Two lions, victims of animal rights abuses in Europe, have safely been returned to their native Africa, with Air France.
Rescued five years ago as victims of animal trafficking, the lions – Yoda and Ysis – were originally being used by a music rapper in music videos and for social media posts before they were abandoned near Aix-en-Provence in France.
The lions were then saved by the 30 Millions d’Amis Foundation (30 Million Friends Foundation) and cared for by Tonga Terre d’Accueil.
LIONS RETURN TO AFRICA
It was then decided that the time had come for the pair to be returned to a natural habitat.
The 30 Million Friends Foundation began the process of finding a suitable location to rehouse the pair of lions.
The answer came in the way of SanWild Sanctuary Wildlife Trust.
The SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary is a 5,000 hectare wildlife rehabilitation center and reserve in South Africa’s Limpopo Province.
It is located a few kilometers south of Leydsdorp, near the western boundary of the Kruger National Park.
Initially, Yoda and Ysis will live in semi-freedom as part of the Roar Project, under the care of the SanWild team.
South Africa is a popular destination for the rehabilitation of distressed wildlife.
Qatar Airways has also facilitated the resettling of wildlife through its WeQare sustainability programme.
AIR FRANCE RELOCATES TRAFFICKED LIONS
The lions’ migration to Africa began with a flight from Lyon to Paris and then from Paris to Johannesburg.
The pair of lions arrived in Africa on 4 March, with Air France flight AF 990.
The next stage of their journey to their new home was by road.
The trip was fully funded by the 30 Million Friends Foundation.
The space where Yoda and Ysis were housed for the past five years organized special days during the month of February for visitors to learn about their future and say goodbye to the lions, before they returned to their natural habitat.
