Kids Say the Darndest Things About Animals
On World Teachers' Day, FOUR PAWS celebrates educators who inspire compassion through unforgettable lessons at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary
Bethlehem, 02 October 2026 – Children often ask the questions adults have forgotten to ask. "Why was the lion living in a cage?" "Do rescued animals get a second chance?" and "Can lions be happy again?" are just some of the thoughtful questions learners ask during educational visits to LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary.
Ahead of World Teachers' Day on 5 October, global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS is celebrating the important role teachers play in helping children better understand animals and the world around them.
While educators are best known for shaping academic success, they also encourage curiosity, critical thinking and empathy. Through classroom discussions and hands-on learning experiences, teachers help learners explore important topics such as animal welfare, conservation and responsible stewardship of nature.
Educational visits to sanctuaries such as LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary near Bethlehem bring these lessons to life. Seeing rescued lions and tigers thriving in species-appropriate habitats allows learners to learn about the impact of animal exploitation, the importance of rescue and rehabilitation and the responsibility humans have towards animals in their care.
According to Hildegard Pirker, Sanctuary Manager at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary, these experiences can have a profound impact on young minds.
Pirker says teachers instrumental in helping learners transform their observations into meaningful learning opportunities.
In addition to learning about rescued big cats, learners are encouraged to think about their own role in creating a kinder world for animals and people alike.
As South Africa celebrates World Teachers' Day, FOUR PAWS extends its gratitude to educators who go beyond the curriculum to inspire curiosity, empathy and a lifelong commitment to protecting animals.
For more information, please visit our website at www.lionsrock.org
/ENDS
Deidre Daniels
Public Relations Officer9B Bell Crescent, Westlake Business Park,
Green Building, Cape Town, 7945
A Public Relations professional with over eight years’ experience in fostering positive relationships between organisations and media.
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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