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Hello John,

What an amazing couple of weeks we’ve had! Thanks to YOUR support, we were FINALLY able to introduce Angela, Bellone, Saïda and Louga, our Lions of Lockdown, to their forever home at Shamwari, and they couldn’t be happier!

For four former circus lions, the sights and sounds of Africa, and the warmth of the sun on their backs is a world away from the cramped, rusty circus trailers where they spent their early years.

What makes Born Free supporters so special is the empathy you have shown with the Lions of Lockdown and their story. Finally home, we still need YOUR help to raise vital funds to support their lifetime care at the sanctuary, and give them the nutritious food, veterinary treatment, and enrichment they need. Why not give the lions a treat now they're settled in - £10 could buy a meat and offal lolly for two of these courageous lions. WILL YOU CONTINUE YOUR SUPPORT WITH A GIFT TODAY?

Since their arrival at our sanctuary, the Lions of Lockdown are acclimatising to their new surroundings, and absolutely thriving!

Angela, Bellone and Saïda, have been staying close together, sheltering from the heat of the day under shady trees. Louga has been spending time in the cool of his night house but comes out to check on the girls every now and again! 

They have been cautiously exploring their three acre, natural enclosure, filled with native grasses and shrubs, and all four enjoyed a delicious feast of fresh chicken once they had recovered from their journey.

Glen Vena, our Animal Care Manager at Shamwari (pictured here with another lioness at the sanctuary), said: “It’s been great watching Angela, Bellone, Saïda and Louga get used to their surroundings - sniffing trees, moving between the bushes and learning to avoid the plants with thorns. We have not heard them roar yet, it might be too soon for that, but Louga will look around and sit up straight when he hears Nelson, one of the other lions in our care, roar. Louga is very curious and doesn’t appear afraid at all.

“Temperatures here have reached 38 degrees Celsius, a lot hotter than they have been used to, so the lions mainly stay in the shade during the day, coming out to explore early morning or in the evening. Over the weekend I observed the girls carefully grooming Louga – it’s an amazing bond these four have with each other!”