Lions roar into Paarl
2009-03-05
Lise Beyers
SIX young lions have arrived safely at their new home, Drakenstein Lion Park in Paarl, after a gruelling 13 000 kilometre long journey from Romania. The six cubs were rescued from the illegal pet trade in this east European country. Lion cubs which are sold into this pet trade are normally used as photographic props and are often abused. They are beaten, drugged, poorly fed and often declawed and defanged. It is not unknown for these cubs to be kept in car boots as they are transported from one place to the next. Their life expectancy is generally not more than a year. These six young lions are among the lucky ones to have been rescued by international animal rights organisations and the Lion Park. Lion Park Curator Paul Hart is ecstatic about the youngsters’ arrival. Two of the cubs, Jack and Edina, are ten months old. The other four, Loti, King, Tony and Joy are eight months old. “It has taken six months of careful planning to secure the release and relocation of the cubs. “Then the mammoth transportation started to South Africa, with a road trip from Romania to Munich, a flight to Dubai, and from there to Cape Town. “The Paarl Flying Squad kindly assisted us in transporting the cubs swiftly from Cape International Airport to Paarl, to make this transition as smooth as possible. “On arrival last week the six were very nervous and skittish after their ordeal, but they are settling in nicely. “They are, however, taking strain because of the heat. They still have their thick winter coats, as in Europe temperatures are currently plummeting to as low as minus 14 degrees. But they should soon shed the hair. “I am also encouraging them to exercise, as they are extremely unfit. The two older ones are exhausted after walking barely 200 metres.” The young pride is also experiencing a new learning curve in the feeding department. They have been used to being hand-fed morsels of food, and now have to adapt to eating whole chickens, before advancing to red meat. Drakenstein Lion Park is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning sanctuary for lions born in captivity. The Park is involved in rescuing lions in distress from all over the world, providing them with lifetime care. It is almost impossible to release these lions back into the wilds, as they will not be able to fend for themselves. As a sanctuary, Drakenstein Lion Park does not breed with its lions, and all males undergo a vasectomy. Lions are kept in large camps, which gives them the opportunity to roam freely in a natural environment, while the public has the opportunity to view them at close range. Currently the park is home to 17 lions and 9 lionesses. Hart said that his space is becoming limited, and this breaks his heart, as there are so many captive born lions in need of saving. The park is open daily from 09:30 to 17:00 and admission is R40 (R20 for kids).
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