Two Young Israeli Lions Relocated to South African Sanctuary After Illegal Wildlife Trade Rescue

Two young male lions named Ben-Tzur and Ori, rescued last year from illegal wildlife trafficking in Israel, have been successfully relocated to a large big cat sanctuary in South Africa. The lions were previously housed at the Motskin Zoo in Israel, where they were cared for over the past year and a half. The transfer operation began on a Sunday afternoon and concluded after more than 30 hours of travel, including a stopover in Germany, with the lions arriving safely at the ADI sanctuary in South Africa on Tuesday afternoon and released into their new spacious habitat the following morning.

Ori and Ben-Tzur were found in 2025 under illegal conditions; Ben-Tzur was discovered tied to a tree in the Palestinian Authority area and transferred by Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) rangers, while Ori was found in poor health by Kafr Qasim police. Both were taken to Motskin Zoo, which renovated a special enclosure for them. The zoo staff gradually acclimated the lions to transport crates, enabling a smooth and sedation-free transfer.

On the day of their departure, Ori’s parents, relatives of the late Staff Sergeant Ori Jarbi who fell in Gaza in early 2024 and after whom the lion is named, came to bid farewell. Ori’s mother, Naomi Jarbi, expressed mixed emotions, saying, "It is a sad day mixed with joy. We are excited that Ori will live the best life possible, but it is hard to see him leave."

The INPA emphasized the ongoing threat posed by illegal wildlife trafficking, noting that in 2025 alone, over 560 wild animals were seized, including reptiles, primates, birds, and marine species. INPA officials highlighted the criminal nature of this trade, which finances organized crime networks. Attorney Shay Peretz, the INPA’s chief prosecutor, stressed that recent legal amendments now allow authorities to target the financial infrastructure behind wildlife crimes, aiming to dismantle the criminal organizations profiting from this illicit trade. This marks a strategic shift toward more effective enforcement against environmental crime in Israel.