Wildfires at Panthera Africa

The Wildfire No One Could Have Prepared For

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 declared a Code Red emergency, the highest level of alert, due to its intensity and scale. Municipal firefighting teams were placed under severe strain and urgent assistance was called in from surrounding municipalities as crews worked tirelessly to try to contain the blaze.

Through the courage and dedication of our team, all 26 animals were kept safe. Those in immediate danger were successfully moved out of harm’s way. Tragically, despite every effort, our beloved tiger Rays did not survive. Although he was evacuated in time, smoke inhalation combined with the effects of darting led to lung oedema and cardio-respiratory compromise. He fell into a coma and passed away peacefully. His loss has been felt deeply by our team and by the wider community who loved him dearly.

While most of the animals escaped without critical injury, two of our big cats were not as fortunate. Arabella, our tigress, and Baguira, our lioness, sustained serious fire-related injuries and required long-term, intensive veterinary care under the close supervision of our specialist veterinarian.

Rays, in your memory, we will keep going. We will not stop. You are our light, always and forever. We love you and miss you more than words can ever say.

The Miracle Evacuation in the Midst of a Fire

Together with our on-site wildfire advisor, we made the incredibly difficult but necessary decision to evacuate most of our animals from the property, including all of our big cats, to trusted partner sanctuaries across the country. The first evacuations began on the day the fire hit us. In the days that followed, emergency permits were secured, complex transport logistics were coordinated and partner sanctuaries, some as far as 14 hours away from Stanford by road, began arriving to help relocate our animals to safety.

What made an evacuation of this scale truly extraordinary was the number of partner sanctuaries that responded to our call for help on such short notice, and the speed with which they mobilised. They stepped in without hesitation, bringing the resources and expertise required to accommodate our big cats under extremely challenging conditions. This was no small undertaking.

Big cats cannot simply be moved or placed anywhere. Each animal had to be carefully crated under expert veterinary supervision. Emergency permits were required to allow travel across provincial borders. Suitable transport had to be secured to ensure their safe relocation. They require species-specific enclosures, rigorous safety standards and highly experienced, dedicated teams to care for them. Equally significant was the fact that our partner sanctuaries either had suitable space available or were able to create space by carefully relocating some of their own animals within their facilities. As many sanctuaries operate at or near capacity, this was extraordinary in itself.

The coordination required for this evacuation was immense, yet it came together in a matter of days. What unfolded over that short period was nothing short of a miracle, and we remain profoundly grateful to every sanctuary and every individual who answered our call for help and stood beside us when it mattered most.

This was not a decision taken lightly. Moving big cats is complex and carries inherent risks. However, with uncontrollable fires in the immediate area and continued flare-ups both around and within the sanctuary, evacuation was the only responsible course of action to ensure their safety.

Impact of the Wildfire & Our Long Road to Recovery

The Provincial Premier, Alan Winde, has stated that the Western Cape is experiencing its worst fire season in more than a decade. Approximately 132,000 hectares (326,000 acres) of land have burned across the province, and the current fire season has recorded double the number of fires compared to the same period last year, placing immense pressure on firefighting resources throughout the region.

The full impact of the wildfire on Panthera Africa is still being assessed as we await official reports and insurance evaluations, a process that is expected to take several more weeks. It is therefore too early to confirm the total financial cost, the extent of our losses, what will be required to fully recover or to determine our next steps following this tragic event. What we do know is that the funding required for recovery will be considerable and far beyond what we can meet alone.

During this period, our focus remains firmly on the care of all our animals, including the seven who were not evacuated from the sanctuary. We continue to prioritise Arabella and Baguira’s long-term recovery while remaining equally committed to supporting our team as they carry on their work under extraordinarily challenging circumstances.

In late February, Baguira was approved by our specialist veterinarian to leave intensive care and return home, where she can continue her recovery. She is now back at our sanctuary, and our partner, the Born Free Foundation, which entrusts us with some of its animals when they require a safe and secure home, has kindly made one of their enclosures on our property available to us. This space is specifically designed for cats with special needs and is ideally suited to support her ongoing rehabilitation. We are sincerely grateful for their continued support.

Arabella’s progress is slower than Baguira’s, but she continues to heal. For now, she remains in intensive care, receiving the dedicated treatment she needs.

Loss of Income & Immediate Areas of Need

Beyond the devastating physical damage caused by the wildfire, we have also lost our primary sources of income and are currently unable to host educational visits or operate our volunteer programme. Our curio shop also remains closed. These activities previously represented a substantial portion of our monthly revenue.

Until we are able to resume operations, we are relying on the public’s generosity as our lifeline. Your support is essential in helping us cover the significant financial impact of the disaster, which unfolded over several days, as well as the ongoing costs of recovery as we work to establish a sustainable path forward.

Your continued support is essential for:

1. Immediate Disaster-Related Costs
The wildfire unfolded over several days, resulting in extensive and unavoidable expenses. These include emergency firefighting response, urgent veterinary intervention and the preparation and evacuation of the majority of our animals to ensure their safety. The full financial impact of this period is still being determined.

2. Ongoing Recovery & Veterinary Care
We are now in a long-term recovery period, the duration of which remains uncertain. Seven animals are currently at the sanctuary and continue to require daily care. In addition, Arabella and Baguira required intensive veterinary treatment, resulting in significant and unexpected additional costs. Baguira has responded well to treatment and has now returned to our sanctuary, where her recovery continues. Arabella remains in intensive care under the close supervision of our specialist veterinarian. Public support is essential to sustain this level of care, and we remain hopeful that they will continue to stand with us should more of our animals return home in the months ahead.

3. Supporting Our Team and Daily Operations
Our dedicated team is at the heart of everything we do. Urgent funding is needed to cover daily operational costs, support staff salaries and ensure we continue providing consistent, high-quality care for our animals. Ongoing support also allows us to respond to unforeseen challenges and emergencies as we recover.

“Ten years ago, we founded Panthera Africa to end the suffering of big cats in captivity.
Today, much of what we built with love, care, and dedication lies in ashes, and we made the difficult decision to relocate our beautiful big cats for their own safety. This tragedy will not define us. Our home is broken, but our spirits are not. With your ongoing support, We can continue protecting the animals in our care and begin to recover from this tragedy."

Catherine S. nyquist & lizaene cornwall
co-founders

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Is Panthera Africa equipped to deal with wildfires?

Due to the high fire risk in our area, regular and ongoing firebreak maintenance is carried out at Panthera Africa, alongside the continuous removal of alien and high fire-risk vegetation. Unfortunately, some landowers do not.

These measures form part of a comprehensive fire prevention and management plan that goes well beyond recommended standards. Our sanctuary is also equipped with extensive on site firefighting equipment.

Despite these proactive measures, our sanctuary and over 12,000 hectares (approximately 30,000 acres), of surrounding land were still severely impacted by the fire.

Why could fire services not stop this fire?

Strong winds, hot and dry conditions, and dense alien vegetation all contributed to the rapid spread and intensity of the fire. A Code Red was declared in the area, placing significant strain on local firefighting resources and requiring additional support from neighbouring municipalities.

Investigations into the cause of the fire that affected Panthera Africa and the surrounding area are ongoing, including whether any fires may have been deliberately started. Conclusions will only be possible once these investigations have been completed.

Where are Panthera Africa’s Animals?

Panthera Africa continues to care for Skillie the tortoise, Lucky and Love the jackals, bonded pair Jasper and Tammy (serval and domestic cat), Amy and Gigi the caracals, as well as our domestic animals. Baguira, our lioness, has recently returned home and remains in long-term recovery under close monitoring.

All of our relocated animals are receiving excellent care with partner sanctuaries, and most are adapting well. A few are taking longer to settle, which is completely understandable given the significant change they have experienced. They remain in expert hands either with our big cat specialist or at trusted partner sanctuaries across South Africa, including:

ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, Free State: White lionesses Lei-ah and Elsa.

Ashia Cheetah Conservation, Western Cape: Gabriel (leopard) and Pardus (black leopard).

Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Cape: BornFree Foundation servals Lekanya and Kamagelo.

LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary (Four Paws), Free State: Lions Chaka, Oliver, Neptune, and our special-needs lions Ivana and Karlos.

Old Chapel Veterinary Clinic, Gauteng: Arabella (tigress), in intensive care with Dr Peter Caldwell.

Shamwari, Eastern Cape: BornFree Foundation animals Balozi and Mahaba, and Lancelot the lion.

The Lions Foundation, Bela-Bela: Lionesses Zakara and Jade.

How Can You Help?

We kindly ask anyone who is able to consider donating directly to us. This is the most immediate and impactful way to support us right now. Every contribution, no matter the amount, directly supports our daily operations, our dedicated team and the animals in our care.

Whether you choose a once-off gift, a recurring donation or a yearly Guardian Pride Member sponsorship, your support is a vital lifeline as we continue to recover and determine our next steps after losing our major sources of income.

Purchases made through our online store also help to support us.

In addition, we are compiling an updated wishlist of items and support that will be most needed in the weeks and months ahead and will share further details as soon as they become available.

You may also choose to start your own BackaBuddy campaign and share it with friends, family and your wider network to help us reach more people. The BackaBuddy team has generously offered their assistance and is available to guide you through the setup process and answer any questions. All the information you need can be found via this link.

This is the help we need most right now and is a meaningful way to stand with us in unity as part of our Pride for Life. If you have any questions or would like to explore fundraising ideas, sponsorships or collaborations, please contact our Head of Marketing and Fundraising, Taryn Slabbert, at marketing@pantheraafrica.com

Thank you for your care, compassion and patience, and for holding us up when we need you most. We truly do not know what we would do without you as we continue to navigate this challenging period and determine the road ahead.

Is your name Panthera Africa or Panthera?

Our full name is ‘Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary’ and we also refer to ourselves as ‘Panthera Africa’.

Please kindly note that we are not the same organisation as the one referred to simply as Panthera. We are two completely separate organisations and are not affiliated with one another.

Referring to us as Panthera alone can cause confusion.