KING KENZO & ZIMBA

Zimba and King Kenzo came to us at just 12 hours old on September 6th 2017. The mother had rejected them and they were in pretty bad condition. We used all of our holistic therapies but they kept deteriorating and at 6 weeks old we had to take them to hospital where they were diagnosed with Feline panleukopenia which is a highly contagious viral disease of cats caused by the feline parvovirus. We were shattered. It was advised to us in the very early stages the only thing we could do was get their immune system strong and be prepared for the worst. Make them strong enough to fight it and get through it. After some time in intensive care and a lot of praying, we brought them back to Big Paw nursery and what we did worked well and they improved. Big Paw had joined us and the three cubs enjoyed swimming, playing and eating delicious food and treats at the nursery, having field trips to a private beach and just being happy little baby cubs.    

King got really sick when he was just 16 months and we had to call a vet to the sanctuary to dart him so we could get his blood and check him out. He was put to sleep and we did some tests and then the vet reversed him. King Kenzo just did not regain consciousness. It was getting late and this particular evening a cold front had come in and there we were outside on a cold floor with our lion that was not waking up and the vet had already left us. We were scared for him as his tongue was starting to turn white and he felt cold with a low heart rate.  We had to raise his body temperature quickly. We got a heavy thick quilted blanket, managed to heave his 130 kg limp body up and put it under him, we got a long extension cord with a hairdryer, and 3 layers of blanket on top of him. A fleece one, a feather down duvet and another  heavy quilted thick blanket  on top  and for over 3 hours we blew warm air from the hairdryer between the blankets and on him to bring his body temperature up. He was not moving and at one stage we thought we lost him. I cuddled up in front of him for body heat and my husband spooned behind him and we lay with him in the warmth of the blankets for a few hours. 10 hours later, at 5 am King Kenzo woke up and we were so happy and grateful to have him back. There was something wrong with his blood work and his liver. He was put on Milk Thistle for the liver and a whole bunch of vitamins to stabilise him. After several weeks he was back to his gorgeous self I have spent every waking moment with these 2 amazing gentle sentient boys and I am grateful they chose me. They are all grown up now and also live a grandeur life.