ANIMALIA - Edition 1 by Carien Marais | Alwyn P. Marais - HTML preview

PANTHERA AFRICA BIG CAT SANCTUARY

How two lions’ journey

inspired a big cat sanctuary

We all have a special animal that has changed our lives. For some it’s their childhood pet that refused to leave

their side when they were sick. For others it’s that special horse that seems to know what you think and feel.

It’s that special time you spend with that four-legged friend that always seems to sooth the soul or lift the

F spirits. or Cathrine S. Nyquist and Lizaene Cornwall,

founders of Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary

in South Africa, it was their bond with lions and

the friendship and love they received from their

lion friends, Obi and Oliver. When you think of

an animal friend, a lion is definitely not the first image that

comes to mind but for Cathrine and Lizaene there was no

question that these animals were their soulmates.

Cathrine and Lizaene started their fascinating journey at

a cub petting farm in South Africa. They were told that the

cubs they were taking care of had been abandoned by their

mothers and that they had to raise them. They formed a

deep connection with Obi and Oliver, two half-brothers, and

woke up every four hours to bottle feed them milk. The deep

attachment with the two lions grew, and they started to sense

each other’s emotions and moods. The two women spent

many nights in a small wooden house in the lions’ enclosure,

enjoying the presence of their pride under the African stars.

Cathrine S. Nyquist and Lizaene Cornwall, founders of the Panthera Africa

One day the two lions were sent away and Cathrine and Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa Lizaene experienced a sadness they had never felt before. As

time passed, they could somehow sense that their lions were While Cathrine was sitting with Oliver, she made a promise

not well, having formed a bond with them that now went to him, One day I will come and get you and give you a new

beyond space and being physically close to each other. They home. Oliver looked into her eyes, and something told her

received a distress signal from Obi and Oliver that they were that he understood. She and Lizaene decided to rescue these

not happy. Sometimes you just know that there is something big cats and start a sanctuary of their own, a daunting task,

wrong with your pet or horse, and so it was with the lions. but one that they felt was their destiny. They drove to the farm where Obi and Oliver were kept and

saw the most awful sight – deformed lions due to inbreeding, Cathrine and Lizaene sat together at their kitchen table for

a small cub in distress pacing in his small cage and crying for many days and sometimes well into the night and started

his mother. They realized with a sinking feeling that these planning the concept – a non-profit sanctuary based on

lions were in a breeding facility and were going to be used to animal welfare where no breeding, trading or human

breed more cubs to be sold into the tourism industry. interaction are allowed, as well as spreading awareness in

order to stop all exploitation and suffering for the big cats. It

There comes a point in anyone’s life where you simply cannot was one thing to rescue their lions and make good on their

go on as before. Some event or realization moves you so promise, but how would they earn the income to take care

deeply that you break with the old and start a new way of of them? Days became weeks, and then months. It took just

being and living. This moment for Cathrine and Lizaene was under two years for the business plans to be drawn up, a

when they saw and understood the inside of a breeding farm. private bank loan in Norway to be established, the property

They said to each other, someone has to do something to stop to be bought, the enclosures to be built and all permits and

this. approvals to be issued. Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary Stanford, South Africa

OBI BEFORE OLIVER BEFORE

No one will come to your sanctuary. You have to breed, trade six years, allowed to do whatever they please. Once or twice

and offer interaction. But Cathrine and Lizaene forged ahead, a day, depending on demand, tourists visit the sanctuary and

Do you want to give back? knowing that they had a good plan and they had to try. They are told Obi and Oliver’s remarkable story. It’s a story of hope

owed that much to Obi and Oliver. It took two years from and that no matter how desperate your situation seems,

the time they made the promise to the time they saw Obi there is always the possibility that someone somewhere

and Oliver again. They were worried that the lions would not will help you in the most profound way and lift you out of

Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary remember who they were, but they needn’t have, because the darkness and move you into the light. A week after all

in South Africa is a non-profit as soon as Cathrine called their names, a white lion head the animals were relocated to Panthera Africa an animal

popped up in the distance where the pride was lying in the communicator was hired to check in with the pride. After her

sanctuary deeply affected by shade. Oliver trotted towards her and she was overwhelmed session she came to Cathrine and said, “I don’t know if this

Covid-19 with the total loss of all with emotion at seeing her precious lion again. But they means anything to you but Oliver says, Thank you for keeping

were shocked to see their condition. Obi was emaciated your promise.” There was no doubt in Cathrine’s mind that

tourism income. and struggled to walk with his back legs giving out on him Oliver had heard her when she sat at his camp two years

every couple of steps. Oliver, the once peaceful and majestic ago and uttered the words, “One day I will bring you to a

lion, had a hard look in his eyes. Neither of them had manes place of safety.” Today Cathrine and Lizaene’s bond with Obi

We are a true sanctuary focusing even though they had reached the age where the manes and Oliver has strengthened even more. They now practice

on education and animal welfare. should have been fully developed. After a lot of hard work, animal communication with them and all the sanctuary’s big

perseverance and passion, Cathrine and Lizaene managed cats on a weekly, even daily basis. Animal communication

No breeding, trading or to bring their beloved Obi and Oliver to Panthera Africa, the is an ancient practice where humans go into a meditative

hands-on interaction. new true sanctuary that they had created. It was different state and connect with an animal. They can communicate

now. Obi and Oliver were no longer used and abused by the with the animal directly, and gather information about the

tourism industry, no longer petted by up to 50 tourists and cats’ welfare on all levels, including their physical, mental,

You can volunteers a day, no longer used to breed more cubs, and emotional and energetic state. The animals’ conditions and make a difference to

escaped their planned death of being killed and the bones their peace and true happiness is deeply felt when visiting

our big cats. used for the bone trade once they had become too old for Panthera Africa. Just being in the animals’ presence is a

breeding. life changing experience for many and has already opened

thousands of hearts.

Donate today Oliver and Obi were now able to live out the rest of their and help a

big cat in need. lives in peace, and with the special care and love that they Today Panthera Africa is home to 26 animals including lions,

deserve. They have been living at Panthera Africa for the last tigers, leopards, cheetah, caracals and jackal, and have seen

Visit pantheraafrica.com/donate

and give back.

Public Benefit Organization Number: 930056068 Section 18A www.pantheraafrica.com Non-Profit Organization Number: 211-254 Non-Profit Company Number: 2014/002629/08 OBI AFTER RESCUE OLIVER AFTER RESCUE