The story of a lion cub rescued by a Russian activist and veterinarian, Karen Dallakyan, from illegal photographers three years ago has a happy ending. The animal is now reportedly living "in good health" on Tanzanian soil, even if its recovery and transfer were not easy, Dallakyan told Sputnik.
According to him, the former owner of the animal – Kilimanjaro Animal Center for Rescue, Education, and Wildlife – wasin arrears with their taxes and had been deprived of their license.
For this reason, the animals transferred from Russia, Simba and another one, female leopard Eva, were moved elsewhere in Africa. Once the court has pronounced its sentence, they will return to the center, he stated.
The veterinarian went on to talk about the difficulties he had encountered during the Covid-19 pandemic in transporting Simba from Dagestan (a Russian republic in the Caucasus), where the poor animal had been tortured, to Russia's city Chelyabinsk.
Help Comes From Many Quarters
At the time, Aeroflot was the only airline to operate flights during the pandemic. Thanks to him, a passenger flight became a health flight, grateful Dallakyan stressed.
"The top brass at Aeroflot (Russia's largest airline, ed. note) were understanding, as the transport had to be by passenger flight."
Indeed, the poor animal, held in Dagestan by illegal photographers, had legs broken to prevent it from moving, and required several operations for numerous health problems.
Over the following year, the activists prepared the necessary documents to transport the lion to Tanzania. A sponsor found in Chelyabinsk agreed to organize everything, on condition that Dallakyan's foundation would pay for the construction of an enclosure to house the little one on site. A Russian company provided the financing.
The Smiling Lion
That's how the vet described Simba's condition once he has arrived in Tanzania.
"The local food, air, humidity and dryness" quickly cured the animal, who found himself in his element," the savior said. "He's happier than before".
For his part, Hussein, Simba's trainer in Tanzania, who takes care of him, says that "it was like a dream" for him.
At first surprised to see a different type of environment, Simba got used to it and is now happy, the trainer, who spends the whole day with him, playing right up to the time of the dinner, said.
A year after his arrival in Tanzania, the lion has got a girlfriend, named Fiona. They live in separate enclosures, but are in regular contact.