Rescued from Conflict Zones Twice: Lions and Hyenas from Sudan on the Way to Safety

FOUR PAWS, a global animal welfare organisation, returned to Sudan once again on 9 January 2024 for the urgent rescue of 15 lions, four hyenas and other wild animals from Wad Madani in Al Jazirah State.

They were among 47 wild animals evacuated by FOUR PAWS from a rescue centre in Khartoum to Dinder National Park and Um Barona National Park in November 2023. While nearby Wad Madani was safe at the time, it recently became a new front in Sudan’s civil war. On 18 December 2023, Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have seized Wad Madani, the country’s second city, which had taken in hundreds of thousands of refugees from the capital, Khartoum, when the war began between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on 15 April 2024.

The recent attack on Wad Madani has put the lives of the already weakened animals at risk once more. FOUR PAWS worked tirelessly on a swift solution with the Sudanese Wildlife authorities and is now planning their relocation to a safe place at one of its sanctuaries.

Upon the request of the Sudanese Wildlife authorities and the responsible stakeholders in Wad Madani, FOUR PAWS had already been in discussions with the Sudanese officials about the future of the animals – after learning that Wad Madani had become a new scene of fighting in the war, a solution had to be found even more urgently. Since it was too great of a risk for the FOUR PAWS team to enter Wad Madani, the animals were transported out of the immediate conflict zone and to Kassala with approval from both conflict factions. From there, the FOUR PAWS team took them to Port Sudan. From transporting the animals over 1,400 km and carrying all transport crates manually to organising fuel, food and water, as well as a cargo plane to take the team and animals out of Sudan – the FOUR PAWS team successfully overcame many challenges. Moreover, the team also provided veterinary care and treatment for the animals.

Wad Madani is one of Sudan’s largest cities and was previously a safe zone for thousands of refugees since the outbreak of the war in April 2023. The evacuated animals, including lions, hyenas, wildcats, birds, and deer were brought to Dinder National Park and Um Barona National Park. While the birds and deer could be released back into the wild or were locally rehomed, the other animals still need urgent and specialised intensive veterinary care that cannot be provided in Sudan.

‘The situation in Sudan highlights the massive unpredictability of conflict zones. An area that is deemed safe today, can become the centre of crisis tomorrow. In this case, we are glad we could get the animals out in time. We had to find a swift solution in a high-risk emergency situation, and thanks to a collaborative effort, together with the Sudanese authorities and our global network, we did. FOUR PAWS has the necessary expertise and resources to care for and protect the animals we rescue in a species-appropriate environment for the rest of their lives. We continue to keep everyone affected by the conflict in Sudan in our thoughts,’ said FOUR PAWS President and CEO Josef Pfabigan.

‘We knew as soon as we heard about the fighting in Wad Madani that we would need to get the animals out, so they have even a chance at survival. These animals were stuck in the middle of the conflict zone since the outbreak of the war. They are traumatised and weakened. This was a highly challenging effort and one of the most difficult emergency missions we ever did. When one plan became too risky because of fighting and escalations, we found another, safer way. It was very emotional for the whole team to receive these animals for a second time now although we had already thought them safe. Since some of the animals are in worrying shape, we have done everything we can for now to provide food, pain relief and veterinary care for them. Transporting the animals out of Sudan is the only way now to make sure they can finally recover in peace,’ said FOUR PAWS veterinarian Dr Amir Khalil, who led the rescue mission.