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Two lion brothers rescued from the Ukraine war have arrived at their new home in South Africa.

Tsar and Jamil travelled 8,000 miles from their temporary home in Belgium on Saturday (9 March) to their new "forever home" at the Born Free sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve. The brothers, who will never be able to be released into the wild, immediately sought refuge in a night house at the back of their enclosure after previously living on concrete.

Born in a Ukrainian zoo and separated from their mother at a young age, the pair were initially exploited as tourist attractions on a farm, suffering from malnutrition and lack of proper care. Intervention by local animal welfare groups led to their transfer to a Kyiv wildlife rescue center, where their health issues, including calcium deficiencies and bone fractures, were addressed.

The 2022 Ukrainian conflict introduced new challenges, but through the combined efforts of the Ukrainian rescue center, a Polish zoo, and Belgium's Natuurhulpcentrum (NHC), the lions were evacuated to safety. At NHC, they received care and rehabilitation while preparations were made for their transfer to South Africa.

Their relocation involved a carefully orchestrated journey that began with road travel to Luxembourg airport, followed by a flight to Johannesburg, courtesy of Cargolux via Born Free's partnership. After a 10-hour flight and an overland trip covering over 1,000 kilometers, Tsar and Jamil arrived at the Shamwari sanctuary, eagerly exploring their new 2.5-acre bush enclosure.

The Born Free team closely monitors their adjustment to the new environment, hopeful for the lions' exploration of their surroundings. Despite minor bruises from the journey, the lions are expected to thrive under the South African sun, joining the sanctuary's legacy of providing new beginnings to 50 big cats.

The project, marking Born Free's 40th anniversary, underscores the charity's dedication to rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife, with Tsar and Jamil as the latest beneficiaries of this mission.