First Walk to Freedom

Kevin Richardson reports on Yame and George 

The end of year is a very busy time and very demanding as everyone tries to fit everything in before end of first week of December, so please bear with me if I haven't communicated as often as I would've liked.

George and Yame are doing extremely well. They have settled in and are growing day on day. They have been on a few walks in the greater farm and have travelled up and down in the lion vehicle. Slowly but surely they are becoming more and more confident and the true characters are starting to show which is wonderful.

Yame is looking almost as if there was nothing ever wrong with him. His eyes seem good, body weight is good and bone formation on track. He has a healthy appetite and is always keen on a game of stalk.
George is doing great but has a way to go. His eyes have improved and are looking clearer but his vision is still severely compromised. His bone formation and rehabilitation is on track and one has to just be careful of over exercising him.

They are both due for bloods in 3 weeks time. (6 weeks after arrival). George's dose of Metacam has been increased due to his weight.
We have gotten Taurine from our vet as well as strath. We are struggling with the correct eye drops and will need consequine and vitoftal soon. Our vets don't seem to know what these are so getting these is a help.

All in all they're both such a treat to have at the sanctuary and one can see their happy little spirits.
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Future updates.
For all those who have donated to relocate the cubs to SA and who are interested in the cubs' progress, CACH will be posting a monthly newsletter and blog about the cubs' activities at the sanctuary. We hope to get pictures of them each month as they grow and this way you can follow their first year.
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Here is an interesting point of view.
One of the volunteers, Alexander Anghelou, who was at Kevin's sanctuary when the cubs arrived has written an interesting piece on the psychology of hunting.

" Boasting about killing an animal isn’t a sign of strength; it’s a sign of insecurity. "

"I believe that the power and thrill the hunter feels by killing a lion, which is a symbol of power, is due to the fact that they feel reassured by fooling themselves that they have more power than they actually have and therefore temporarily feel more secure."
See his full article here .........

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Cub Petting - Lion Parks in SA exposed for what they are.
Watch 60 Minutes on Sunday, 30th Nov, on CBS news in USA to see the dramatic exposure of Lion Parks in South Africa that pose as sanctuaries.  
Watch the promo video here: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/from-pets-to-prey/

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Little George takes the lead here, on the cubs first walk in the African bush veld

Yame out in front.