Four lions rescued from the illegal trophy pet trade in Kuwait, have moved into their new forever habitats at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa.

Aziza, Saif, Dhubiya and Muheeb were loaded into travel crates and moved across the Sanctuary to the new 2.5-acre Keith’s Happiness Habitat for Muheeb, and the 5-acre Sam & Eric Habitat.

ADI always works on crate familiarization with the animals, so that they do not need to be sedated to be loaded. It is important to build trust, so that they are always confident when we ask them to do something. This is helped by putting travel crates in habitats so that they become enrichment and places to play, a den to snooze in, a platform to jump up and watch the views. In our preparations for a habitat move like this, or a rescue airlift, we also feed the residents in their crates. Fast crating is good for emergencies, too.

Aziza, Saif, Dhubiya and Muheeb were all successfully lured into crates with treats and driven to their new homes where they bounded out and excitedly explored. Muheeb raced over to see new neighbor Smith – and his Kuwait friends are on the other side of his new home.  Introductions of the three youngsters have been much slower than we had hoped, in part due to Muheeb’s cancer diagnosis. However, having her own space for a while has enabled Aziza to build up her confidence. She is transformed since arriving at ADIWS two years ago, when she was very nervous and skittish.  She has grown confident and sought out the company of Dhubiya and Saif. The process of them sharing the same space will be easier in the new habitat.

These changes have come at a very significant cost, but with our quarantine unit occupied by guests Lei-ah and Elsa, we needed to free up the Kuwait lions’ old habitat for the arrival of lions Ben and Ori from Israel.  To move Muheeb, Dhubiya, Saif and Aziza, a new 3-room house has been built in Sam & Eric Habitat and the single feeding camp split into two ($21,609); a new habitat and two room house were built for Muheeb next door ($39,698); and a new two-room house and habitat adaptations made in their old habitat, for the arriving Israel lions, Ben and Ori, ($29,339). This totals over $90,000/£67,000 investment in the Sanctuary, providing homes for these six lions for possibly, the next 20 years.

Please help us cover these costs and their lifetime care. Thank you.
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