Born Free responds to wildfire emergency to rescue wild cats

Lancelot, Mahaba and Balozi during the relocation

Over the past week, devastating wildfires have swept through South Africa’s Western Cape, threatening rescued and vulnerable big cats at Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary near Stanford. As flames closed in and unpredictable winds made conditions perilous, Panthera Africa made the courageous decision to evacuate animals to safety. Born Free was proud to stand by their side. 

In an extraordinary act of collaboration, sanctuaries across South Africa – ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary, FOUR PAWS Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary, The Lions Foundation SA, and Ashia Cheetah Conservation – rallied together to ensure every animal was safe. With space at our Sanctuary in our partner Shamwari Private Game Reserve, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, Born Free acted immediately to help. 

Our Big Cat Sanctuary Manager, Catherine Gillson, and Shamwari Private Game Reserve veterinarian, Dr. Leroux Pepler, undertook an exhausting ten-hour overnight journey from the Eastern Cape to Stanford to rescue three of our animals: Lancelot, a male lion, and two of our four servals, Balozi and Mahaba. The other two servals, Lekanya and Kamogelo, were relocated to Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary in Plettenberg Bay. 

“We are incredibly proud to have been able to respond so quickly and help Panthera Africa during this crisis. Seeing Lancelot and the servals safe and settling into their new homes is a huge relief. This is what Born Free stands for.  Being there when animals need us most,” said Catherine Gillson, Born Free’s Big Cat Sanctuary Manager. 

SUPPORT OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Lancelot, estimated to be 17 years old, endured a lifetime of suffering before finding peace at Born Free’s private enclosure at Panthera Africa in 2022. Thanks to swift, expert action, he is now settling into a calm, natural setting with shade and privacy at Shamwari. He has eaten and found water and is enjoying the wild bush at the back of his two-acre enclosure. The servals are alert and adapting well, with our team providing temporary quiet, species-appropriate care and enrichment at Shamwari’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. 

Aerial view of the Panthera Africa site after the wildfires swept through

This emergency response reflects what Born Free does best: compassionate, expert action when animals need us most. We are proud to support Panthera Africa and will continue to care for these animals for as long as needed, with patience, expertise, and love. 

But the truth is, we do not yet know what the future holds for these wild cats. We may need to build new enclosures. We may need to transport the animals again to ensure their long-term safety and well-being. Every decision will be made with their welfare at heart. 

What we do know is this: Born Free will not let them down. We will provide the best possible care, whatever it takes. But we urgently need your support to do so. 

Your gift today could help us: 

• Provide immediate care – veterinary checks, nutrition, enrichment, and daily monitoring 

• Stabilise and upgrade temporary facilities – ensuring calm, secure spaces 

• Plan for the unknown – we may need to build new enclosures or transport animals to safe, permanent homes 

• Stand by Panthera Africa – with support during the aftermath of the fires

Your generosity could be the difference between what is possible and what is best for Lancelot and our servals – Balozi, Mahaba, Lekanya, and Kamogelo. With your help, we can act swiftly, compassionately, and with absolute confidence in the care we provide.