From Hell to Sanctuary: Big Cats given a safe home at Panthera Africa.

Thousands of Lions, Tigers, Leopards and other species of big cats live out their lives in squalor however a fortunate few have found a true Sanctuary at Panthera Africa outside the quiet village of Stanford.

Lizaene Cornwall and Cathrine S Nyquist spent years unknowingly volunteering in the exploitative captive big cat industry. Like so many other volunteers, unwittingly believed they were contributing to the wildlife populations in South Africa — but they were wrong. Uncovering the truth behind the exploitative industry was to alter the path of their future.

** This article was written for Conservation Action Trust and first appeared in the Sunday Times Lifestyle on 20th December 2020.

Cathrine had travelled from Norway numerous times to volunteer at a breeding facility that hand-reared cheetah, leopard, servals and caracal under the guise of conservation. Her role was caring for the cubs, who she naturally developed a bond with, fundraising to support the efforts and buying into the exaggerated and false narrative that captive breeding facilities too often spin — that she was ‘helping the animals’.

Simultaneously, South African Lizaene was taking a break from corporate life to heed a desire to do good by working at a big cat project in the Free State, hand-raising at least 30 big cats before she started to question the process.

Assured that the cubs she was receiving had been rejected by their mothers at birth, or were orphaned, reality had them forcefully removed and given to paying volunteers tasked with bottle-feeding and nurturing them. Many cubs didn’t make it. This practice ensures females can be bred more regularly, that the cubs become accustomed to being handled and that there is endless opportunity to fuel the illicit million-dollar voluntourism side of the business.

But where did they go once they were grown? An in-depth investigation by Cathrine and Lizaene revealed the horror of crowded cages, minimal shelter, water or food as they found countless lions crowded in the appalling conditions that have become synonymous with captive lion breeding. Skeletal and shamelessly betrayed, most had served their purpose by a year old and were destined to a fate that would see their demise in the captive lion breeding, hunting or bone trade or industry.

Cathrine and Lizaene established Panthera Africa to provide a safe haven for the big cats they had raised, where they’d be nurtured back to health and live out their remaining years. For some of the animals, it was regrettably too late. Panthera Africa currently homes 26 animals — 17 lions, 2 tigers, 2 leopards, 3 caracals, a cheetah and a jackal. All have traumatic background stories.

A True Sanctuary

A true sanctuary provides a forever home; takes all precautions to avoid breeding; does not buy, sell, loan, exchange animals in their care; and only allows human interaction for veterinary care. Panthera Africa adds to that an undertaking to educate the public, share the individual animal’s stories and create awareness around the condition’s big cats face in captivity. They only offer a morning and afternoon visit to limit exposure to people, do not allow guests at feeding time — as most cats carry residual trauma around food — are committed to enrichment programs, animal communication and prioritising the rescue’s wellbeing.

The Shocking Statistics

In August 2019, the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries indicated that there were 7,979 captive lions in 366 facilities in South Africa, although it is clear from their floundering contradictions and how they continue to renew permits without inspections, that they have no idea of the extent of the captive big cat industry. Research by Bloodlions.org has estimated 10,000–12,000 lions in 450 facilities, as well as 800–1,000 cheetahs, 1,000–1,500 tigers, 100s of leopards, caracals, servals and exotic species: jaguars, pumas and ligers.

Between 2008–2017, South Africa legally exported the following:

• 6,634 lion skeletons for the lion bone trade under CITES weighing a total of 70 tonnes.
• 8,855 lion trophies under CITES with at least 80% captive bred.
• 1,895 live lions under CITES for zoos and breeders overseas with 95% of them captive-bred.

Be the Change

• Say no to selfies with big cats, cub petting, walking with lions, or any physical interaction with wild animals.
• Help spread the truth about this cruel industry.
• Do not support circuses with wild animals such as lions, tigers, elephants.
• Visit, volunteer or adopt one of the cats at Panthera Africa as a means of supporting their ongoing efforts. An excellent gift this festive season.
• Do extensive research before visiting a facility. Ensure they are not trading, breeding or offering interactions.
• Stand up to governments, organisations and the general public as part of the unified voice that will bring change.
• Visit, volunteer or adopt one of the cats at Panthera Africa in support of their ongoing efforts.

Each of the cats at Panthera Africa has a story linked to the depravity of humans, their endless greed and the exploitation of animals so ubiquitous with the shameful — yet legal — captive lion breeding industry.

Every Life Matters

Obi, Lion. Obi was removed from his mother at a few hours old, his umbilical cord still wet so recently was his birth. Destined to be used as a money-making prop at a cub petting facility, after months of forced interaction with fee-paying tourists and volunteers, at 10 months old Obi was too large for profitable interactions and sent to a breeding farm with his half-brother, Oliver. Here they were subjected to horrific conditions in an enclosure with nine other lions. Obi was skeletal and clinging to life when he was brought to Panthera Africa.

Oliver, White Lion. Oliver was hand-raised from birth with 4 other lions, including Obi, at the project where Cathrine and Lizaene worked, before being transported to a breeding farm. Abandoned to the enclosure with little food or shelter, and left largely to fend for themselves, he was rescued with Obi and nursed back to health at Panthera Africa. Obi and Oliver are the sanctuaries pioneer success stories.

Shani, Lion (deceased). Growing up with Obi and Oliver, Shani was marked to join them at Panthera Africa in 2015. However, once too old for interactions, cruel fortune saw her traded illegally between breeding facilities across South Africa for years. As Cathrine and Lizaene tirelessly searched for her, they witnessed first-hand the cruelty behind the cub petting, breeding and canned hunting industry, learning that she had been slaughtered for the bone trade in June 2016.

Chaka’s Story — Lion. Chaka was confiscated from a private household in Johannesburg where he was being kept illegally as a family pet. This is tragically common around the world, with most not as lucky as Chaka who was sent to Panthera Africa in 2017. Too many animals in the illegal pet trade endure inhumane conditions and ultimately untimely death when they grow up and are no longer wanted, which is why Chaka’s story is an important one to share and reminds that lions are not pets.

Baguira’s Story — Lion. Born in a zoo and given to a failing circus, Baguira was subjected to life in a 1,5x2m trailer for 7 years, driven between villages by her owners and used as a photo prop to earn money. Two Argentineans saw her appalling living conditions and decided to act. As a grown lion she weighed only 70kg at the time — when she should have weighed 150kg. They moved her away for safety while searching for a solution. After two years they approached Panthera Africa to help and in 2016, after months of politics and fundraising, they secured a donor and transported her to South Africa where she arrived weak, but willing to take her first steps on grass, and put a once tormented existence behind her.

Arabella’s story — Tiger. Arabella and her brother Aries were only days old when they were brought to a tourism and volunteer project. They had been taken away from their mother and were destined for a life of human exploitation. Arabella became severely ill with a virus on the brain and was in intensive care for three weeks. She bravely defeated the odds and fought her way back to health and was rescued and moved to Panthera. Sadly, her brother Aries was horrifically killed for the wildlife trade.

Obi before his rescue.

Obi after some time recovering at Panthera Africa.

Cathrine and Liz with Neptune.

Sheba thriving on the Panthera Africa care.

Arabella having built some confidence and being nursed to health.

Panthera Africa plans to be involved in many rescue missions in the future and will continue to push for an end to this cruel and exploitative trade. Visit https://pantheraafrica.com/ for details.

Sources: BloodLions.org | ConservationAction.co.za | PantheraAfrica.com | pmg.org.za