Wildfires at Panthera Africa
We Urgently Need Your Support
On 8 January 2026, an uncontrollable wildfire swept through Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary in Stanford, South Africa, causing extensive damage. Several big cat camps and critical infrastructure were destroyed, including electrical and perimeter fencing and multiple animal enclosures.
Thanks to the courage and dedication of our team, all 26 of our animals were kept safe, with those in immediate danger successfully moved out of harm’s way. The majority of our animals escaped without critical injuries. At present, two of our cats, Arabella, a tigress, and Baguira, a lioness, remain in intensive veterinary care and require ongoing treatment.
Tragically, despite every effort and having been moved to safety in time, our beloved tiger, Rays, did not survive. Smoke inhalation combined with the darting led to lung oedema and cardio-respiratory compromise. He fell into a coma and passed away peacefully on Saturday, 10 January. His loss has been deeply felt by our entire team and the local community. There are no words to capture the depth of our grief.
Rays was a true fighter, radiating an inner strength and calm that touched everyone who met him. Even in his absence, we feel him urging us to stay strong and carry on, a gift he brought to our pride every single day.
"Rays, in your memory, we will keep going. We all love you and miss you more than words can say."
The full impact of the fire is still being assessed as we await official wildfire reports and insurance assessments, a process that may take several more weeks. It is therefore too early to determine our next steps following this tragedy.
We are hoping for continued public support as, in addition to the physical damage caused by the wildfire, we have also lost our primary sources of income. At present, we are unable to host educational visits or run our volunteer programme, and we can no longer rely on income from our curio shop, which previously made up a significant portion of our monthly income.
We need help to cover:
- The costs associated with the disaster, which unfolded over several days. These include emergency firefighting response, urgent veterinary care and the evacuation of animals to ensure their safety. We are still in the process of fully assessing the total financial impact, and this will take more time.
- The ongoing recovery period, the duration of which remains uncertain. This includes the continued care of the seven animals currently at the sanctuary, as well as intensive veterinary treatment for our lioness, Baguira, and our tigress, Arabella, both of whom suffered severe injuries as a result of the wildfire. They are monitored daily by a specialised veterinarian, and this level of care may be required for weeks or even months. Public support is vital to sustaining this care.
- Funding to support our dedicated team, who are essential to the daily care of the animals and the running of the sanctuary, as well as to cover daily operational costs and respond to any unforeseen challenges or emergencies.
All our relocated animals are currently receiving excellent care, and most are adapting well. A few are taking longer to settle, which is completely understandable given the significant change they have experienced, but they are all in expert hands at partner sanctuaries around South Africa.
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Banking Details
Panthera Africa NPC
First National Bank
A/N: 62459961142
B/C: 250655
Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ
So many concerned supporters have asked how they can help, and for this, we are beyond grateful.
We humbly ask anyone who can please consider donating. This is the most immediate way to help, and every donation, no matter the amount, will directly support our team in their nonstop work to manage this critical situation and keep us going at a time when everything feels so uncertain.
Please also consider starting your own BackaBuddy campaign and sharing it with friends, family and your wider network to help us reach more people. To support you in the campaign setup process, the BackaBuddy team has kindly offered their assistance and is available to answer any questions you may have. All the information needed to create your own campaign can be found via this link.
This is what we need most right now, and it is a real way to stand with us in unity. Every bit of support will make a difference. Thank you for your care and compassion, and for holding us up when we need you most. We truly do not know what we would do without all of you.
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."
Every contribution—no matter the size—makes a real difference. Whether you choose a once-off donation or ongoing sponsorship, your support helps us continue saving lives and providing the best care possible for our beloved pride.
