Snatched from his mom at a young age, kept in a small wooden box, trafficked, sold, and abused—just to boost a man’s TikTok page. Rescued on 8 March 2024 after videos of his abuse surfaced, our team drove to the area to pick him up from the police station where he was handed. Swipe to the end for his rescue story.

On 24 April 2024, baby lion Pi (previously known as Mars), arrived to the Drakenstein Lion Park Sanctuary and our team member remained with him for few days to ensure he adjusts.

With a heavy heart she left him with a message she shared with us:

“Love hurts, especially when it’s unconditional. I know I’m leaving him for his own good, to help him become a true lion. The time I had with him is a treasure I get to keep forever. Despite the cruelty he endured, he remained the kindest soul. Getting up close and personal with lions opened my eyes to their magnificent world. Learning about their habits, different characters, and strong, loyal bonds. In the last hour, he slept on my hand, as if he knew it was our last time together. I feel empty without him, but I am comforted to know he is in great hands at the sanctuary.”

The trade and trafficking of these beautiful big cats is a very sad reality that steals away their right to live a proper life, the right to be among their own kind, the right to choose their pride. Animals Lebanon will continue to fight using the Animal Welfare Law 47 that we worked hard to pass.

To to help us continue our work to combat illegal trafficking
Go to animalslebanon.org/donate

To to lion sanctuary go to lionrescue.org.za

Note: Lions are not meant as pets. They belong in the wild. This baby cub was doomed to captivity when taken from his mom at very young age and can not be released in the wild. The alternative is the sanctuary as close to the wild as possible.

Thank you to everyone who had a part in making this happen. Special Thanks to Drakenstein Lion Park, ‎‎‎@HSI  Africa  , The Last Animal Foundation (thelastanimals.org), Shared Earth Foundation (sharedearth.org), Michel Zoghzoghi , Marwan and Freya Kiriakos, ‎@weloveCUDDLY