qatar airways lions

Image: Qatar Airways Cargo

Roaring success: Qatar Airways brings captive lions back home to SA

The airline helped to relocate seven lions that have lived in captivity for several years in the Ukraine to South Africa where they will live out the rest of their lives in the wild.

qatar airways lions

Image: Qatar Airways Cargo

Better known as an airline that transports thousands of people across the world, Qatar Airways — through its cargo division — has quietly been making a significant impact on environmental protection.

Earlier this year, the airline launched its Rewild the Planet initiative as part of its WeQare sustainability programme. Through the initiative, Qatar Airways has pledged to fly wild animals back to their natural habitats for free.

Qatar Airways’ precious lion cargo

On 27 April, its precious cargo were seven lions that have been in captivity in the Ukraine. The operation saw flight QR 8889 transport three lions, one lioness and three cubs from Kiev to Doha and then Johannesburg over three days before they were welcomed at the Kouga and Swinburne nature reserves — and walked on grass for the first time in their lives.

Handlers from Qatar Airways’ live animal division were present throughout the relocation operation. The lions were also accompanied by members of Warriors of Wildlife (WOW), the Ukraine-based NGO that orchestrated the rehoming of the big cats to South Africa.

Kiev lions: Long flight to freedom

The relocation operation entailed more than six months of planning, involving various departments and 50 Qatar Airways Cargo employees.

The transportation of the felines required close co-operation between the various service handlers at the airline, as well as Warriors of Wildlife.

Warriors of Wildlife founder and director Lionel de Lange praised Qatar Airways for its efforts in relocating the lions to a natural setting.

Repatriating wild animals is a major undertaking, especially over such a great distance. But we were able to count on the Qatar Airways Cargo teams who are 100% behind us and the work we do. They played a critical role. Without them, these seven lions would still be in captivity in atrocious conditions. So thank you on their behalf,De Lange was quoted as saying on Simple Flying.

RETURNING TO THE WILD

After the three-day journey from Kiev to Johannesburg, the pride is now on home soil.  The lions will spend the remainder of their lives in the Kouga and Swinburne nature reserves in South Africa.

The lions have lived in captivity for years and will not be able to automatically adapt in the wild. They will spend the next few months in a protected area where they can begin to explore nature. Later on, they will be resettled in more expansive areas of the nature reserves where they will be protected and taken care of for the duration of their lives.

Qatar Airways’ presence in SA

Qatar Airways has ramped up its presence in South Africa over the last year, while several international major airlines have completely dropped South Africa from their route networks due to the new coronavirus variant which has been detected in the country.

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