Obi's Full Story

Dearest Pride Member,

Did you know that one of our lions, Obi, was taken away from his mother when he was only a few hours old? It wasn’t because his mother didn’t want him, but because little Obi was used - literally - to make money at a cub petting facility.

They snatched him from his mother to subject him to months of sleep deprivation and forced interaction with fee-paying tourists and volunteers. That’s the reality of the captive lion industry here in South Africa.

When he was about 10 months old - too big to use for those profitable ‘selfies’ - he was sent back to the breeding farm with his half-brother, Oliver. They lived in horrific conditions and had to share food with nine other lions... and since Obi was the weakest, he never had enough to eat. He became so thin and weak; he could barely walk.

But an angel must have been watching over him - because we rescued him in the nick of time. Who could ever forget his dull stare, the ribs that protruded from his skin, and his awkward, stumbling walk... once, Obi was more skeleton than lion.

We coaxed him back to health with the proper nutrition, supplements and stimulating enrichment activities - and slowly, he blossomed into the strong, beautiful lion he is now, with the biggest mane of all! 

Obi’s story reminds us that no matter how bad things get, always keep hope alive. And we’ve needed that lesson this year, because of the effect that Covid-19 has had on our work here at Panthera Africa... and it’s the reason we’re writing to you today.

You see, we need your help to care for Obi and the 25 other animals here, all with stories like his. It costs around R4,000 ($250, £190, €210) to care for one lion for one month - including the essential supplements and medicine. Please donate $10, $50, or $100 per month and help us take care of our big cats. The love given through the donation is the biggest donation of all.

You can choose who you would like to sponsor here - and no matter who speaks to your heart today, please know that your generosity will be so hugely appreciated.

We want to thank you for understanding how important your loving support is. It’s what once helped us to save Obi and all the other animals here - and it continues to help us keep them safe and free from harm.

Our deepest gratitude,

Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary