The Lionman, Rustenburg (2026)

09/06/2026

Project Tower

We are reaching out for your support in helping us achieve something very special for Zenda.

At present, Zenda is the only giraffe at Libran Wildlife Reserve. While she receives excellent care, giraffes are naturally social animals that thrive in the company of their own species.

A group of giraffes is known as a tower — a fitting name for these magnificent animals. Through Project Tower, we are raising funds to establish Libran Wildlife Reserve’s very own tower of giraffes, providing Zenda with the companionship and social interaction that are so important to her wellbeing.

Zenda has spent a considerable amount of time on her own, and we believe she deserves the opportunity to form natural bonds with other giraffes. Creating a tower for Zenda will not only enrich her life but also help promote the natural social behaviours that giraffes display in the wild.

With your support, we can make this vision a reality and give Zenda the companionship she needs. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to welcoming new giraffes to Libran Wildlife Reserve and building a brighter future for Zenda.

Thank you for helping us make a difference. 🦒💚

Follow the link - https://www.gofundme.com/f/give-zenda-a-family-and-help-protect-africas-giraffes?attribution_id=sl:41433c7b-ad48-4941-b4aa-99053cbc5ade&utm_campaign=unknown&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=widget

13/05/2026

Craig & Shia JNR

Shia is a Barbary Lion, a majestic subspecies sadly now extinct in the wild due to habitat loss and poaching. Also known as the Atlas Lion, the Barbary Lion is recognised as the largest lion subspecies, with males capable of weighing up to 300kg.

Shia was hand-raised by Craig from a young age. She is the mother of five sons — S’bu, Thambelie, Siramba, Tshaka, and Zamani — all fathered by Zandtien. Shia and Zandtien share a strong bond and continue to live happily together.

Shia was named in honour of Zion’s sister, whose memory will forever hold a special place in Craig’s heart.

12/05/2026

Craig and Zenda🦒

As many of you already know, Craig has always had a deep passion for animals and has never hesitated to connect with species he encounters for the first time. While big cats remain his greatest passion — earning him the well-known nickname “The Lionman” — giraffes are certainly no exception.

Zenda in particular holds a very special place in Craig’s heart, and many would say she is truly the love of his life.

If you haven’t already, we encourage you to visit our new website, where you can learn more about Craig’s work, ongoing projects, and ways to support the foundation. We have also launched crowdfunding initiatives that will contribute towards several active projects, as well as ongoing legal proceedings.

thelionman.com

22/04/2026

Rest in peace, Abdullah.

Abdullah was one of three cubs sired by Gandor, New Zealand’s first White Lion, and the Barbary lioness Shikira. From a young age, Abdullah formed a close bond with Khan, a Royal Bengal White Tiger, and the two developed an exceptional companionship.

Abdullah’s siblings were named Tshaka and Cleo. Cleo is still living at Craig’s former park, while Tshaka, unfortunately, passed away at a young age due to neglect by previous carers.

It is with sadness that we acknowledge the passing of one of Craig’s cats in New Zealand. Unfortunately, Craig was not informed prior to Abdullah being put to sleep. This is particularly concerning given that a formal agreement had been established between Craig and Murray Bolton, which stated that Craig would receive regular monthly updates regarding the health and wellbeing of his cats.

We understand that the land on which Craig’s cats are currently housed has recently been sold and is now under new ownership. We would like to formally clarify that the cats remain the property of the Busch Wildlife Foundation at all times. Ownership has never been transferred to Murray Bolton, nor to the current or any previous owners of the property.

When Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary opened and began exhibiting the cats in question, this action constituted conversion by the previous management. This is because no permission had been granted by Craig for the cats—who are the property of the Busch Wildlife Foundation—to be displayed or used in this manner.

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