A spokeswoman said: “Major progress has been made at their state-of-the-art facility, which will soon serve as the forever home for Yuna, Rori, Vanda, Amani and Lira.
“These lions have spent the past months in facilities offering temporary care across Belgium – Rori at Natuur Hulp Centrum, Vanda at Planckendael Zoo, and Amani and Lira at Pairi Daiza.”.
Rori, who is approximately three years old, had been living in a private menagerie and used for illegal breeding, and was also unable to stand because of shell shock, the spokeswoman said.
She said female lion Vanda is approximately one year old and was rescued from a flat where she had been kept as a family pet where she had no access to sun and was “severely malnourished”.
“In March, Rori, Vanda, Amani and Lira will embark on their long-awaited journey to the Big Cat Sanctuary, where they will be reunited with Yuna.
