Ruben Gets His Roar Back! Lonely Lion Who Fell Silent For Years In Abandoned Zoo Has Whole New Life
- last year
Ruben gets his roar back! Lonely lion who fell silent for years in abandoned zoo has a whole new life in store
For five years, Ruben the lion's roars went unanswered as the last animal in an abandoned zoo.
So scarred was the 15-year-old by solitary confinement in a tiny cage, he fell silent. But now Ruben is learning to roar again with the help of the British animal charity which rescued him
'He is still trying to roar. Ruben has never felt the sun on his back or the wind in his face.'
Now he will soon find a home at a sanctuary in South Africa where, his rescuers hope, he will roar again.
The rescue operation had to be meticulously planned and strategically timed to avoid inflaming tensions in the region, which is patrolled by a Russian peace-keeping force.
The former businessman's family were keen for Ruben to have a better life and agreed to the move, which had to negotiate multiple armed check-points.
Ruben was sedated and under the care of a vet for the nine-hour journey to safety in a bear sanctuary near Armenia's capital, Yerevan, run by the Foundation for Preservation for Wildlife & Cultural Assets (FPWC).
He will soon be taken to an ADI sanctuary in South Africa for lions and tigers.
Ruben, who was born in captivity in the zoo, has been left with health issues from his years spent alone with little food.
Rescue: Ruben the lion is moved to safety from his cramped cage in a safe container. He will soon find a home at a sanctuary in South Africa where, his rescuers hope, he will roar again
But his coat, once matted with mud and moulting, is getting its shine back as he gets used to a healthy diet and the comfort of a hay-bed, two heated rooms and a 30ft by 15ft enclosure.
‘This is more space than he has ever known but the real transformation will be in Africa where he will eventually have access to 2.5 acres of natural habitat,' Ms Creamer said.
'His life-long restrictions have weakened his muscles and there appears to be neurological damage to his spine and head and one leg is wobbly and drags. But we are building him up with exercise and food and he is responding well.
For five years, Ruben the lion's roars went unanswered as the last animal in an abandoned zoo.
So scarred was the 15-year-old by solitary confinement in a tiny cage, he fell silent. But now Ruben is learning to roar again with the help of the British animal charity which rescued him
'He is still trying to roar. Ruben has never felt the sun on his back or the wind in his face.'
Now he will soon find a home at a sanctuary in South Africa where, his rescuers hope, he will roar again.
The rescue operation had to be meticulously planned and strategically timed to avoid inflaming tensions in the region, which is patrolled by a Russian peace-keeping force.
The former businessman's family were keen for Ruben to have a better life and agreed to the move, which had to negotiate multiple armed check-points.
Ruben was sedated and under the care of a vet for the nine-hour journey to safety in a bear sanctuary near Armenia's capital, Yerevan, run by the Foundation for Preservation for Wildlife & Cultural Assets (FPWC).
He will soon be taken to an ADI sanctuary in South Africa for lions and tigers.
Ruben, who was born in captivity in the zoo, has been left with health issues from his years spent alone with little food.
Rescue: Ruben the lion is moved to safety from his cramped cage in a safe container. He will soon find a home at a sanctuary in South Africa where, his rescuers hope, he will roar again
But his coat, once matted with mud and moulting, is getting its shine back as he gets used to a healthy diet and the comfort of a hay-bed, two heated rooms and a 30ft by 15ft enclosure.
‘This is more space than he has ever known but the real transformation will be in Africa where he will eventually have access to 2.5 acres of natural habitat,' Ms Creamer said.
'His life-long restrictions have weakened his muscles and there appears to be neurological damage to his spine and head and one leg is wobbly and drags. But we are building him up with exercise and food and he is responding well.