Full circle as two lions return home to LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary 

Uhuru and Jua were purchased in 2006 and saved from the canned hunting industry 

21.11.2019

Cape Town, 21.11.2019 – Two white lions, originally born on the property which FOUR PAWS turned into its LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary, have returned home on Wednesday, 20 November 2019.

Uhuru and Jua, two siblings now 12 years old, are the offspring of Konquela – a white lioness who was kept as a breeding machine on the farm. Michele Higginson, businesswoman from Johannesburg and owner of the lions, visited the property in 2006 only to realise the fate that all the animals then faced. Desperate to get the animals out of harm’s way, she started a long process via a third party to purchase eight lions.

“The one night that I stayed at the farm to investigate a little lion cub came into my room: clearly distressed, tired, in need of mothering and wearing a dog collar. From that very moment, I realised that something needed to be done and that these animals should get out of here as quickly as possible,” says Higginson.

In the process of purchasing six lions, Konquela gave birth to Uhuru and Jua – now also the responsibility of Higginson. After almost a year of negotiations and looking for an appropriate home for the lions, she found a refuge for them on a secluded reserve in the Karoo, Eastern Cape.

“When Konquela was released at the reserve in her new enclosure, I could see her appreciation of finally being able to keep her cubs and being free from the danger she faced. Together, she had eleven good years with her offspring,” says Higginson.

Uhuru (which means Freedom in Swahili) and Jua (meaning Sun) have reached a new stage in their life, needing more frequent monitoring and specialised care – which is why they have come to LIONSROCK.

“When lions reach a certain age, we need to carefully monitor them for any health problems. This can range from dental problems, osteoporosis, arthritis or other problems which could be a result from early development,” says Hildegard Pirker, head of the animal welfare department at LIONSROCK.

Uhuru and Jua has a very close bond and have been released together in the feeding area of a 1-hectare enclosure at LIONSROCK. “As they are already used to freedom and a big enclosure, we will release them in the feeding area first to monitor their behaviour, but in all likelihood, they will be released into the bigger part of their enclosure within the next few days,” says Pirker.

The arrival of Uhuru and Jua reminds Fiona Miles, director of FOUR PAWS in South Africa, about the time when the organisation negotiated the purchase of the farm.

“At the time of negotiating the purchase of the property, we knew that Konquela along with her cubs would leave, but despite this, we knew they were in safe hands and going to a place where they’d be looked after in a species-appropriate way. It is heart-warming that they’ve been able to live a life unhindered by human interaction, and it is a great privilege to welcome them home.”

Public Relations Officer ZA

Deidre Daniels

Public Relations Officer

Deidre.Daniels@four-paws.org

+27 (0)21 702 4277

+27 (0)78 675 8220

9B Bell Crescent, Westlake Business Park, 
Green Building, Cape Town, 7945

A Public Relations professional with over eight years’ experience in fostering positive relationships between organisations and media.

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FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler and friends, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. The sustainable campaigns and projects of FOUR PAWS focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats and orangutans – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Vietnam as well as sanctuaries for rescued animals in eleven countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.org.za 

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