Six lions’ traumatic and disorganised journey to South Africa from Spain will be reported to the South African Veterinary Council, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) said on Tuesday.
”This matter will be drawn to the attention of the South African Veterinary Council,” said NSPCA senior inspector Rick Allan, who works for the society’s wildlife unit in Gauteng.
Allan said the six animals were transported in inadequate crates that did not conform to International Air Transport Association standards.
”Not knowing the future of these animals — or the purpose of their dreadful journey — adds to the aggravation and disappointment,” he said.
They were taken to Lechwe Lodge in Kroonstad in the Free State after arriving at Johannesburg International airport on Monday.
An NSPCA observer at the airport said the animals travelled 3 000km from Spain by road to Luxembourg. They were then flown to Johannesburg on a Cargo Lux aircraft, leaving at about 9am on Monday.
The aircraft landed in Johannesburg at about 6pm, and the lions had to travel a further 180km by road to their destination.
”These lions couldn’t move in the crates. They could only look one way. In my opinion, they were confused and frankly petrified. There were strange noises, the movement of fork-lift trucks plus the prodding they endured,” Allan said.
There was no information on the crates on how, or whether, they had been sedated. — Sapa