Savannah, a beautiful lioness born in 2006, has faced more than her fair share of heartbreak. As a cub, she and her brother were rescued from a breeding farm in South Africa by CROW (Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife) in KwaZulu-Natal. The hope was to give them a second chance at life.

As they grew, the young lions were moved to a reserve with the intention of rewilding them. But tragedy struck when the resident pride fatally attacked Savannah’s brother. It became clear that she was no longer safe there.

In April 2009, Savannah found sanctuary at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary. Arriving after the loss of her sibling, she was understandably fragile. We introduced her to Jazz, a calm and gentle lion, by placing them in adjacent enclosures to get acquainted. The connection between them was undeniable, and soon they were sharing a space and companionship.

Their bond lasted for many years. Sadly, in October 2021, Jazz had to be humanely euthanized due to severe arthritis. While Savannah lost her companion, she continues to thrive in the safe, peaceful environment of LIONSROCK

Her resilience is a reminder of why every animal deserves protection and care — and why sanctuaries like LIONSROCK matter.