16 Years Free from Exploitation
Lioness Simona removed from hotel captivity to sanctuary care at LIONSROCK
Bethlehem, 26 October 2026 – On 29 October marks the rescueversary of lioness Simona, FOUR PAWS is recognising her journey from captivity in Bulgaria to a life of safety and care at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary.
Born in 2006, Simona was rescued by Bulgarian authorities in March 2010 after being found living in a small cage at the entrance lobby of a hotel in the town of Melnik, where she was kept as a visitor attraction. After receiving temporary care at Sofia Zoo, she arrived at her permanent home at LIONSROCK on 29 October 2010.
Since then, Simona enjoys a peaceful, species-appropriate environment where she has the space and security every lion deserves.
Simona's rescue highlights the importance of ending the use of wild animals for entertainment and private ownership where anyone is allowed to keep big cats and do whatever they wish with them. Nearly 16 years after arriving at LIONSROCK, Simona has reached old age thanks to the lifelong sanctuary care.
LIONSROCK, operated by global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS, provides lifelong care for rescued big cats that cannot be returned to the wild.
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.
FOUR PAWS in South Africa on Social Media
Stay up to date on this topic and on all FOUR PAWS activities on our social media channels:
or subscribe to FOUR PAWS in South Africa newsletter.
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