Vienna, 3 March 2025 – To mark World Wildlife Day on 3 March, global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS highlights the daily care work carried out on rescued big cats and other endangered animals in 13 wild animal sanctuaries and partner projects around the globe. A total of seven lionesses recently underwent operations to contain the risk of uterine inflammation (Pyometra) in a four-day sterilisation marathon. The physical health of lions, tigers, bears and other wild animal species that have been rescued from conflict zones and inappropriate private keeping conditions such as zoos, is just as important as a stable mental state, which is ensured by species-appropriate standards and enriching amenities in the sanctuaries. Every year, UN World Wildlife Day commemorates the signing of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

One of the main pillars of the work of FOUR PAWS is the protection of wild animal species that have been rescued from inappropriate keeping conditions. Many species are on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which means that their existence is threatened or even endangered.

Species-appropriate homes in eleven countries for over 300 wild animals

Rescue missions often involve challenging negotiations with former owners and time-consuming paperwork. Once an animal arrives safely at a sanctuary, the healing process and lifelong care measures can begin, including routine medical procedures that alternate with more complex interventions such as sterilisations or dental care.

Sterilisation marathon for seven rescued lionesses

In a mammoth task, wildlife veterinarians of FOUR PAWS recently carried out vital medical interventions, including the sterilisation of seven lionesses at Al Ma’wa for Nature and Wildlife in Jordan, run in cooperation with the Princess Alia Foundation. The veterinary examinations were carried outby Dr Amir Khaliland Dr Marina Ivanova (both FOUR PAWS) and Dr Frank Göritz from the Leibniz Institute of Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW).

“The strong resilience of the lionesses who went through the misery of war in Gaza and Syria has been demonstrated once again. In the last four days we were able to successfully perform intensive medical interventions on a total of seven animals to prevent uterine inflammation - a vital procedure for older lionesses. Today, all patients are well and ready for a treat after the exhausting surgical marathon. The experienced team of Al Ma’wa together with their dedicated veterinarian will now take care of the animals until they are fully recovered,” says FOUR PAWS veterinarian Dr Khalil.

Big cats also need a dentist

Toothache is unpleasant for anyone. Dental care is crucial as it directly impacts the overall wellbeing and quality of life for big cats. Recently tooth extractions and root canal procedures were carried out on lion Lubumbashi, lionesses

Zendaya, Dandi and Sheeba at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa. Root canal treatment is a more complex procedure which saves the teeth and is not uncommon, especially for fractured canine teeth. In order to assess the big cat’s overall health, blood and urine samples were taken while under anesthesia.

“The standards in our FOUR PAWS sanctuaries and partner projects are at the forefront of wild animal husbandry. These include spacious enclosures, medical monitoring and care as well as natural feed and enrichments to promote physical and cognitive activity,” concludes Pfabigan.

Background

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement aimed at ensuring that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. The agreement entered into force in 1975. CITES works by regulating and monitoring trade through a system of permits and certificates for species listed under its three appendices, each based on the level of protection needed. The convention has been pivotal in preserving biodiversity by restricting commercial exploitation of endangered species.

A home for over 100 rescued big cats in South Africa

LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary is one of the 13 wild animal sanctuaries and cooperation projectsestablished by FOUR PAWS worldwide. It is currently home to over 100 rescued big cats, including lions, tigers and leopards. They were rescued  from private keeping, circuses, zoos or conflict zones all across the globe. The sanctuary encompasses a total area of 1,250 hectares. The land is also inhabited by other typical South African species that live freely like zebras and antelopes, as well as a wide variety of bird species that have found refuge on the property. 

Al Maꞌwa for Nature and Wildlife

Since 2009 FOUR PAWS has a partnership with the Princess Alia Foundation (PAF). Together they established Al Maꞌwa for Nature and Wildlife in 2011. The sanctuary provides a regional solution for rescued wild animals and offers emergency relief to animals from crisis areas in the Middle East. Most of the resident animals come from illegal trade or were abused as visitor attractions in zoos.