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The Drakenstein Lion Park, a rehabilitation centre outside Paarl, close to Simonsvlei, has been operational since 1998 and currently houses 21 previously-abused lions as well as one tiger.
During the Covid-19 pandemic rescue missions as well as funding opportunities and food donations dried up.
However, the start of this year has proven to be optimistic as it is the first year, post-Covid-19, that the sanctuary has operated with minimal challenges.
According to Paul Hart, director of the Drakenstein Lion Park, and his son Shane, assistant director, the aim of the facility is to “continue the good work it has been doing.”
It will continue to ensure a safe haven for abused and abandoned wildlife, and especially wild cats, such as lions.
It is clear this father-and-son duo has a passion for rescuing lions, as is shown by their hair-raising rescue missions across the globe.
These, which are entirely self-funded with overseas organisations, contributing solely to the transport costs, which can take up to six months as a mountain of paperwork has to be completed.
“We do not find the lions, they find us,” said Paul.
“A hair-raising rescue was the one in Cameroon, because it is very militarised,” Shane pointed out.
Nonetheless, this did not scare him off to follow in his father’s footsteps, and today he is actively involved in the rescuing and rehabilitation of the park’s cats.
“I am not supposed to have a favourite, but if I have to choose I would say Asad,” Shane shared.
The 12-year-old lion, which was rescued from central Beirut, Lebanon in early 2012, has decided that Shane is “his person” and regularly greets him along the fence line.
The Drakenstein Lion Park is home to many wild cats, whether from Lebanon, Romania or South Africa, where illegal trading in wildlife is almost endemic.
“People get them as cubs, but then they grow up,” Paul said.
The lions then get locked away because they become aggressive towards the humans.
One such incident is the story of Dodo, who was rescued in 2009 from a concrete pit in Romania.
“He spent his entire life underground in a pit. We, the Drakenstein Lion Park, were not quite sure what to expect when we opened the door [to the pit], but when we opened it, and it was like he knew he was home. He was a true gentlemen.”
Dodo died in 2021 and spent 12 carefree years with Paul and Shane at the lion park.
Other lions that eventually end up at the rehabilitation centre are those rescued from circuses, where they are confined to small spaces and forced to engage in “unnatural behaviour” such as doing tricks.
Many lions at the park have been circus animals rescued from countries such as France and South America.
Currently, this is also a trend in South Africa, where the McLaren Circus, among others, uses lions in its circus acts.
Paarl Post reached out to the park for comment regarding their circus animals, and especially the lions.
According to Paul and Shane, the use of big cats to perform tricks and putting them in confined spaces are unnatural.
Jacques Peacock, spokesperson for the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA), said the body is “opposed to the keeping or breeding of indigenous and exotic species in captivity for reasons other than conservation purposes, or for rehabilitation or sanctuary purposes.”
He explained it is legal, governed as it is by the Performing Animals Protection Amendment Act of 2016.
Paarl Post contacted the McLaren Circus, which said it would prefer not to comment.
The Drakenstein Lion Park is open seven days a week from 09:30 to 17:00 with feeding times every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 16:00.
Costs are R80 for adults and R40 for children.
The public can also “adopt” a lion through funding certain cats. More information can be seen on the Drakenstein Lion Park’s website here.
