Kuwait lions

Dhubiya’s first steps in Africa

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As lioness Dhubiya gains in confidence (first pic) and bounces around her habitat at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa, tearing down hay bales and tearing up catnip sacks, it is hard to believe it was just a week ago today that she made those first tentative steps out onto African soil. Rescued from the illegal wildlife trade in Kuwait, the young lioness survived being dumped to die in the desert by a callous owner who’d tired of having a ‘pet’ lion. Now, she has made it home to Africa on the airlift of the #Kuwait6! Relive those first momentous steps as last Tuesday morning, the door to her house opened and Dhubiya looked out, with Saif watching behind her as she cautiously stepped forward. Through the night she had heard the roars of the other lions, and now African soil was beneath her paws. We wonder what she was thinking?

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

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Muheeb settling in and having fun

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Muheeb is so quiet like Ruben, we wanted him to inherit Ruben’s habitat. It had originally been planned for him and Aziza to be next door to Ruben. Muheeb will be in this section for two weeks’ quarantine and then go out into the main habitat. These are the ‘introduction’ habitats before they move to their permanent space. We really hope that Muheeb will make friends with Aziza next door, and if all goes really well, perhaps all four of Muheeb, Aziza, Dubhiya and Saif will be together. It will take a few months. Not sure we have enough catnip punchbags – he demolishes them so quickly😂 Just like Ruben, he loves these bags and carries them into his house to watch over them.

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‘Pet’ lions who were abandoned to die, start new life in Africa

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You did it! The Kuwait 6 lions are home at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary.

Eleven days ago, we arrived in Kuwait to oversee the rescue of the Kuwait 6 lions – Muheeb, Saham, Shujaa, Saif, Dhubiya, and Aziza. We worked on the final paperwork, assessed the lions, planned the loading, confirmed truck rentals, and oversaw reconstruction of the travel crates we had sent flat-packed from South Africa. Our veterinarian Dr. Peter Caldwell arrived, confirmed the lions were fit to travel, and we were ready to go.

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Shujaa versus the punchbag

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It might just be the best sight of the week. Shujaa, one of the six lions rescued from Kuwait’s illegal wildlife trade who arrived at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary on Monday night, tackles a Kunduchi catnip punchbag. The lion, who was rescued after being left in the streets of Kuwait City, stepped out of his house cautiously. We wonder what he and his brother, Saham, were thinking as they looked out onto their native homeland of Africa. One thing certainly caught Shujaa’s eye and it was the catnip bag. He battled it for a while before he finally tore it down and carried it proudly into his house to destroy!

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Elegant Aziza – worth the wait!

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Screenshot

She is the smallest and shyest of the Kuwait 6 rescued lions to arrive at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary this week. She is very slight with almost Siamese cat type features and her body is more like a lithe mountain lion than a young lioness – we expect she will start to fill out and put on muscle at ADIWS. Like the others she was abandoned in the streets of Kuwait when an owner who once thought it was cool to have a pet lion and then tired of her.

ADI had already committed to taking five lions from Kuwait when we learned about Aziza. We said we would not leave her behind and so the whole import and export process started again and it was several weeks before we were able to fly with the lions. One thing is for sure, Aziza was worth the wait! Adopt or help this beautiful lioness and others like her.

What a night: The Kuwait 6 Homecoming!

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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!

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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

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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

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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

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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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