When Sara first arrived at her rescuers' home, she was sick, tired, and covered in ringworms and signs of abuse all over her little furry body. The four-and-half-month-old lion cub was rescued by an animal rights group in Beirut and later transported to a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa after a long journey on a yacht and planes, escaping both Israeli airstrikes and abusive owners.
Sara is the fifth lion cub to be evacuated from Lebanon by the local rescue group since the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel began. The lion cub was discovered on social media channels in July, where her owner in Baalbek was seen parading with her on TikTok and Instagram, despite it being illegal to own wild and exotic animals in Lebanon.
After a legal battle, Sara was retrieved from her owner and moved to an apartment in Beirut before the conflict escalated. Animals Lebanon, the rescue group, faced challenges in evacuating Sara from Lebanon due to the ongoing conflict and disruptions in air travel.
With the help of donations, Sara was transported on a yacht to Cyprus and then flown to the United Arab Emirates before finally reaching her destination in South Africa. The lion cub is expected to be monitored for disease control and will eventually be integrated into a community of other lions at the sanctuary.
Animals Lebanon, known for rescuing animals trapped in conflict zones, has been actively involved in saving pets and wild animals during the war in Lebanon. Despite the challenges posed by the conflict, the group continues its mission to protect and care for animals in need.
