Lion cubs escape Lebanon war, brought to sanctuary in South Africa

(CLO) A 4.5-month-old lion cub has arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa after a long journey by yacht and plane, escaping Israeli airstrikes.

Sara is the fifth lion cub evacuated from Lebanon by local rescue group Animals Lebanon since Hezbollah and Israel began exchanging gunfire a day after the Gaza conflict began.

Animals Lebanon first spotted Sara on social media in July. Her owner, a Lebanese man in the ancient city of Baalbek, posted videos on TikTok and Instagram of him walking with the lion cub.

Lions that escaped the war in Lebanon were brought to a sanctuary in South Africa, picture 1 — Lion cub Sara prepares to be loaded onto a boat at the Dbayeh seaport, north of Beirut, Lebanon, on November 14. Photo: AP

Lebanese law prohibits the possession of wild and endangered animals. Jason Mier, executive director of Animals Lebanon, said the cub was simply being used by the man for show.

In mid-September, the group finally rescued Sara after filing a complaint with the police and judiciary, who questioned the lion's owner and forced him to hand it over.

Soon after, Israel launched an attack on the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, after nearly a year of sporadic fighting, and Baalbek came under heavy shelling.

Mier and his team rescued Sara from Baalbek weeks before Israel launched its aerial bombing campaign on the ancient city, and moved her to an apartment in Beirut's bustling Hamra commercial district.

Lions that escaped the war in Lebanon were brought to a sanctuary in South Africa, picture 2 — Sara plays with her caregiver. Photo: AP

Sara was scheduled to fly to South Africa in October, but international airlines have stopped flights to Lebanon over fears of Israeli attacks near the country's only airport.

With donations from supporters and animal rights groups around the world , Animals Lebanon took Sara on a small boat to Cyprus. From there, she flew to the UAE before ending her long journey in Cape Town, the capital of South Africa.

Since the conflict began, Animals Lebanon has also rescued many pets trapped in war-torn apartments.

Hoai Phuong (according to AP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/su-tu-con-thoat-khoi-chien-su-lebanon-duoc-dua-den-khu-bao-ton-o-nam-phi-post321623.html