Mandla means power. He arrived at LLA Sanctuary first in April 2016 and his brother Isibindi followed him here 5 days later.

THE STORY OF MANDLA & ISIBINDI

Leon bought Isibindi and his brother Mandla from a hunter.

Mandla was being transported by a Game Transport Company to a drop and shoot in the Esatern Cape when the driver of the truck stopped in Harrismith to have a coffee with his old friend Leon whom he knew from the days when Leon flew helicopters for game capturing. After coffee, Leon walked his friend out to the truck and they started discussing the fact that a lion was in the back of the truck. Leon told his friend about Love Lions Alive Sanctuary and what we do here. The freind laughed saying the lion was one of dozens that went to be shot every year and that LLA was not able to do anything about that. Leon's ire was raised and he immediately entered negotiations to purchase the lion and had him delivered to LLA.

Now that is entirely against LLA's protocol. Andi was angry that Leon had bought a lion, but as he said to her, he was not part of LLA and that individual lion came into his personal life and his space that day. He said he was placed in a position where he could choose to make a difference to that lion and send him to LLA for us to take it from there. Leon said that LLA could choose to take or leave any lion that some or other person had saved, whether we knew that person or not. Leon was not part of LLA and therefore not bound by our rules.

Buying animals from breeders just helps to perpetuate the industry of breeding. It is not the way to save lions from lives in captivity. The proper way is to stop breeding. LLA accepted the task of taking Mandla and then Isibindi in because life brought these to individuals our way. But we do not support the purchasing of lions for the rescue trade as it is just another form of lion trade.

Five days later the same thing happened with Isibindi.

TODAY

These two brothers have grown more confident, but have no need for human contact. They are in fact out most wild lions. Mandla is the boss, he thinks he is the biggest, fiercest and most mighty lion that ever there was. He cannot resist challenging anyone who comes near to his territory. He truly is amazing...and alive!

They will now live a happy lion life at LLA Sanctuary for the rest of their lives.

MANDLA'S GALLERY