Little does he know, but after a long, long wait, little lion Ori’s life is about to change dramatically.

Despite severe restrictions on flights, ADI has secured passage out of Israel on a flight shortly after midnight in just two weeks today! Will you help get him and his friend BenTzur on their flight to freedom under African skies?

The young lions were just tiny cubs when they were rescued by Israel’s Nature & Parks Authority (NPA) from the illegal wildlife trade, over a year ago. It’s been a long wait, but it’s almost over.

An ADI team arrives in Israel on 30 July, the lions will be loaded on Sunday 2 August with take-off the following morning. The flight via Frankfurt will arrive in South Africa on Tuesday 4 August. You can follow us live as the youngsters take their first steps in the land of their ancestors, home in Africa, at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary where they will have a new 2.5-acre, natural habitat with a heated house. Escalating fuel costs and restrictions on flights have made this an expensive operation.

Can you help and bring these young lions, who have waited so long, home to their native land? Donate US $, CA $ | Donate UK £, Euros, Rand