Demira

Born: Approximately 2016, in Ukraine
Arrived at LLA Sanctuary: 5th February 2020
Lives With: Frieda and Diya
Tawny Female
Parents: Unknown

Demira is now an athletic, toned and free-spirited lioness who lives on the mountainside of the Love Lions Alive sanctuary. This, however, was not always Demira’s life and she has a unique backstory. Demira, who was once called Asya, was born in Ukraine and gifted, as a cub, to a Ukrainian priest. He then presented her to a monastery where she was cared for by nuns. She lived in a small cage made of iron bars and concrete, but it was cleaner than most cages like it, with a climbing apparatus. Demira became too big and needed more meat than the nuns were able to provide, so they called The Lawrence Anthony Earth Organization (LAEO Ukraine). This organisation then looked for a sanctuary in South Africa, a land that is natural to lions, and Love Lions Alive was given the opportunity to give Demira a new home.

Demira now lives happily at our sanctuary, amongst rocks, long grass and, of course, in the African sun. She lives with Frieda and Diya, who are also from Ukraine, and they have become her best friends. We also have plans to hopefully move Cecil/Mkhulu in with the three lionesses.