Six younger lions, as soon as bought as standing symbols and later deserted in Kuwait, have begun a brand new chapter on the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa. Rescued from the unlawful wildlife commerce, the lions – males Muheeb, Saham, Shujaa, Saif, and females Dhubiya and Aziza – had been present in Kuwait Metropolis and its surrounding deserts.
It’s unlawful to maintain lions as pets in Kuwait, resulting in their abandonment. Authorities, with the assistance of Kuwait Zoo employees and volunteers, recaptured the lions and sought assist from Animal Defenders Worldwide (ADI).
The rescue mission, funded by Qatar Airways Cargo via their WeQare scheme, transported the lions from Kuwait to South Africa. Famend wildlife veterinarian Dr. Peter Caldwell oversaw their care throughout the journey, making certain their security and well-being.
Upon arrival on the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, the lions had been initially positioned in nighthouses earlier than transferring to quarantine enclosures the place they get pleasure from catnip punchbags and big balls. After a two-week quarantine, they are going to be launched into expansive pure enclosures of as much as 4 acres every.
The “Kuwait 6” symbolizes the worldwide challenge of wildlife trafficking, exacerbated by social media posts that includes individuals with massive cats. Usually taken from their moms at a younger age, these animals face a lifetime of loneliness and dependency. Used as standing symbols, they’re discarded as soon as they develop into unmanageable or harmful.
Jan Creamer, President of ADI, emphasised the importance of this rescue: “The Kuwait 6 lions have their entire lives forward of them and can have acres of house on the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. The ADI supporters who’re serving to to fund their care and this rescue are giving these lions their lives again, residing as shut as attainable to the life they misplaced.
That is nice information for these lions but additionally a warning a few merciless and irresponsible commerce. Lions ought to by no means be stored as pets; they’re wild animals. ADI is grateful to the authorities in Kuwait for his or her motion to attempt to halt this unlawful commerce, to Kuwait Zoo for offering a protected haven for the lions, to Qatar Airways Cargo for serving to convey them dwelling, and to the ADI supporters funding the care of those animals.”
As these lions start their new lives in Africa, ADI continues to work in direction of ending the struggling of untamed animals in captivity and stopping wildlife trafficking.
This text by Trinity Sparke was first printed by One Inexperienced Planet on 28 Could 2024. Lead Picture: Little penguin (Eudyptula minor) is a species of penguin from New Zealand. They’re generally often known as little blue penguins or blue penguins owing to their slate-blue plumage. Picture Credit score :Supply: Roger Allen/ADI
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