Meet Lambert, an African lion who was rescued after being purchased illegally by a family who decided they no longer wanted him.
Lambert’s rescuer, Vicky Keahey, thought he looked more like a puppy dog than a regal lion when she first spotted him, and she was glad to take him to her rescue, ‘In-Sync-Exotics.’
“The previous owners got him illegally as a pet for their young children,” the father explained, after the youngsters requested Simba after viewing the lion king.
“After a short time, the family decided they could not keep him, so we were contacted asking if we could take him, which of course we were happy to do.”
“We had heard from the previous owners that he slept in the bed with the grandfather.”
“So I got him a blanket, went into the enclosure and put the blanket in one of the corners. He curled up on that blanket and he went right to sleep. Ever since then, I always give him a blanket.”
Lambert couldn’t be put back into the wild because he was born in captivity and bred to be as tame as possible, so the center took him in.
“He has 7,000 sq. ft. worth of space to run around in, which includes a covered den area for shade and protection from the weather and a sunny, grassy playground with the pool he loves to play in.”
Lambert has matured into a healthy and content adult lion, but one thing remains the same. Even without his favorite comfort blanket, he can’t sleep!
“He is just like any other 2-year-old lion in that he is active and playful, and is full of attitude. You know where you stand with him.”
