Looking back over 2022, Director of FOUR PAWS in South Africa, Fiona Miles, says that her sixteenth year at the head of the organisation, has been a historical and remarkable one. “It has been an amazing period and I am proud of our accomplishments in 2022.”

2022 was the year that FOUR PAWS South Africa in collaboration with international teams of the organisation rescued 19 animals, the highest number ever in one year for South Africa and brought them to LIONSROCK. More than 150 000 signatures were also logged for the #BreakTheViciousCycle campaign, demonstrating how much FOUR PAWS supporters want to effect a positive change for big cats in South Africa and end the commercial trade and exploitation of all big cat species.

In addition, FOUR PAWS supporters rallied enthusiastically behind the organisation, in the submission of recommendations on the draft White Paper on Conservation and Sustainable Use of South Africa’s Biodiversity, to support us in urging the Department for Forestry, Fisheries and Environment to ensure a phase out of the captive big cat industry and better wild animal welfare.

To Fiona, it is the support from the public and dedication of staff at FOUR PAWS and LIONSROCK, that helped to overcome the challenges of a post-Covid-19 world.

Many of the projects needed extra commitment in 2022, such as the negotiations around the transfer of the #GoldenPride to LIONSROCK from a captive breeding facility in Gauteng.

She says not everything was ‘sunshine and roses’ throughout the year and singles out the weather at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in the Eastern Free State where inclement and rainy days often made the terrain difficult to navigate.

Another highlight of the year for Fiona was welcoming the four tigers from South America to LIONSROCK. Sandro, Mafalda, Messi, and Gustavo were kept in a train carriage on the Argentinian plains for more than fifteen years until the international FOUR PAWS team brought them to South Africa in March. They now live a life free from exploitation in as natural a captive environment as possible.

On an international level, FOUR PAWS in South Africa has been able to participate in several important global arenas to push for better animal welfare. At UNFFC CoP27 in Egypt, the organisation took part in the first ever Food Pavilion to urge for the transformation of the global food system.

Not long afterwards, FOUR PAWS presented research on the commercial trade of tigers from South Africa and the implications for other big cats at the Wildlife Trade Conference in Panama (CITES CoP19).

Fiona also highlighted international FOUR PAWS projects such animal welfare projects during the ongoing war in Ukraine where a convoy with food and medication brought much needed relief for some animals, as well as the campaign to end the Dog and Cat Meat Trade in Southeast Asia, that led to two cities making commitments to banning the trade.

One of the most heartwarming achievements was the rescue of lion cub, Nikola, by the international team. The small cub travelled 2 000 kilometres from Southeast Europe after being rescued from private ownership to his new home in FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary in the Netherlands.

She says welcoming five Romanian lions from FELIDA to LIONSROCK in August, once again demonstrates how co-operation between the two FOUR PAWS sanctuaries can better big cat welfare worldwide.

Going forward towards 2023, Fiona says it is the welfare of animals, humanity and the planet that remains close to her heart.

She is excited about the relaunch of the FOUR PAWS #LiveKinder movement with the key massages to make the world wonderful.

On the radar is also diversifying fundraising channels to make it easier for supporters to be part of the FOUR PAWS family and to engage more with stakeholders to expand influence and impact on the African continent.