Nairobi, Kenya
Kenya Airways provided the safe transportation of Simba, a rescued lion, from Amsterdam to the Lilongwe Wildlife Center, a sanctuary in Malawi via Nairobi. In a joint initiative with the Born Free Foundation (international wildlife charity), the airline facilitated the airlifting of Simba as live cargo through KQ Cargo, as part of Simba’s 4,900 mile journey.
It culminated into the uniting of Simba with Bella, a lioness that was rescued by Born Free and also transported by Kenya Airways from a Romanian zoo back in 2009. Simba, who was born in a French zoo in 2005, before being acquired by an independent animal trainer, with whom he has been living for seven years before his rescue. Simba had been caged in a rusty lorry trailer, with little room to turn around and only occasionally allowed into a tiny ‘exercise’ cage, for his trailer to be cleaned out.
Speaking during a brief transit ceremony for Simba and the party accompanying him at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Titus Naikuni noted: “The initiative is part of the airline’s partnership with the Born Free Foundation towards supporting wildlife conservation by rescuing endangered animals and restoring them to their natural habitats.”
He added: “Wildlife is our heritage, and its conservation and protection is the responsibility of all of us. Therefore, I find this an amazing example of how we can connect across the globe to protect endangered wildlife for their return and long-term survival in their natural habitats.”
Also commenting in Nairobi, the Born Free actress and founder of the Born Free Foundation, Virginia McKenna OBE, said: “How wonderful to have a ‘good news’ animal story! In contrast to the seemingly endless negative and tragic ones that have filled the media in recent weeks. Yes, it is about one animal, one individual, but all of them matter and Simba, having initially been taken in by a Belgian Rescue Centre from an animal trainer in France, is now to begin his final journey to Africa, his rightful homeland.”
Simba left Amsterdam on February 20, 2014, aboard Kenya Airways KQ117 and arrived at JKIA on February 21, 2014. The lion was then transferred to flight KQ722 to Lilongwe to proceed to the sanctuary in Malawi. Apart from finding a new home for Simba, Kenya Airways’ initiative with the Born Free Foundation is aimed at bolstering the population of the iconic species in Malawi which has been on a decline in recent years, due to threats from poachers and other human wildlife conflicts.
Over the years, Kenya Airways has been at the forefront in support to wildlife conservation initiatives. In February 2013, Kenya Airways entered into a partnership with the Born Free Foundation to raise funds for wildlife conservation causes throughout the world, with a campaign dubbed ‘Change Brings Change’. Donation bags have been circulated in all Kenya Airways’ flights inviting passengers to assist the charity by donating small change whatever the currency.
