in memorial
In the sanctuaries of FOUR PAWS we provide lifelong care for the rescued animals. This page is a tribute to all 'FELIDA animals' that passed away either in FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary, or in LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary after they were transferred from the Netherlands to South Africa.
Tiger Tsezar
In September 2024, the 14-year-old tiger had not been feeling like himself lately. We had adjusted his treatment plan but when the new medication did not improve his condition, the wildlife vets from Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research immediately came to our sanctuary to check him. Sadly, the blood test results revealed that his kidneys had continued to deteriorate and were no longer functioning. We know from chronic kidney disease that this condition is irreversible, and to spare him from further suffering, we had to provide the 14-year-old tiger with the last deed of good care and let him go. It was almost three years ago that Tsezar safely arrived at our sanctuary. Rescued by FOUR PAWS from a life of exploitation in a private club, the scarred and fragile tiger was transferred from Ukraine to the Netherlands in October 2021. Despite his chronic kidney disease Tsezar’s transformation was remarkable and we were so happy to see that he could finally relax and enjoy this second chance in life. We are going to miss his friendly ‘chuffs’ towards us in the morning and are grateful for how much we could do for Tsezar in the past years. Not only was he the only tiger currently at our sanctuary, he simply was one in a million. Rest in peace, Tsezar. You will be remembered by all of us. Read more about Tsezar here.
Lion Bobby
In May 2024 we noticed that Bobby was clearly not feeling well. He ate less and had difficulty walking. We kept a close eye on him, and our wildlife veterinarian visited to assess his health. The results of the blood test showed that his kidneys had further deteriorated and ceased functioning. His condition was irreversible, and to prevent further suffering, we made the difficult decision to let him go. Bobby was rescued alongside his father and brother from the worst zoo in Albania and arrived with us on May 9, 2019. He came to us with serious health issues and faced a challenging time after his rescue. However, he proved to be stronger than anyone expected and bounced back. Over the past five years, we provided him with intensive, specialized care, and we saw that the magnificent lion, despite his chronic kidney disease, still enjoyed life to the fullest. Bobby's favorite hobby was lounging and relaxing. After his morning routine - during which he explored his enclosure, marked his territory, and joined in the “lion choir” - he would jump into his hammock, where he preferred to spend the entire day. We are grateful for the time we spent with Bobby and for the difference we were able to make in his life. He was the animal that has been with us the longest of all the current FELIDA residents. We will miss him greatly. Farewell, dear Bobby. We will never forget you. Read more about Bobby here.
Lion Pregan
Pregan was born in a zoo in Germany in 2007 and came to the old rescue centre in the Netherlands in 2012. We met the lion two years later, when FOUR PAWS took over the old facilities and turned it into FELIDA. Pregan and his sister Simba soon needed more space and therefore were amongst the first six animals that made the journey to LIONSROCK in 2014. Pregan was a sensitive and soft natured lion, who lost his sister far too early also due to kidney failure. He was always easily recognized amongst other male lions as he didn’t have a mane because he was neutered in the past. The animal caretakers on site at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary noticed that the lion was feeling unwell. Sadly, the blood values revealed kidney failure. The onsite team did their absolute best to make him feel comfortable, but unfortunately, his condition deteriorated so fast that they were forced to take the most difficult decision and to let him go. We are proud that he was able to spend his last years under the African sun. His unique look will be missed. Read more about Pregan here.
Lioness Nora
We met the lioness in 2013 when FOUR PAWS took over the old centre and called it FELIDA. After the take-over Nora and her siblings belonged to the first six animals that made the transfer to LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in the summer of 2014. She eventually had to be separated from them and stayed on her own for some time in a neighbouring enclosure. When the lion male Giovanni was also transferred from FELIDA to LIONSROCK, he moved in next to her and their love story began. After a long introduction period, we finally put them together and they remained inseparable for many years until Giovanni died in June of 2022. The 20-year-old lioness, who remained in the special care unit, had several health issues which were mostly old age related and recently deteriorated fast. As hard as it was for all of us, we had to let her go. Read more about Nora here.
Tiger Caruso
Caruso was rescued by from a private big cat facility in the Netherlands. In 2014, FOUR PAWS took over the facility and transformed it into FELIDA. At the time of his rescue, Caruso was showing symptoms of stress and displaying stereotypical behaviour. However, with the special care provided by our team at FELIDA, he made significant progress. Eventually, in 2019 he was deemed healthy enough to move to LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary. The beautiful tiger finally had the opportunity to enjoy a good life in a natural environment. Despite the physical and mental scars of his past, Caruso remained a friendly tiger with a strong will and a gentle heart. We are very proud that he could spend the last four years of his life at LIONSROCK. Read more about Caruso here.
Lion Giovanni
Lion Giovanni spent the first months of his life as a 'photo cub' on Italian beaches. Eventually, Gio ended up in the Netherlands, where FOUR PAWS found him at the end of 2013. He was very unhappy and had almost no mane left. Thanks to intensive care at FELIDA, he was doing much better, and he could be transferred to LIONSROCK in South Africa at the end of 2015. Here he also found a partner: lioness Nora. We had to say goodbye to Gio at the respectable age of 18, after his health deteriorated drastically. Read more about Giovanni here.
Tigress Dehli
Bengal tigress Dehli was born in a necessitous German zoo on August 30th, 2001. She already lived at the Dutch facility when FOUR PAWS took over in 2014 and named it FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary. When this happened, the originally shy and stressed animal came completely out of her shell. A few weeks before her passing we saw her old age ailments on the rise: she lost more muscle mass, became thin, had a decreased appetite and her chronic kidney disease worsened. To spare her from further suffering, we had to provide her with the last deed of good care one last time and let her go at the beautiful age of over 20,5 years. Read more about Dehli here.
Lion Ivan-Asen
Just as his nephews Masoud and Terez, also lion Ivan-Asen was born in the illegal breeding station of Razgrad Zoo in Bulgaria. For the first four years of his life he was severely neglected and when we rescued him in 2018 from the dark cage full of feces, he was more dead than alive; emaciated, dehydrated and very anxious.
Despite his inbreeding background and his serious physical traumas such as neurological problems, he flourished in FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary where he clearly felt at home and finally lived in peace and dignity. He became the king he truly was.
His sudden and unexpected death as a result of an acute stomach bleeding left us all devastated and heartbroken.
Read more about Ivan-Asen here.
Lion Terez
Terez was, together with his brother Masoud, born in September 2017 in Razgrad Zoo in Bulgaria, which functioned as an illegal breeding station for lions. The brothers were the result of multiple generations of inbreeding. Shortly after the passing of Masoud, it was confirmed that Terez, who already had the same neurological problems in a less advanced stage, was suffering from deteriorating kidney function. When his kidney failure caught up with him, every possible measure was taken but we saw Terez weaken. He seemed to simply lack the energy to keep fighting his failing body and after thorough consultation, it became clear that there was no way Terez would recover. To prevent him from further suffering we had to let him peacefully go.
Want to know more about Terez? Read more here.
Lion Lenci
Lenci was rescued from a private illegal zoo in Albania and lived at FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary since May 2019. The many years of suffering on a concrete floor in a small cage, in damp and unsanitary conditions, had left deep marks. His health remained fragile and when he became sick, it turned out he suffered from a chronic, very painful inflammation in his nose area that could not be resolved and would only spread further, causing more pain. He weakened under his tough, majestic appearance and the will to fight was gone. To prevent further suffering, we had to make the difficult decision to let him go.
Want to know more about Lenci? Read here more.
Tigress Juno
Juno was born in 2000 in a zoo in Great Britain. In 2002 she and her partner Cromwell were brought to Nijeberkoop, where they had two litters. Four of the tigers from these litters were still in Nijeberkoop when FOUR PAWS took over the centre. In 2015, Juno, Cromwell and their four descendants were transfered to LIONSROCK, where they were given more space. The tigers adapted well to their new environment. In 2021 we had to say goodbye to Juno, who was then the oldest tiger at LIONSROCK, due to age related illments.
Lion Masoud
Masoud was, together with his brother Terez, born in September 2017 at the Razgrad Zoo, a zoo in Bulgaria that also functioned as an illegal breeding station for lions. He was the result of inbreeding, as both his parents and grandparents were siblings. His neurological problems worsened and his motor skills deteriorated while growing up. A thorough MRI and CT scan confirmed Masoud suffered from a very complex, malformed spine which was a congenital defect due to inbreeding. The condition could not be surgically treated or improved in any other way. To prevent him from further suffering we had to say goodbye far too soon.
You can read more about Masoud here.
Lion Kongo
Kongo was, together with his sisters Nora and Neida, born in 2003 and forced to perform in a circus for years. They lived already in the centre in Nijeberkoop when FOUR PAWS took over the facility and named it FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary. In 2014 Kongo was one of the first six animals that made the journey from FELIDA to LIONSROCK. Here, Nora was expelled from the group. Kongo and Neida remained together. Unfortunately, in February 2020 we had to say goodbye to Kongo who suffered from a form of blood cancer.
Tiger Rhadja
Bengal tiger Rhadja was, together with his sister Dehli, born on August 30th, 2001 in a necessitous German zoo. When the owner stopped feeding his animals in 2010, Rhadja and Dehli were brought to Nijeberkoop. The siblings spent most of their life enjoying eachothers company, until Rhadja passed away in December 2019 on the age of 18, due to kidney failure.
Lion Zhaku
Zhaku was born in 2006 and, together with the lions Bobby and Lenci, rescued from Safari Park Zoo Fier in Albania by FOUR PAWS in October 2018. He lived in FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary since May 2019. Unfortunately help came too late for Zhaku: only two months after his arrival at FELIDA, Zhaku passed away due to kidney failure.
Tiger Sultan
Sultan was born in 2016, in a war-torn zoo in Aleppo, Syria. After his rescue by FOUR PAWS on August 14th, 2017 he was first transferred to Al Ma'wa for Nature and Wildlife in Jordan. Two months later he and tigress Sayeeda arrived at FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary so they could receive the special care they needed. Sultan passed away on a very young age in March 2019 due to kidney failure.
Tigress Sayeeda
Tigress Sayeeda was born in 2016 in a war-torn zoo in Aleppo, Syria. After her rescue by FOUR PAWS on August 14th, 2017 she was first transferred to Al Ma'wa for Nature and Wildlife in Jordan. Two months later she and tiger Sultan arrived at FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary so they could receive the special care they needed. Sayeeda passed away on a very young age in December 2018 due to kidney failure and anaemia.
Tigress Sina
Tigress Sina was born in a German Safaripark on April 15th, 1997 and lived already at the centre in Nijeberkoop when FOUR PAWS took over the facility and named it FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary. Sina could be easily recognised because she was missing one eye, which was removed after she became blind in that eye, causing pressure. She passed away on the age of 20 due to kidney failure.
Tiger Salomé
Tiger Salomé was born on October 1st, 1999 in a Belgium circus, together with his sister Sandra. They already lived in the centre in Nijeberkoop when FOUR PAWS took over the facility and named it FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary. Salomé was a 'chatty' and friendly tiger. On the age of 18 he got an agressive form of cancer. This, combined with kidney failure, a liver disease and his advanced age, made that we let him go in peace.
Tiger Cromwell
Cromwell was born in 2000 in a zoo in Great Britain. In 2002 he and his partner Juno were brought to Nijeberkoop, where they had two litters. Four of the tigers from these litters were still in Nijeberkoop when FOUR PAWS took over the centre. In 2015, Cromwell, Juno and their four descendants were transfered to LIONSROCK, where they were given more space. The tigers adapted well to their new environment. In 2017 we had to say goodbye to Cromwell due to kidney failure and a tumour on his adrenal gland.
Lioness Simba
Simba was born in a German zoo in 2007 and ended up with her brother Pregan in Nijeberkoop in 2012. In Nijeberkoop the brother and sister belonged to a group of lions that did not have enough space at their disposal and they were therefore the first animals to travel from Nijeberkoop to LIONSOCK in 2014 after FOUR PAWS took over the facility. They enjoyed their time in the African sun, but in 2017 we had to unfortunately say farewell to Simba relatively early due to kidney failure.
Tigress Britt
Britt was born in a zoo in Italy in 2004 and lived already in the centre, together with tiger Taiga, in Nijeberkoop when FOUR PAWS took over the facility and named it FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary. Most likely due to inbreeding, Britt suffered from short front legs and was limping. She also had a big, unique surgery on her knee in 2016 which greatly improved her welfare. She passed away in 2017 due to kidney failure.
Leopard cat Jafet
A special resident in FELIDA was Jafet, an F1 or F2 cross between an Asian leopard cat and a domestic cat. He was born in 2000, and privately kept in a garden in Belgium. After his owners could not care for him anymore he was threatened to be euthanised but could find a home in the Netherlands thanks to a veterinarian, so he lived already in the centre in Nijeberkoop when FOUR PAWS took over the facility and named it FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary. He passed away in 2017 due to a tumour that could not be cured.
Lioness Gypsy
Gypsy was born in 2001 in a neglected Romanian zoo. The lioness had severe deformations and fused knee joints, probably caused by malnutrition or inbreeding. In 2009, she was brought to Nijeberkoop and in 2014, right after the take-over of the centre by FOUR PAWS, she was one of the first six animals that made the journey from FELIDA to LIONSROCK. There she got an enclosure in the special care unit. She adjusted well to her new life in LIONSROCK where the climate was beneficial for her joints. Nevertheless, already two years later, in 2016, we unfortunately, had to say goodbye to Gypsy.
Lioness Noor
Noor was born in a zoo in Switzerland on September 20th, 1996 and came to Nijeberkoop in 2006, together with her partner and son. Her partner and son passed away before FOUR PAWS took over the facility and named it FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary. In the last years of her life, Noor was provided with a bigger enclosure and a lot of enrichment to keep her entertained. She passed away in 2016 at the age of 19 due to kidney failure and a leaking heart valve.
Tigress Indra
Indra was born on September 4th, 1999 in the rescue centre in Nijeberkoop. Her mother and four other tigers were confiscated from a German circus and brought to the rescue centre. According to the provided information, all tigers were males, but one of them turned out to be a pregnant female and ten days later, Indra was born. She passed away on the age of 16 due to a tumour in her head.
Jaguar Onca
Onca was born on July 14th, 1995 in a German circus. After she bit a ballet dancer in her leg she was banned from the circus and ended up in Nijeberkoop. When FOUR PAWS took over the facility and named it FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary her age was already advanced but she was still very playful. She passed away in 2016 at the age of 20, due to acute kidney failure.
Tiger Taiga
Taiga was born on August 18th, 2000 in a zoo in Italy. Together with tigress Britt, he came to Nijeberkoop and so lived already at the centre when FOUR PAWS took over and named it FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary. Taiga had a lifelong problem with his blood circulatory system which in the end resulted in nerve damage that sadly left him paralysed. Therefore he was euthanised in 2015 at the age of 14.
Tigress Sandra
Sandra was born on October 1st, 1999 in a Belgium circus, together with her brother Salomé. They already lived in the centre in Nijeberkoop when FOUR PAWS took over the facility and named it FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary. Sandra passed away on the age of 15 due to kidney failure.
Tigress Myra
Myra was born on January 14th, 1994, at the centre in Nijeberkoop (the Netherlands), many years before FOUR PAWS took over the facility early 2014, and named it FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary. She enjoyed discovering her surroundings or playing in the grass. Shortly after the takeover and a week before her 20th birthday, we unfortunately had to say goodbye to her.
