**Rescued Lion Cub from TikTok Prop to South African Sanctuary: Animals Lebanon's Latest Mission**

BEIRUT - Before dawn breaks, the Dbayeh marina in Beirut is eerily quiet, save for a dedicated group of men carefully loading a metal cage marked "live lion" onto a yacht. The cage carries Sara, a lion cub rescued by Lebanese animal welfare organization, Animals Lebanon, from her life as a TikTok video prop. The team, along with NPR, discreetly made their way to the waterfront, mindful of potential threats from Israeli drones patrolling overhead.

As dawn approaches and the first light of day reveals smoke columns from an Israeli airstrike in Beirut's southern districts, the boat journey to Cyprus signifies the beginning of Sara's voyage to her new home at a wildlife refuge in South Africa. After a series of flights through Dubai and Cape Town, Sara arrived at the Drakenstein Lion Park sanctuary, accompanied by Animals Lebanon cofounder Jason Meier. A video from the sanctuary shows Sara in her new enclosure, observing two lions that will soon be part of her new pride.

Sara marks the fifth lion that Animals Lebanon has rescued and relocated from Lebanon since the escalation of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. This conflict has plunged into full-scale war after the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in September. Since its inception in 2008, Animals Lebanon has rescued and rehomed 25 big cats, including lions and tigers, to sanctuaries worldwide.

Due to intensifying conflict, aeronautical logistics have grown more challenging. Meier shared that since September, Middle East Airlines, the only carrier operating in and out of Lebanon, ceased transporting animals. As a result, the organization had to explore alternative, cost-effective methods to move the animals safely.

Meier, originally from Michigan, acknowledges the criticism he faces for focusing on animal rescues amid widespread human suffering caused by the war. However, he firmly believes that their expertise in animal welfare indirectly aids the community. Meier and his Lebanese wife, who is also the organization’s cofounder, have housed Sara in their spare bedroom since September while planning her relocation.

Animals Lebanon's day-to-day operations involve rescuing and nurturing pets abandoned amidst the chaos of Israeli airstrikes. Their headquarters in central Beirut currently houses over 200 cats, dogs, and birds, all belonging to individuals displaced by the conflict. Meier underscores that their work in animal rescue is a broader service to the people affected by war, evidenced by the numerous calls for help they receive.

Sara's journey to wellness began after Animals Lebanon seized her from a social media influencer who used her in TikTok videos, showing her in various distressing situations. When rescued, the cub bore scars and was afflicted with ringworm. Strict veterinary care and nurturing helped her recover to full health.

In Lebanon, despite legal prohibitions, keeping exotic animals as pets remains prevalent among affluent individuals seeking to amplify their social media presence. These animals, often sourced from local breeding programs, endure inadequate living conditions, resulting in premature deaths.

Sara is the fourth lion the organization has sent to internationally accredited wildlife sanctuaries in South Africa since last year. Although these big cats cannot return to the wild, they thrive in spacious, secure environments where they live in natural family groups. Other animals rescued by Meier and his team include baboons destined for a sanctuary in England and various species from a zoo in Baalbek, Bekaa Valley.

As the yacht departs, carrying Sara in her metal cage, Shaarawi, who has closely cared for her, reflects on the hardships and emotional bonds formed over two months. Videos showcasing the care and affection extended to Sara reveal a bond that saw her through intense rehabilitation, strengthening daily with hand-feedings and massages. Despite the uncertainties, Shaarawi credits Sara for providing a sense of purpose amid the turmoil.