The first new enclosures had just been completed at LIONSROCK when the Big Cat Sanctuary welcomed the first pride of lions. Neo, the only male, his aunts and sisters needed a new home: the Austrian safari park where the lions had formerly been housed was forced to close due to bankruptcy. FOUR PAWS came to their aid and promised a new beginning for the animals in their home, Africa. Together with animal carer Hildegard Pirker who accompanied this first rescue mission and ten years later still looks after the animals at LIONSROCK , the lions set off on their journey to a new life. For the first time, they ran on African earth – they had returned to where they orginally belonged. It did not take long for the lions to become accustomed to their new home and start a new phase of life in their four-hectare enclosure at LIONSROCK.  

The lions spent many pleasant years in LIONSROCK and though some of them have died in the meantime, they enjoyed a long ilfe. The oldest member of the pride, 24-year-old Emma, still lives with us in LIONSROCK. She is housed in a care unit where she is looked after in line with her age. Neo and his remaining sisters still lie on their favourite rock every evening and enjoy the sunset.