LION IN LEBANON FOUND IN STREETS
“Saving one animal may seem small, but to that animal, it means everything.
Every act of care restores hope and reminds us of our shared responsibility
to a world where wildlife can thrive.“
YOUNG LION IN LEBANON
Young Male Lion Wandering the Streets
HIS STORY
In August, a young lion escaped from a private farm in Labweh, a community in Lebanon’s Baalbek District. News of the escape quickly spread through the surrounding community, eventually becoming rumors that an adult lion was roaming freely through the area.
The lion, believed to be approximately one year old, was recaptured.
But his escape brought something far more important to light: a young lion was being kept privately, and illegally in Lebanon and needed somewhere safe to go.
Lebanon’s Ministry of Agriculture intervened, filing a formal complaint that resulted in the lion being placed under judicial supervision. The farm owner was designated temporary judicial custodian and prohibited from moving the animal while arrangements could be made for his transfer to an appropriate wildlife sanctuary outside Lebanon.
THE INTERVENTION
That is where Animals Lebanon and Heart of the Wild entered his rescue.
As soon as Heart of the Wild learned about the young lion, we contacted our partner in the region, Jason Mier of Animals Lebanon and offered our assistance. Jason shared what was known about the situation, and together we began exploring what it would take to give this lion something he has never had: a true sanctuary home. We committed to helping him find one.
THE OUTREACH
Our next call was to Bobbi Brink, founder and director of Lions Tigers & Bears in Alpine, California to see if their exceptional sanctuary would be willing to offer this beautiful young lion to a forever home there.
The answer was yes.
A WONDERFUL FOREVER HOME IS FOUND
Located on 142 acres in the mountains of San Diego County, Lions Tigers & Bears is an accredited, no-breed, no-contact sanctuary dedicated to providing lifetime refuge for rescued exotic animals. Since its founding in 2002, the organization has helped rescue and transport more than 1,000 big cats, bears and other exotic animals to reputable sanctuaries across the United States.
Now, if all goes according to plan, a young lion from Lebanon will become one of them.
PREPARATION BEGINS
The wheels are already in motion.
Heart of the Wild, Animals Lebanon and Lions Tigers & Bears are now working together on the export and import permits, veterinary requirements, international documentation and logistics necessary to bring him safely from Lebanon to California.
The whole team is now kicked into high gear on the logistics and funding. Jason is overseeing his adequate care until he leaves for his forever home.
There are still permits to obtain, arrangements to make and thousands of miles between this young lion and his future home.
But for the first time, there is a destination at the end of that journey. From a 7 x 25 foot cage – to a beautiful, natural, loving forever home.
A sanctuary. A lifetime of care. And a place to finally call home.
PRESS ARTICLES
L’Orient Today – Young lion escapes his captivity: A young lion briefly escaped from a farm in Labweh, Lebanon, sparking alarm before he was quickly returned to his enclosure. The incident revealed that he was being kept illegally, leading Lebanon’s Agriculture Ministry to take action. Now under the ministry’s supervision, he remains at the farm as his former owner serves as his legal guardian. Authorities has tasked Jason Mier and Animals Lebanon to help find placement.
*Full article here: https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1545538/lion-cub-that-briefly-escaped-in-labweh-placed-under-judicial-supervision.html
PHOTOS
VIDEO
Lions, Tigers & Bears – oh YES! We are thrilled that Bobbi Brink founder of Lions, Tigers & Bears will be providing a forever home for this beautiful lion Bahati. They are a world-class accredited sanctuary providing exceptional care to their animal residents. They are dedicated to providing a safe haven to abused and abandoned exotic animals and to inspiring an educational forum to end the exotic animal trade. Bobbi has been working with and advocating for captive big cats, bears and other exotic animals since the early 90s. She is a prolific advocate for abused and displaced big cats, bears and other exotic animals.
UPDATES
Full Preparation Mode
The team is now in full preparation mode – actively securing the permits for his travel, arranging veterinary care, coordinating all the logistics and raising money for his transport to his new home.
Naming the Lion BAHATI
This beautiful lion deserves a name – so we have chosen to call him Bahati – which means Lucky in Swahili – as he will soon have a beautiful home with exquisite care under Bobbi and her team at Lions, Tigers & Bears.
Jason meets Sanctuary Owner
Michael and Andy set up a zoom call with Jason and Bobbi of Lions, Tigers and Bears Sanctuary for introductions. After the meeting it was agreed that the rescue would move forward and the permit process begins on both sides.
Michael & Andy find a Sanctuary
Contacting a trusted sanctuary that Andy knows in the United State, Michael and Andy met with them and they agreed to take the cub.
Jason contacts Heart of the Wild
Jason contacted Michael and Andy to help explore options for a forever home for the cub.
Lion roaming the street Lebanon
Young male lion is found wandering the streets in Lebanon. Retrieved by the Ministry of Agriculture. Put under the supervision of Jason Mier of Animals Lebanon, the lion will remain with the person who illegally took him. Jason will ensure conditions remain appropriate as a new home is found and all the paperwork / permits are acquired.