Freya, a 6-month-old lion cub rescued from Lebanon’s wildlife trade, cautiously stepped into her new home at Drakenstein Lion Park in South Africa. Her arrival marked a new chapter, though her story remains a bittersweet one.
While Freya will live out her days in sanctuary, she will never know the wild life lions were meant to lead. Drakenstein has offered refuge to other rescued lions from various countries, many with traumatic pasts, such as Ares, who was blind, and Brutus, who endured severe abuse.
South Africa is known for both its conservation efforts and its controversial captive lion industry. Lions are bred for petting experiences but also for trophy hunting or the lion bone trade, which is legal under CITES regulations for export to Southeast Asia.
Animal welfare groups have long advocated for an end to this practice. South Africa’s government recently pledged to close the captive lion breeding industry, but it could take years if no legal challenges arise.
Freya’s rescuers hope she will bond with Pi, another cub rescued from Lebanon, and eventually share an enclosure with him. Both cubs were previously trafficked for social media fame, enduring mistreatment before being saved by Animals Lebanon and brought to Drakenstein for a better life.
