What a night: The Kuwait 6 Homecoming!

At 9.07pm last night, our precious cargo of six lions rescued from the illegal wildlife trade rolled through the gates of the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. It wasn’t quite as we planned after a 25 hour delay at the airport, but they were home!!! We quietly and gently unloaded everyone in an operation lasting to midnight. Everyone was exhausted but energised by the arrival, heaved the crates into place, and one by one the young lions were released into their houses. They were tentative and intrigued, checking things out and settling into the soft teff hay bedding. All the lions had travelled alongside their family and friends, but it was still a special moment when Saif’s crate opened and Dhubiya peeked in as if to say, “glad you’re here too.”

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The Kuwait 6 lions have arrived!

The Kuwait 6 are being unloaded at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary and going into their night houses. They will properly experience Africa tomorrow. We won’t be able to go live on Facebook for this quiet and difficult night operation but will keep you updated. Join us tomorrow on Facebook! Saham and Shujaa were unloaded first.

Please keep supporting these young lions as they begin their new lives. Donate here.

To adopt Shujaa, Saham, Muheeb, Aziza, Saif, and/or Dhubiya to provide their lifetime care: UK store | US store

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The Kuwait 6 lions loaded for journey home

The Kuwait 6 lions are loaded for their journey home.

Rescued from the illegal wildlife pet trade, Saif, Dhubiya, Saham, Shujaa, Muheeb and Aziza are now on the way to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary.

Please help these young lions as they begin their new lives. Donate here.

You can also adopt Saif, Dhubiya, Muheeb, Aziza, Shujaa or Saham to help provide lifetime care for them. UK store | US store

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Kuwait 6 delayed at Johannesburg Airport

We are disappointed to report that after the exhilaration of arriving in South Africa we are still waiting for the lions to enter the country. We are working to resolve a technical import issue – exacerbated because no offices are open yet. The lions have been given some food and fresh water (pictured Johannes topping up water). Fortunately, one of the reasons ADI builds large travel crates is in case animals get stuck at an airport during a long journey (e.g., due to an aircraft breakdown). The lions are indoors in the cargo area.

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The Kuwait 6 have landed in South Africa

Saif

The Kuwait 6 lions have landed safely in South Africa, their homeland. Thank you for supporting this rescue mission and please continue to help these young lions as they begin their new lives. Donate here. To adopt one or more of the Kuwait 6: US store | UK store

The lions were rescued from the illegal wildlife pet trade and cared for at Kuwait Zoo until a home was found. They will soon be on the road to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary.

A huge thank you to Qatar Airways Cargo for donating space on a cargo flight for the Kuwait 6 lions as part of their WeQare scheme.

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The Kuwait 6 lions have arrived at the airport

Lioness Aziza peers out from her travel crate

The Kuwait 6 lions have arrived at the airport and are being weighed. The lions were rescued from the illegal wildlife pet trade and were cared for at Kuwait Zoo until a home was found for them. Qatar Airways Cargo have donated space on a cargo flight as part of their WeQare scheme. The six young lions, Muheeb, Saham, Shujaa, Saif, Dhubiya and Aziza, are on their way to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa.

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Loading the Kuwait 6 lions

LIVE FROM KUWAIT. We are loading the Kuwait 6 lions ready to fly to South Africa and a new life at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. The lions have been rescued from the illegal wildlife pet trade and have been cared for at Kuwait Zoo. Follow their journey home with ADI on Facebook.

Please consider adopting young lioness Aziza or any of our other Kuwait 6 lions to help provide lifetime care for them. UK store | US store

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Lions cleared to fly

Dr. Peter Caldwell checks out Muheeb

ADI veterinarian, Dr Peter Caldwell, has been checking out the lions in Kuwait has cleared them to fly. WE ARE NOW JUST HOURS AWAY FROM FLYING THE KUWAIT 6 TO THEIR NEW LIFE. Please note the schedule below, we are loading a little later than originally planned.

The six young lions, Muheeb, Saham, Shujaa, Saif, Dhubiya and Aziza are survivors of the illegal wildlife trade – lions purchased as ‘trophy pets’ just to be discarded when they were no longer wanted. The lions have been cared for at Kuwait Zoo until a home was found for them at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa. Qatar Airways have donated space on a cargo flight as part of their WeQare scheme and so the ADI team will be with the lions throughout the flight. We hope to provide regular LIVE updates on Facebook throughout the lions’ incredible journey home.

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Kuwait lions fly this weekend!

Liftoff for the Kuwait 6 is almost upon us and we have been preparing all week in Kuwait.

Our veterinarian Dr. Peter Caldwell has arrived and checked the lions; we are ready to begin loading them into their travel crates at 2am on Sunday (May 19). They will be sedated, loaded, brought around again, checked, and driven to the airport. Our Qatar Airways Cargo aircraft (donated as part of their WeQare program) takes off at 1pm.

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Dhubiya stays cool ahead of journey of a lifetime

The young lioness enjoyed a refreshing ice ball today as preparations continue for her incredible journey from Kuwait to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS), South Africa on Sunday (May 19).

A victim of the illegal lion pet trade, Dhubiya was left to die in the desert outside Kuwait City – either dumped by a trafficker or an owner no longer wanting a lion as a status symbol ‘pet’. She was found starving and dehydrated and nursed back to health at Kuwait Zoo. The horrific ordeal did not dim Dhubiya’s spirit and now this incredibly playful lioness is heading home to Africa with five other lions. Known as the Kuwait 6, they were all rescued from the illegal wildlife trade and have their whole lives ahead of them, up to 20 years in their natural world. Can you help with their lifetime care? You can also adopt Dhubiya and her friends.

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