OUR ANIMALS
Lions
Zanchieta is a sanctuary for 21 non-breeding lions. Once in captivity, lions cannot lawfully be released into the wild, as they become too trusting of humans and lack survival skills. Therefore, the lions will remain at the sanctuary for the rest of their lives.
Zanchieta does not support breeding, cub petting, lion trading, selling, or canned hunting. We are a forever home and safe haven for the animals we rescue. At Zanchieta, you will find male, female, brown, and white lions, each with a unique story that requires them to remain under our care and protection.
Zanchieta works closely with the Free State Department of Nature Conservation. At times, Nature Conservation brings new rescue animals to the property after confiscating them from private residences that lack the necessary permits. Some animals are also kept safely at Zanchieta while court disputes regarding their ownership or welfare are resolved.
In the wild, big cats eat large meals infrequently, but at Zanchieta, all our cats are fed daily in smaller amounts. Our animals rely heavily on donations for food. They are fed through contributions from local farmers, meat that cannot be sold due to packaging errors, and food purchased with generous financial donations.
The lions have separate feeding chambers at the front of their enclosures, allowing volunteers to clean safely and conveniently. The enclosures themselves are notably larger than the legal requirements, and the animals are never locked in their feeding chambers—they are free to roam their entire enclosures.
Meet Our Lions
Kalahari and Okavango were the first two lions at Zanchieta. They were born to breeders and would have been sold into a canned hunting facility, but were instead rescued by Zanchieta’s owner. The brothers share an enclosure and get along very well.
Zoltan and Zenobia, our white lions, were born and raised in captivity. Now, they live happily at Zanchieta, safe from the risk of being sold.
Trompie and his pride of 10 lions arrived as rescues from DESTEA in 2022 and have called Zanchieta their forever home since 2024.
Our “teenagers”—three boys and Kiara—were also rescued by DESTEA at the end of 2021. They share an enclosure and get along well under the African sun.
Echo and Enzo are our happiest accidents. These two handsome boys were born unexpectedly. While we had planned to give the teen boys vasectomies, nature took its course before the procedure could be done, blessing us with Echo and Enzo. The teen boys have since undergone their vasectomies.
Delilah… our sweet Delilah. She arrived in February 2025. Delilah originally belonged to another facility and was moved from one place to another. Unfortunately, her transport crate was of poor quality, and she fell off the transport truck. She was missing for an entire day before being found on a farm. DESTEA captured her and brought her to Zanchieta for safekeeping.
While at Zanchieta, we noticed she had a limp and took her to the vet, where X-rays revealed a broken hip. She underwent surgery and is now recovering well. In the meantime, Delilah has officially become a permanent resident of Zanchieta. Once she has fully healed, she will join Echo and Enzo, and the boys will also undergo vasectomies.
Caracals
Our establishment was originally created in 2007 to give caracals Zani and Ghieta a home when they were only babies, after their mother was killed by a farmer. Zanchieta itself was named after these two cats. Since then, many caracals have called Zanchieta their home.
Our Permanent Residents Now
- Ghieta and Lala
- Shaka
- Mogadi (aka Faf)
- And our newest member, Baby Chuck, who arrived after he was hit by a car and left on the side of the road with a broken leg. Unfortunately, his mom also left him there. He was rescued by kind people and brought to Zanchieta.
Servals
Servals form an integral part of our animal family. Some have had broken limbs, while others were born in captivity. Servals are very spontaneous and tend to be playful with affectionate dispositions.
Servals and caracals are the most common wild cats that are illegally kept as pets. This is why Zanchieta is home to many servals that were confiscated by DESTEA and brought here.
Unlike many other cat species, servals are known to prey on fish and are therefore more comfortable in water. Zanchieta is home to eight servals.
Servals like to spray and mark their territory, so watch your feet—they might just claim you as their own!
Jackals
Our black-backed jackal, Zoid, can be found running, playing, and answering the lions with her iconic calls at sunrise and sunset. Zoid was caught by a farmer and kept as a leashed pet with dogs before she found a home here.
Our Cape foxes were also rescued after farmers caught them. Though not currently endangered, the Cape fox faces threats from habitat loss, hunting, and persecution by farmers who mistake it for a threat to livestock. They hunt small mammals, birds, reptiles, and even insects. With their keen sense of hearing, they can detect prey underground and swiftly dig them out—a skill that gives them an edge in the wild.
Other Animals
Zanchieta Wildlife Rescue is home to over 110 wildlife residents, representing 80 different species.
Our rescued animals include meerkats like Hayhay and Shira, who were once kept as pets until their owner brought them to us. We also care for small-spotted genets that were abandoned by their mothers in the wild, a one-eyed pied crow, and a number of very naughty vervet monkeys.
Additionally, we provide a safe home for a marmoset monkey that was left to survive on his own, falcons with broken wings, a red mongoose, injured owls, an abused buzzard, dassies, warthogs, and porcupines.
Many more animals come and go, as we never turn away an animal in need. Any that are eligible for release are returned to the wild—our priority is always to give them the best lives possible.
