Rescue Lions Roman, Vincent, Dolf, Ellie, Geena

Roman, Vincent, Dolf, Ellie and Geena are a pride of five sibling lions born in July 2019 in Romania. The pride consists of three males, Roman, Vincent and Dolf, and two females, Ellie and Geena. Among them, Dolf has always been the shiest and most sensitive, a gentle lion whose quiet nature was evident from the very beginning of his rescue journey.

The quintuplets were born into captivity on the property of a private owner in the village of Picior de Munte, southern Romania. The owner kept ten lions, having originally acquired the adult breeding pair from a Danish circus. The remaining lions were their offspring, bred on the property through uncontrolled breeding.

The lions lived in small, unsuitable enclosures with little regard for their welfare. They lacked proper veterinary care, their environment was unhygienic, and breeding continued without management. Some cubs were reportedly traded illegally abroad, while the lions endured a life far removed from the wild.

Public concern escalated in November 2020 when a music video featured an injured young lion named Simba. The footage revealed the shocking conditions in which the lions were being kept and prompted FOUR PAWS to investigate. Their findings confirmed an urgent need for intervention.

Following months of negotiations and careful planning, FOUR PAWS reached an agreement with the owner in 2021 to surrender the seven youngest lions. These included the quintuplets and their older siblings, Simba and Elza.

Although the owner refused to surrender the adult breeding pair and a younger cub named Aslan, FOUR PAWS secured an agreement to stop further breeding. Unfortunately, the owner later failed to honour parts of this agreement, leaving the remaining lions vulnerable while the organisation continues its efforts to rescue them.

On 1 October 2021, the seven rescued lions arrived safely at FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary in the Netherlands, where they began the next chapter of their lives.

At FELIDA, the lions finally received the professional care they had never known. They underwent health assessments, rehabilitation and behavioural monitoring while learning to live in a safe and enriching environment.

As the quintuplets approached sexual maturity, their care team temporarily separated the males and females. Because the siblings are closely related and FOUR PAWS follows a strict non-breeding policy, this step was necessary to prevent future breeding.

After Ellie and Geena recovered from their laparoscopic sterilisation procedures, the family could finally be reunited. To make the process as calm as possible, Dolf, being the most submissive member of the pride, was reintroduced to his sisters first. Once this reunion proved successful, Roman and Vincent joined them, allowing all five siblings to live together once again.

As they matured, their social structure naturally evolved. Roman gradually became the dominant leader of the pride, while Dolf settled comfortably into the lowest rank. The care team continued to monitor the group closely, ensuring each lion received individual attention while allowing them to develop healthy social relationships.

The young lions eventually outgrew the specialised rehabilitation offered at FELIDA. Healthy, energetic and full of curiosity, they were ready for a larger, more natural environment where they could truly thrive.

On World Lion Day, 10 August 2022, Roman, Vincent, Dolf, Ellie and Geena embarked on the final leg of their rescue journey to LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa.

For the dedicated FELIDA team, saying goodbye was bittersweet. After caring for the siblings for almost a year, they had formed a deep bond with each of the lions. Yet they knew there could be no better destination than LIONSROCK, where vast grasslands, trees and natural bush provide the freedom these young lions had been denied for so long.

Today, the quintuplets spend their days running, exploring, playing and resting together in a species-appropriate home. Watching them live as lions should is a powerful reminder of why rescue work matters.

One year later, Roman, Geena, Dolf, Vincent and Ellie are thriving under the South African sun in their species-appropriate enclosure! The siblings love their spacious home and have settled in wonderfully. We still can’t believe the difference in these animals, especially skittish Dolf, and are so happy about how they’ve settled into life at LIONSROCK.

The siblings are now in the prime of their lives. Roman, Vincent, Dolf, Ellie and Geena have become accustomed to their new surroundings. Their open enclosure has something to offer to each of the lions. The amenities include micro-habitats, including a small dam, a shady forest, rocky outcrops, rolling ridges, and the majestic backdrop of LIONSROCK itself.