Dear All We have come a long way and hope that we can make this rescue a great success. Co-operation Lawrence Anthony Earth Organisation (LAEO) SOS Zoo & Bear (SOS) Emoya Europe Foundation (EEF) Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary (EBCS) History & Timeline LAEO unexpectedly discovered the 3 lionesses while rescuing bears in Sanbir, Ukraine, during the latter months of 2017 LAEO communicated the need to find a sanctuary for the lionesses with SOS (deduction) SOS communicated the need to find a sanctuary for the lionesses with Conny Eckhardt (deduction) Conny Eckhardt contacted EBCS and enquired about the possibility to offer the 3 lionesses a forever home during November 2017 During December 2017 EBCS confirmed that it offered the 3 lionesses a forever home and would assist with the fund raising to cover costs During the latter part of December, it was discussed to found EEF. A preliminary budget was circulated during the first week in January 2018 During January 2018 the various organisations started posting on Facebook about the 3 lionesses and donations were mostly received via PayPal 3Lionesses@emoya.org.za EBCS received direct donations via their Paypal account as well as SA bank account EBCS set a goal for their two 14-year old Youth Ambassadors to raise R50,000 for the relocation of the lionesses. The internal arrangement was that if the youth achieved their goal, Emoya would accommodate the 2 children and their mothers free
of charge for a week during December 2018. The out of pocket expenses (food, laundry, wifi, services to the value of 25%) would be deducted from the R50,000 in donations (R12,500) During April 2018, two EBCS Directors and an EEF Director visited Ukraine, hosted by LAEO The group visited the three lionesses and various Live Facebook Posts were recorded The group had a meeting with Sergei and a translator at the local state vet The group was informed of the veterinary procedure to export the cub from Ukraine to South Africa The group visited Sergei s rehabilitation centre The group had a meeting with Sergei and a translator and a written agreement regarding the male cub was reached and signed It transpired later, as forewarned by LAEO, that Sergei was most unreliable EBCS stopped all communication with Sergei via the translator, despite the fact that EBCS (at the time) had co-operated and send all required documents and keep weekly contact with the translator as discussed Various complications regarding the Cites Export Permits transpired: A LAEO contact refused to help due to text messages she received from an ADI employee Current owners were slack in assisting with the much needed paperwork During a LAEO meeting with a minister of Ecology (?), LAEO was referred to a person who could and would assist with the Cites Export Permits It was decided to transfer the legal ownership of the four lions to Lionel de Lange (LAEO) which would simplify the required paperwork and permit applications During April 2018 LAEO informed the group that a male cub was at Ivan (where the three lionesses) were kept and apparently it was the cub which belonged to Sergei
It was agreed and accepted that the male cub was Nathan and that the co-operation would send Nathan to Stichting Leeuw as soon as possible It was decided to move the cub to a place of safety Mission of the Co-operation To relocate the three lionesses successfully to Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary, South Africa. To relocate the cub Nathan (and originally the cub Florence) successfully to Stichting Leeuw, Netherlands. Goals To obtain all necessary paperwork to relocate the 4 lions successfully, including but not limited to: - Cites Export permits for the 3 lionesses from Ukraine to Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary, South Africa - Cites Export permits for the male cub from Ukraine to Stichting Leeuw, Netherlands - Cites Import Permits for the 3 lionesses to Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary, South Africa - Veterinary Health Permits for the 3 lionesses - All the necessary documentation to import the male cub from the Ukraine to Stichting Leeuw, Netherlands To Raise funds to - Build transfer crates for the 3 lionesses and cub - Pay for airfare and or transport of the 3 lionesses & cub to OR Tambo and or Schiphol or make alternative arrangements for the cub with Stichting Leeuw - Build adequate bonding enclosures for the 3 lionesses - Build a complete enclosure for the 3 lionesses in the event the bonding with Omar / Bruno is not successful - Pay for initial veterinary care at Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary, including but not limited to initial hormone treatment to prevent cycles but also sterilisations
- Donate an amount of 10,000 Euros to LAEO & SOS to support bear rescues in Ukraine - Pay for interim care of the 3 lionesses & cub in Ukraine - Pay extra expenses of LAEO directly related to the relocation of the 4 lions The initial goal date was to relocate the 3 lionesses to Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary by end of March 2018. The date has been extended indefinitely due to lack of co-operation of the original owners. Now the legal ownership lies with Lionel de Lange we need to establish what is the timeframe for the Cites Export permits to be issued. Once the Cites Export has been issued, we estimate it would take 4 to 6 weeks (maximum) for the Cites Import to be issued. As soon as the Cites Import & Veterinary Health Permits have been issued, final arrangements for flights can be made. Lifetime Expenses The current cost of feeding the big cats at Emoya is R45/kg of meat. On average each lions receives 5kg per day 7 days a week: 3 x 5kg x 31days/m x R45/kg = ±R21,000/month This excludes General supplementation Specific supplementation Veterinary care Enrichment Hay R&M to enclosures R&M to sanctuary vehicles, roads, waterlines, perimeter fences R&M to meat-, cold- and freezer rooms Utility cost, including electricity and water Security Salaries
On average, each big cat costs between R12,000 to R15,000 per month to maintain and provide a forever home for. Financials Please see the attached PDF for detail for all donations made directly to the EBCS FNB account in SA as well as donations received via the EBCS PayPal account. Please note that EBCS financials are audited and 100% transparent to the public and these figures can be substantiated by the auditor in the near future. As the 3lionesses PayPal account and the EEF bank account in Netherlands are not accessible to EBCS we cannot comment on how much was received through these accounts. We can confirm however that at least the following donations have been made: Emoya Donor: 7,500 Euro towards airfare Emoya Donor: ±3,000 Euro Emoya Donor: 5,000 Dollars Emoya Donor: 500 Euro Several Emoya followers have also confirmed adoptions of the lionesses for a period of 12 or 24 months at 9 Euro / month. The Road Forward Lloreen will handle all correspondence from EBCS side going forward, and will consult with myself, Minunette and Savannah if required. We need to draw up an agreement between all parties involved which includes responsibilities and expectations, we need all your input concerning this please. Action
Please see the attached document as discussed and agreed in Ukraine and various Whatsapp messages. Hope that this finds you well. Let s help those lions Kind regards Albert