Motan and Pisa arrived at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in April 2019. The two lions were transferred out of the Gaza Strip in what was FOUR PAWS biggest emergency mission to date. When arriving at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary, it was evident that they’d only been kept in tiny concrete cages as they didn’t know how to react to the sensation of grass under their feet. 

Both Motan and Pisa are healthy, have adapted well to their new environment, and are warming up to their new caretakers. Pisa had her first medical check soon after arriving. As she was used for breeding by her previous owner, and she was spayed. We’re happy to say that she’s in good health and flourishing, after initially being shy and insecure.

We can already see major improvements since their arrival: both have picked up some weight and aren’t so skinny anymore.

Motan, who struggled walking on the grass for a while, is now walking with a lot of confidence. We suspect Motan might have had sores on his feet, but they healed since his arrival. Pisa was sterilized a few weeks after her arrival and these two were temporarily separated until she healed completely. She likes playing with Motan and is very close to him. They are both very energetic and enjoy their enrichment a lot.

Along with a good diet, we are giving them supplements to continue improving their health. From experience, lions who sometimes had limited access to food become very protective when they are fed; for this reason we will continue to feed them separately for the time being. It has been a heartwarming journey for everyone at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary to see how much these two have improved and that they’ve built a great amount of confidence whilst being in our care.

Sadly, Pisa passed away in March 2024. Rest in peace, beautiful Pisa, you are going to be missed by all of us.