News

Three lions return to our sanctuary near Stanford after more than eight months away September 2026: Chaka, Karlos and Ivana are home! More than eight months after a wildfire forced us to evacuate all of our big cats, the three lions have returned to Panthera Africa. Our team has missed their roars, their quirks and […]

26 May 2026 – Our beautiful lioness, Zakara, recently needed emergency veterinary care after swelling and irritation appeared around her face and ear. Since the wildfire, Zakara and Jade have been safely staying with our trusted partners at The Lions Foundation in Bela-Bela, where they have been cared for with so much love, patience and

April 2026 – Our beautiful tigress Arabella arrived safely back at Panthera Africa yesterday after spending several months in intensive care. Having her home again means more than we can put into words. Arabella sustained serious fire-related injuries during the devastating wildfire in January. Her condition required specialist veterinary treatment, constant monitoring and months of

March 2026 – In late February 2026, we reached an important milestone in our recovery when our lioness Baguira returned home to Panthera Africa after spending several weeks in intensive care. Baguira sustained serious fire-related injuries during the devastating wildfire on 8 January. She required specialist veterinary treatment, close monitoring and ongoing care. After responding

January 2026 – On 8 January 2026, an uncontrollable wildfire devastated Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary. Within hours, substantial parts of the sanctuary were destroyed, most of our animals had to be evacuated to trusted partner sanctuaries and we lost our main sources of income. Despite the measures we had in place to protect our

January 2026 – Following the devastating wildfire that swept through Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary on 8 January 2026, we have received many questions from concerned supporters around the world. We have created this frequently asked questions update to explain how we prepared for the risk of wildfire, why the fire was so difficult to

The Wildfire No One Could Have Prepared For January 2026 – On 8 January 2026, a fast-moving and uncontrollable wildfire swept through Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary, causing widespread devastation across our property and neighbouring farms. Several big cat camps were destroyed, along with critical infrastructure, including electrical systems and perimeter fencing. The fire was

On Thursday, 24 April 2025, the Panthera Africa family gathered at Stardust in Cape Town for an unforgettable evening to celebrate a decade of passion, purpose, and pride. The event was not only a celebration of our 10-year journey, but also a fundraiser to support the animals that call Panthera Africa home — and what

2025 marks a monumental milestone for Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary—our 10-year anniversary! Over the past decade, we have dedicated ourselves to rescuing, protecting, and providing a forever home for big cats in need. None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of our incredible community, and we are beyond excited to

Panthera Africa NPC Safely Relocates Four Rescued Jackals to Their New Forever Home, Providing a More Natural, Enriched Environment for Their Future STANFORD – January 31, 2025 – Panthera Africa is proud to announce the successful relocation of four rescued jackals to their new forever home at our sanctuary in Stanford, Western Cape. This carefully