On July 30th, animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS successfully relocated a ten-month-old lion cub named Mero from the Czech Republic to its FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary in the Netherlands.
Mero was kept illegally by a private individual before he was confiscated by Czech authorities in March 2025. Until his transfer, he was temporarily cared for at Zoo Hodonín.
FOUR PAWS’ FELIDA team specializes in the care of young lions rescued from private ownership. In 2021, they took in a nine-month-old lion named Nikola, who was found roaming the streets of a Montenegrin village after escaping captivity.
Across Europe, many big cats are still being kept as exotic pets in inappropriate and unsafe conditions. FOUR PAWS continues to call for a full ban on the private keeping and breeding of big cats across the continent.
After traveling over 1,000 kilometers in a custom FELIDA Big Cat Ambulance, Mero safely arrived at his new forever home in the Netherlands.
Once at FELIDA, Mero was released into a specially designed enclosure where he will have time to adjust, build trust with his caretakers, and receive individualized care.
“The young lion cub Mero is in a crucial stage of development, and receiving appropriate care now is extremely important to limit future health and mental problems. Only a thorough health check can tell us more about potential parasites or health conditions. Based on these findings, we will then prepare a care and treatment plan tailored to him,” said Juno van Zon, Head of Animal & Facility Management at FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary.
The case also highlights a larger issue: the lack of consistent and enforceable laws protecting big cats in Europe.
The breeding, trade, and keeping of wild animals remains a highly profitable global industry, fueled by exploitation and loopholes in legislation. While countries like the Czech Republic have made progress, allowing private big cat ownership only with veterinary authorization, stronger protections are still desperately needed.
“We have little information about the origin of the lion cub. But what is definite is that there is no conservation value in privately owning big cats, who in most cases spend their entire life in inappropriate conditions. We have rescued many young lions in Europe from inappropriate keeping conditions,” said Patricia Tiplea, responsible for Rescue Planning and Deployment at FOUR PAWS.
“Some of them were being kept as pets and even escaped their keeping: Lion Nikola was rescued while he was roaming the streets in Montenegro, lioness Vasylyna in Ukraine,” continued Tiplea. “These examples show that inappropriate private keeping puts both animals and humans at risk. We urge for a ban on the private keeping and breeding of big cats across Europe and the rest of the world.”
FOUR PAWS calls for the following measures:
• A ban on the private keeping of big cats.
• A ban on the commercial trade of big cats.
• The confiscation and proper rehoming of animals living in poor or dangerous conditions.
FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary is one of 13 wild animal sanctuaries and partner projects operated by FOUR PAWS around the globe. Located in the Netherlands, FELIDA provides expert care to rescued big cats, many of whom suffered trauma and neglect in circuses, zoos, or private homes. Animals with the greatest need for special, lifelong care remain at FELIDA, where they can finally live in peace and dignity.
