Greetings from a very hot Armenia where we are just four days away from the start of the move of lonely lion Ruben to a new life at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa.

The wonderful offer from Qatar Airways to move a larger than usual aircraft to one of their scheduled passenger routes from Armenia in order to donate space for Ruben has given us limited time between knowing the departure date and leaving, but we could not say no! Until the Qatar Airways’ WeQare charity scheme stepped in, Ruben’s options for leaving Armenia were looking very tough.

We have inspected Ruben’s crate – his first-class cabin – and after a few minor modifications, it is ready. A solid crate to one of our tried and tested designs.

This weekend, ADI’s Jan and Tim will be at the FPWC bear sanctuary, where ADI supporters have been funding Ruben’s care since December. Veterinarian Dr Harut Hovhannisyan will do the pre-flight veterinary health requirements and checks.

On the morning of Tuesday, the 22nd, Dr Hovhannisyan will sedate Ruben; he will be loaded into his travel crate and then given an antidote; we wait to see he is waking up OK. We need Ruben conscious and aware before he flies, to be sure he is OK. Dr Hovhannisyan has sedated Ruben before so we are confident this will go smoothly.

It’s then about two-hours’ drive to the airport. Fortunately, Tuesday is expected to be the coolest day of the week, but we have been working to ensure that Ruben is protected from the heat. At this time, cargo handling at Yerevan Airport have agreed for Ruben to arrive four hours before the flight instead of the usual eight hours, and he will be kept indoors in the coolest spot available.

Ruben will depart Armenia at 10pm in the pressurized, temperature-controlled hold of the plane (we have requested 22oC/72oF, recommended by ADI veterinarian Dr Peter Caldwell) and Jan and Tim will travel in the passenger section.

They will arrive in Doha, Qatar just before midnight with two hours to change flights. Ruben will be moved between the flights in an air-conditioned truck. Supporters will remember we changed aircraft with 17 tigers and lions rescued from circuses in Guatemala at Doha.

At 2:15am they will leave Doha, arriving in Johannesburg at 9:55am. Dr Caldwell will meet them and check Ruben before he is loaded for the three to four-hour journey to ADIWS.

As supporters know, Ruben has suspected neurological/spinal issues which we are hoping can be treated in South Africa. He can be unsteady on his feet and that is why we have built his ‘special needs’ habitat with ramps and low platforms.
Check out our video here.

We know everyone is very excited to see Ruben step out onto the African soil, but we will be taking this slower than usual. Ruben may feel a little hesitant or stiff, or feel disorientated, so we will likely release him into his house at first. Then, if he seems OK, he can go into the smaller section of the habitat. Later, he can go into the larger area. And of course, he is a cat, so he might change the plan!

One thing is for sure: on August 23, Ruben is going to be hearing the voices of his own kind for the very first time in six years – we wonder if he will roar back straight away?

Huge thanks to everyone who has stuck by Ruben as we have worked to make this transformation of his life possible – you funded his removal from the zoo, his care in Armenia for all these months, his habitat at ADIWS, and the operation to move him to a new life. Anything you can give now will go towards Ruben’s lifetime care and ensuring that ADI can save others like him. Please donate here.

You can now adopt this wonderful old warrior and help with his day-to-day needs for the rest of his life. UK £ | US $

Thank you for helping Ruben roar again in Africa where he belongs.