6/19/2023 0 Comments Born to be a kingBorn Free opposes the keeping of wild animals as pets. The sad story of King before he was rescued highlights the plight of millions of captive wild animals around the world that are kept as exotic pets. With the help of Kenya Airways and our dedicated staff, we hope he had a smooth journey and will enjoy his new surroundings.” A Swissport spokesperson added: “The Swissport team are proud to have been a part of King’s journey to Born Free’s big cat sanctuary. Swissport provided crucial logistics support for King’s journey. Kenya Airways’ cargo facilities at Heathrow and across our network are fantastic for animal welfare from the smallest and domestic, to the mightiest of beasts! We were delighted to have King on board.” These relocations have been a great success and we do all we can to make it as stress free as possible for the lions. We have worked with Born Free for many years carrying rescued lions from Europe to Africa so they can enjoy being a lion. Katrina Hanson, Kenya Airways’ Area Cargo Manager, said: “We were delighted to assist in King's amazing relocation to Born Free’s Big Cat Rescue Centre at Shamwari in South Africa. Conserving a vanishing way of life and educating guests on the importance of living in harmony with nature and wildlife is what we strive for at Shamwari Private Game Reserve.”īorn Free’s Corporate Partner, Kenya Airways, flew King to Africa. Shamwari has been home to Born Free’s two Big Cat Rescue Centres for more than 20 years. Comments Group General Manager, Joe Cloete, said: “To be able to welcome King to his new home is incredibly heart-warming for us, especially so during our refurbishment process, of not only some of the lodges, but the Born Free Centre itself. Virginia McKenna OBE, Born Free’s Co-Founder and Trustee, said: “I am sure there will be a lot of smiling faces today! So many people responded to our appeal to bring young King to Shamwari, and now he has arrived! Thanks to everyone whose hearts were touched by his story, he now takes his first steps on African soil and can begin his happy new life. After a short internal flight, King touched down in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, before travelling the short distance by road to Shamwari and to his new home at Born Free’s Jean Byrd Centre. From Belgium, he travelled under the care of Born Free’s expert team to London Heathrow airport for a flight to Africa, courtesy of Kenya Airways. King started his journey from Natuurhulpcentrum rescue centre, Belgium, on Thursday 5th July. Following a successful appeal launched in April, Born Free will now provide King with lifetime care at its Big Cat Rescue Centre at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. King is a one-year-old lion cub who was rescued from an apartment in Paris last summer where he was being kept illegally as an ‘exotic pet’ in appalling conditions. We would also like to thank French animal charities Fondation 30 Million d’Amis and Refuge de l’Arche for rescuing King from the apartment Natuurhulpcentrum rescue centre for rehabilitating King Kenya Airways and Air Partners for flying King to Africa and Shamwari Private Game Reserve for their continued support for our big cat sanctuaries and expert care of our lions and leopards.īorn Free is delighted to announce that King is starting a new life in his ancestral home of Africa. We would like to thank all of our supporters for their overwhelming generosity that made King’s move to South Africa possible, and to all those who have chosen to adopt King to help fund his lifetime care. We dedicate this award to them and hope that by introducing the world to King – his plight, his rescue and his rehoming to lifetime care – Born Free can draw attention to, and take action against, the exotic pet trade.” King will now live free from harm in a large, natural bush enclosure, but millions of wild animals around the world who are kept as exotic pets are not so fortunate. Born Free is delighted that King has won the Animal Rescue Award at the Daily Mirror Animal Hero Awards 2018.Ĭhris Draper, Born Free’s Head of Animal Welfare & Captivity, said: “We are honoured to accept this award on behalf of King and are so grateful to everyone who made his move to our big cat sanctuary possible.
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