Qatar Airways Cargo has announced that it will work with non-profit wildlife conservation organization Animal Defenders International (ADI) to transport six young lions rescued from the illegal wildlife trade to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in Johannesburg.
Known as the “Kuwait Six,” young male lions Muheeb, Saham, Shujaa and Saif, and lionesses Dubya and Aziza, were kept at the Kuwait Zoo when ADI was contacted by Kuwaiti government authorities to help conserve the lions, providing a home for all six at its 455-acre sanctuary in South Africa.
“We are proud to once again support ADI in bringing these six beautiful lions back to Africa. ,” said Mark Dorsch, Chief Cargo Officer at Qatar Airways Cargo, adding that the transport is free of charge.
“It takes a lot of effort and logistics for our team to organise the movement of such large animals – logistics at the airport, loading and unloading the animals on the aircraft, setting up proper cages and ensuring the animals' health – but it is a job we all take pride and passion into,” Dorsch added.
“Kuwait 6 Lion will have many acres of space at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary for the rest of his life. We are again grateful to Qatar Airways Cargo and their WeQare program for covering the cost of air transport to Africa,” said Jan Creamer, Chairperson of Animals Defenders International.
Qatar Airways Cargo recently opened a state-of-the-art animal center and relaunched its live product, setting new standards in live animal transportation, with over 550,000 animals transported in 2023.
