status symbols, then cast off when no longer wanted, Dhubiya and Saif were tiny cubs when they were found starving and dehydrated in the desert. 

What sort of people would discard these tiny baby cubs to die? This cruel trade must end.

At 2am on Sunday we were at Kuwait Zoo, where the lions had been temporarily housed, making final preparations to load the animals. Dr Caldwell and the zoo veterinary team oversaw sedation, loading, and reviving of the lions in their crates. It is very important to bring the animals around before they travel, as it can be dangerous if lions are unconscious and roll into the wrong position, which can cause suffocation.

Shortly after 4am all of the lions were crated, fully conscious, on board our truck and we reached Kuwait airport at sunrise. The crates were checked again and Tim tightened bolts to ensure everything was secure. We unloaded them onto the cargo dock.

Not long before midday the lions were rolling onto our cargo flight donated by Qatar Airways Cargo as part of their WeQare scheme. We had laid out all the pallet positions to keep stress to a minimum: Shujaa with Saham, Aziza with Muheeb and Saif and Dhubiya on the final pallet. They were positioned just behind where we were sitting so that we had full access to the lions throughout the flight to give water and food as needed. 

We took off at 12.55 and reached Doha about an hour later, where we gave the lions some food and topped up their water. After a smooth flight, we arrived in Johannesburg early, at about 11.30pm. Then our hearts sank as there was a query on the Kuwait paperwork and all the offices were shut. We had to wait. 

We ensured the lions were in the quietest spot and Johannes, Jan, and Karen checked them regularly, giving treats. Not long after 2pm on Monday the lions were on their way out of the airport and being loaded onto the truck, donated by Gas Boys, Virginia, Free State and Theo Smit, who said they would wait as long as it took to get the lions. We were grateful when they drove, slowly and carefully, to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, even though it meant arriving after 9pm. 

One by one we lifted the crates down and released the lions into their night houses where they had nice hay beds to rest in and keep warm. By midnight, as the calendar rolled over to Tuesday, the exhausted ADI team headed to bed. Just a few hours later, we were opening the houses and watching the lions step out into the morning sunshine in their quarantine enclosures.

For two weeks the lions will be in quarantine enclosures which measure 6,700sqft to 13,500sqft, enough space to jump on their platforms and play with giant balls, catnip punchbags and other treats, but it will be really exciting when they are released into our large natural habitats of several acres.

These young lions symbolise an illicit, global trade which is now being boosted through irresponsible social media posts featuring people petting and ‘playing’ with big cats.  

Babies are taken from their mothers when young and cute, leaving them lonely and dependent on their captor for food and attention for life. The animals are often kept in isolation and in inappropriate conditions including being chained or caged in basements. Often as these animals get bigger, stronger, and expensive to feed they are simple thrown away – just as the Kuwait 6 were.

As we celebrate the joy of these six lions playing in the African sunshine, let’s also step up our efforts to end this cruel trade. Donate UK, Euros, Rand | Donate US $, CA $

Remember, these young lions could be in ADI care for another 20 years.

To donate towards their care: UK, Euros, Rand | US $, CA $

To adopt one or more of the lions, see our UK store | US store

All of the lions are settling in well.  Thank you to everyone who cheered us on and helped bring the lions home.