Romeo's Journey from Neglect to Finding Happiness in South Africa

Photo Credit: FOUR PAWS

Romeo is a handsome white lion whose journey began as a cramped, neglected circus cub in France. But this story isn’t one about his suffering. It’s about how he overcame it and is now a thriving resident of the African grasslands.

Bethlehem, South Africa (30 October 2025) – The life Romeo, a captivating white lion, lives today in the open grasslands is a far cry from the world he was born into. As a cub in France in 2019, Romeo’s early life was full of exploitation, neglect, and confinement.

“Forced to perform in a circus and kept in a tiny cage inside a truck when he was not performing, Romeo’s life was the furthest from species-appropriate imaginable,” shares FOUR PAWS.

And as if these circumstances weren’t heartbreaking enough, Romeo and the other animals who performed in the circus suffered neglect and were forced to eat rotting meat when their owner went bankrupt.

“Only five of the original 15 lions survived, with two dying of starvation by the time animal rescue groups were able to intervene in 2023.

“Romeo was in very bad shape at the time of his rescue, underweight and riddled with infections. He received special care from his rescuers at Natuurhulpcentrum until his transfer to LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in 2024.”

Romeo, who is suspected to be a product of inbreeding, is now sharing his new life alongside lioness Nala, another circus survivor. The two live peacefully side by side at the Sanctuary near Bethlehem in the Free State.

Too many wild animals suffer at the hands of those who fail to value their lives and violate their rights to remain free in the wild. Romeo’s story is a reminder of why sanctuaries and symbolic adoptions are so important.

Now FOUR PAWS is rallying to get this magnificent wild cat adopted by a sponsor to help fund his care and support his species-appropriate life at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary. Visit the website for more information.