Karlos and Ivana – six years of strength and spirit
Six years after arriving at their forever home in South Africa, we check in with the Panthera team on two rescued lions.
Ivana and Karlos at the sanctuary in 2015 (c) Lizaene Cornwall
In 2019, two young lions, Karlos and Ivana, were found on the brink of death at a South African lion breeding farm – victims of the brutal lion bone trade. Malnutrition and inadequate care in their first months of life caused long-term impacts on their mobility and general condition.
Fortunately, they were removed by the the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) in South Africa, and immediately placed under the expert care of Dr. Peter Caldwell and the team at Old Chapel Veterinary Clinic, Pretoria. With dedicated treatment and round-the-clock support, their fragile lives were saved.
Karlos and Ivana in 2019 (c) Panthera Africa
With Born Free funding their relocation, the siblings were later transported from Old Chapel Veterinary Clinic to their forever home at Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary. Here, the cubs continued to receive the expert care of the Panthera Africa team.
Six years on, Karlos and Ivana have grown into strong, spirited lions. While traces of their difficult start remain, in the form of an occasional wobble or stumble, they never let this hold them back. Instead, they embody resilience, determination, and the will to live life to the fullest.
Their bond is unbreakable. From sunbathing side by side (Ivana often belly-up!) to chasing each other around their enclosure, their playfulness almost always ends in a loving embrace. Karlos has become especially vocal with the surrounding rescued pride, and we are waiting eagerly to hear Ivana add her voice to the chorus.
“Karlos and Ivana are lions who have overcome all the odds, but to us, they are teachers, reminding us daily that, no matter how many times you fall, you can rise again,” says Taryn Shanna Blows, Director and Head Animal Caretaker at Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary.
Happy, safe, and deeply loved, Karlos and Ivana are living proof of what compassion and collaboration can achieve.
Born Free Rescue Section at Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary