We first became aware of lion Gjoni in November 2019, when he was detected in a small cage near a restaurant in Kosovo. We immediately contacted the local authorities to see how we could help. It soon emerged that the lion had been smuggled into Kosovo and kept there illegally as a pet and visitor attraction – another victim of the commercial wildlife trade, which has also been on the rise in Southeast Europe for several years.

Gjoni was confiscated by the local authorities in 2020, but remained at the restaurant because no permanent species-appropriate place for him exists in Kosovo, and bringing the lion abroad to one of our big cat sanctuaries proved difficult due to a number of external issues and challenges.

After a fire in the restaurant, the lion had to be rescued urgently due to the unsafe conditions on site. On March 22, 2022, we were able to bring Gjoni to our BEAR SANCTUARY Prishtina where he found a temporary home for the next few years. And although he has received excellent care there, we have remained committed to our goal to transfer Gjoni to one of our big cat sanctuaries that is even better equipped to provide species-appropriate care for a lion, and where he would have the chance also to live among other lions, which is important for his well-being.

After overcoming many hurdles, we were finally able to bring Gjoni to his final home, our FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary in the Netherlands. In July 2025, he was transported over 3,300 kilometers by road in a special vehicle for transporting wild animals. 

Gjoni is doing well after the long journey and will continue to receive all the care he needs to live a species-appropriate life. Gjoni will be closely monitored by the local caretaker team, and he will get the time he needs to acclimatise and get used to his new environment.  In a next step, he will be released to his outdoor enclosure where he can not only smell and hear other lions, but also finally see them.