A Brotherhood Built on Hope
Honouring Paco, Richard and Rici's 17th rescueversary, the first all-male lion group at LIONSROCK
Bethlehem, 25 November 2026 – This December, FOUR PAWS and LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary commemorate the seventeenth rescueversary of three lions whose recovery journey continues to inspire animal lovers around the world.
On 2 December 2009, Paco, Richard and Rici arrived at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary after being rescued from exploitative private keeping conditions in Romania. Paco had been kept illegally in the backyard of a private household, while Richard and Rici were living under similarly unsuitable conditions. Through the intervention of FOUR PAWS, all three lions were given a second chance at life in a safe and caring home.
Their arrival marked an important milestone in the sanctuary's history, when the three youngsters were put together at their arrival as they became the first all-male lion pride at LIONSROCK. Despite their difficult pasts, the three lions adapted well to their new surroundings and gradually formed a strong social bond that remains evident today.
Since arriving at the Sanctuary, Paco, Richard and Rici enjoy spacious natural habitats, expert lifelong care and regular enrichment activities that encourage natural behaviours. Their friendship remains one of the sanctuary's most heartwarming success stories and demonstrates the positive impact of providing rescued animals with safety, stability and compassionate care.
Hildegard Pirker, Sanctuary Manager at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary, says the lions' journey highlights the importance of appropriate social opportunities for lions.
At LIONSROCK, rescued big cats receive specialised care tailored to their individual needs, enabling them to live secure and fulfilling lives.
As FOUR PAWS marks this milestone, the story of Paco, Richard and Rici also draws attention to the welfare challenges associated with keeping wild animals in private ownership. While many captive big cats are unable to express natural behaviours or have their complex needs fully met, these three lions demonstrate what is possible when animals are given the opportunity to recover in an environment designed for their wellbeing. Their enduring bond reflects the life-changing impact of sanctuary care and the resilience of rescued wild animals.
For more information, please visit our website at www.lionsrock.org
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About LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary
LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary, a FOUR PAWS sanctuary, is currently home to more than 80 big cats (lions, tigers and leopards) from around the world. Here, they live out their lives in a safe, species-appropriate environment. https://www.lionsrock.org/
About FOUR PAWS
FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler and friends, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. The sustainable campaigns and projects of FOUR PAWS focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats and orangutans – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cambodia, France, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Vietnam as well as 13 wild animal sanctuaries and cooperation projects across the globe, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.org.za