Lions in love and bears bonds that’ll warm your heart; these rescued animals seem to have found their soulmates at FOUR PAWS sanctuaries and are relishing in the happy endings they always deserved:
Bethlehem, South Africa (12 February 2025) — Animal couples that call FOUR PAWS’ sanctuaries home are in their Love is in the Air era! These three wildlife couple stories are not only a testament to the incredible bonds that animals like lions and bears can have with each other; they’re also fantastic examples of happy endings made possible by rescue efforts that touched hearts around the world.
Romance Roars at FOUR PAWS
Lion Love
The first animal couple we’re celebrating are lions Nikola and Vasylyna, AKA ‘Nikolyna’.
Both were once two lonely lion cubs privately kept in different parts of Europe. Each escaped their respective captivity at different points of time in 2022, and were both discovered roaming the streets. 5-month-old Nikola was found wandering through Montenegro’s Budva in February of that year, while Vasylyna escaped to the village streets of Vysoke in Kharkiv, Ukraine in August.
Both lions were found week and in need of a lot of care. Nikola was malnourished and dehydrated, while Vasylyna could not even run or climb due to underdeveloped muscles.
But, after some time spent in rehabilitation at FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary (where they found solace in each other) they were soon given the green light to come to the LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa together.
“Already at their first eye contact, we could see the spark between them, as both immediately showed positive interactions,” recalls Kim Schrotenboer, Animal Caretaker at FELIDA.
“The two young lions were full of energy when they first met. Since their socialisation, they have become inseparable so we have nicknamed them Nikolyna.”
On South African soil, the two got to experience their new natural habitat side-by-side.
“Their relationship is still young and so are these two lions, who had to overcome so much. They deserve to spend their life in companionship. We are happy that we could bring them together and can see a wonderful bond growing stronger between them every day,” adds Hildegard Pirker, Sanctuary Manager at LIONSROCK.
A Bear-Bond Like No Other
Brown bears Pashuk and Gjina found their happy ending at BEAR SANCTUARY Prishtina, where both arrived in 2016.
They had been in private keeping for many unfortunate years, with Pashuk kept in a dark cage next to a restaurant in Albania. Chain had been placed around his neck as a cub, which eventually grew into his flesh as time went on.
Meanwhile, Gjina the bear had been a ‘restaurant bear’ also in Albania, where she was kept in a tiny cage of only four square meters. With the sun constantly blasting down on her and no protection from other weather elements, Gjina suffered immensely. She was also force-fed up to 20 bottles of beer a day, that guests of the restaurant had the option to purchase for her.
When the bears were rescued, it was quickly decided that they should socialise.
“With Gjina and Pashuk, it was love at first sight. They were homed in neighbouring enclosures and soon curiously started to sniff each other. We would watch them enjoy spending time together along the fence that separated them.
“This was quite a positive surprise, as both had been kept in solidarity and never seen another bear before. Their socialisation went very smoothly. Despite their differences in character – Gjina is very sensitive and Pashuk very relaxed – they continue to get along very well even after all these years. We often see them playing. They love rolling up and down the hill together,” says Albana Hoti, Head of Animal & Facility Management at BEAR SANCTUARY Prishtina.
‘Mango’: A new Love Story in the Making
At FELIDA Big cat Sanctuary, there’s another love story in the making.
In October and November 2024, lioness Manuschka and lion Diego arrived at the sanctuary. After they settled in, they were slowly introduced to each other in the past few weeks soon became neighbours in their enclosures.
“They were very cautious at their first interaction. But curiosity took over and they started moving closer to the fence. Now we are seeing that Diego and Manuschka are seeking each other’s presence and contact. We hope their love story continues,” says Juno van Zon, Head of Animal & Facility Management at FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary.
The team is continuing the socialisation process and has already lovingly nicknamed the two lions ‘Mango’.
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