Lion rescue
2008-12-04
Lise Beyers
THE Drakenstein has recently become home to two very special new residents. Zintle and Ziyanda are female white lion cubs which have found a home at the Drakenstein Lion Park just outside Paarl. These are an extremely rare type of lion, as there is estimated to be only 300 white lions left world wide. Often white lions are incorrectly classified as albinos, but they are rather a genetic rarity. The little ones arrived at the Lion Park as pint sized cubs of only one week, five weeks ago. Now at six weeks, they have developed into quite a handful in the home of Paul Hart, where they are currently being hand-reared. But from today they will be introduced into the cub enclosure, where visitors to the lion sanctuary will be able to view their activities. And by February they will be living solely in their large enclosure. Paul’s hope is that they will at some stage be joined by a third lion. Currently the two boisterous cubs are barely the size of a Labrador puppy, but once full grown, they will weigh in the excess of 200kg. Paul is not obliged to reveal the origin of Zintle and Ziyanda, but the sanctuary is internationally renowned for the work done to rehabilitate lions born in captivity. Many of the 20 lions under Hart’s care have been rescued from extreme neglect from zoos, circuses and other places of captivity around the world. “It has been proven that lions who are born into captivity are not able to survive in the wild. “Here we can only offer them a refuge where they can live in safety, free from abuse and persecution, and be treated with the compassion and respect they deserve.” The sanctuary is not involved in commercial breeding, and all males that find a home here undergo a vasectomy. Paul says that because of the rarity of white lions, he will be criticised in some cirlces for not breeding with them. “But where will the off-spring end up? “The hunting fee for such an animal can be up to R250 000, and I am not going to breed any animal that will just become a target in the end. “All I can offer my lions is a safe haven where they can live out their days in the most natural possible way.” So, Zintle and Ziyanda can look forward to the rest of their days with the beautiful surrounds of the Boland on their doorstep. The park is open daily from 09:30 to 17:00 and admission is R40 for adults and R20 for children. This is a perfect way to keep the children busy during the long school holiday ahead.
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