Vasylyna and Nikola travelled on a Martinair Cargo Boeing 747 Freighter on Thursday 25 April, having spent time living in the Felida big cat sanctuary run by welfare organisation Four Paws in Friesland, the Netherlands.
The lions stayed at KLM Cargo’s animal hotel at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol before their flight to Johannesburg.
They will have a new home at Lionsrock, a 1,250-hectare sanctuary that Four Paws runs in South Africa.
Vasylyna the lioness arrived at the Felida sanctuary on 7 June, having been kept as a pet in Ukraine, where she escaped and was found wandering through war-affected streets of a village near Kharkiv.
She was captured and taken to a temporary wildlife shelter in Ukraine then relocated to the Netherlands.
Nikola was kept in an illegal private possession in Montenegro where he was discovered in February 2022 and confiscated by local authorities.
After ten days roaming the streets near Budva on the Adriatic coast, he was brought to the safe haven of Felida.
Mirjam Scherer, Global Head of Specials Logistics at Air France KLM Martinair Cargo, says, “At our animal hotel at Schiphol, we prioritise dedication to providing the best care for our animal passengers. We ensure the highest level of attention and care for every animal under our care, from the moment of arrival to departure. Our team of seasoned professionals is ready to deliver the best service and care, including special diets, administering medication, and, of course, plenty of love and attention.”
Petra Sleven, Director of Four Paws, says, “The relocation of Vasylyna and Nikola to Lionsrock means they finally have the opportunity to live in a large sanctuary, surrounded by other lions. While it’s saddening that they never had the chance to be released into the wild due to illegal trade, we are glad to offer them a more natural life here.”