We will never forget this day a year ago when Ruben stepped from his travel crate, wobbled, steadied himself, drove himself on and began to play with his catnip sack until it burst all over him. In those moments his entire countenance changed, his frowning, anxious face relaxed, his eyes brightened with joy.

Ruben had spent his life in a private zoo in Armenia. It had closed six years earlier and the other animals, including lions, were removed but Ruben was left behind, all alone. His world went silent. When we met Ruben in January 2023, he was frightened, angry, could barely walk, and his plaintive roar was half-hearted because there was nobody to answer him. We worked for months to get him home to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. We built him a special-needs enclosure, Keith’s Happiness Habitat, with low platforms, a grassy slope to a higher platform with guard rails, water troughs at different heights, a house with a heated floor, and many toys for fun and stimulation. Finally, in August, he came home.

From that very first step on African soil, Ruben grabbed life with both paws. His determination inspired us all. Captivity had broken Ruben’s body, but not his spirit, but eventually, it caught up with him as his spine and nervous system broke down. He passed away too soon but for seven incredible months, Ruben lit up our lives, doing everything we dreamed and hoped might be possible for him. Pushing himself on, his walking improved and he was able to walk through the long grass of Africa like his forebears. He was inquisitive, highly intelligent, alert and played with everything – catnip punchbags, catnip coffee bag teddies, boxes, pumpkins, tires, and rather than just play with his melons, he smashed and ate them up! After the seizure which signaled the end was coming, we gave Ruben extra melons to help keep his fluids up. He always responded to his carers – on his very first day, we were surprised when he came to the gate, very relaxed, to be given his meds.

We gave him the gift of another life. For 7 precious months, Ruben was with his own kind again. He would sit opposite Simba and Rey – not posturing or defensive, all calm. He learned to roar again, a deep soulful roar from that huge chest. There was nothing so magnificent as seeing Ruben walk to the top of his slope looking out towards Simba, Rey and Kesari and roaring his presence to the world in the fading light – joining the wonderful ADIWS end-of-day lion chorus.

Ruben’s sudden passing hit us all very hard, he was a special soul, and will always be remembered. We would do it all again. Even if we had only been able to give Ruben that magical day a year ago, playing in the sunshine. In fact he got much longer; for seven precious months (equivalent of 2.5 human years) Ruben was a lion again and talked to his neighbors.

Thank you everyone who made it possible.