Recently, Animal Defenders International received assistance from Qatar Airways Cargo in moving six juvenile lions from the illegal wildlife trade to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in Johannesburg.
The Kuwait Zoo provided care for Muheeb, Saham, Shujaa, Saif, and Dhubiya, the females, who were collectively referred to as the “Kuwait 6.” After receiving a request for assistance from Kuwaiti government representatives, Animal Defenders International (ADI) offered the lions a place to live at their 455-acre refuge in South Africa.
Head of Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo, Mark Drusch, stated: “We are honored to assist ADI once more, this time in reuniting these six stunning lions with their homes in Africa. We are dedicated to restoring wildlife and endangered species to their native environment at no cost through our WeQare Rewild the Planet program.Our team has to put in a lot of work and planning to organize the transportation of such large animals; from handling the airport procedures to loading and unloading the animals from the plane to making sure the proper cages and animal welfare are in place, it is a task we are all incredibly proud of and passionate about.
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“The Kuwait 6 lions have their entire lives ahead of them and will have acres of space at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary,” stated Jan Creamer, President of Animals Defenders International. We appreciate that Qatar Airways Cargo and their WeQare initiative have once again helped us out by paying for our return flight to Africa. We also extend our gratitude to the ADI supporters who contribute to the cost of their treatment.
Speaking for the Public Authority of Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources in Kuwait, Alzahra Aljanabi, Senior Translator, Animal Welfare Department: “We would like to thank the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary for their support and efforts in providing a better habitat for the six lions from Kuwait.” We express our gratitude to Qatar Airways Cargo for kindly providing the plane transportation. The dangers associated with owning wild animals as pets are often overlooked. Despite being amazing animals, they are nevertheless predators. To stop the trafficking of wildlife, we must raise awareness.
Qatar Airways Cargo keeps repeating how dedicated it is to animal welfare. The cargo carrier recently revamped its Live offering and inaugurated a brand-new, cutting-edge Animal Center, setting new standards for the transportation of live animals. With more than 550,000 animals transported in 2023, the airline maintains its position as a global leader in animal welfare, making sure that all aspects of its operations respect and enhance the welfare of animals.
