In Albania, flaunting big cats on social media is deeply embedded in the macho culture of Balkan gangsterism. Big cats have recently become the ultimate symbols of power among criminals and influencers, for whom their dangerous nature, exclusivity and high price tags are indicators of success. Their inspiration came from Middle Eastern elites. “It’s a question of status, if I own a lion, I’m like the sheikh of Dubai,” said Oli Pero, the founder of Justice for Animals Albania, a nongovernmental organization. Recently big cat attention has been fueled by the value of this attention on social media.
Historically wild animals in the Balkans were bears captured for traveling circuses or chained in restaurants for customer amusement. Fortunately, in 2013 the FOUR PAWS organization constructed a Bear Sanctuary on 40 acres in the tree covered mountains 12 miles from Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. Along with concerned citizens they worked with law enforcement and confiscated the bears. The Pristina Sanctuary presently houses 20 bears. Sanctuary manager Afrim Mahmuti has been involved in most of the rescues. “In Albania the trend evolved: They stopped having bears but started with lions.”
Gjoni, the lion, bred in captivity in Albania spent his life sitting in a cramped cage in a restaurant watching people eat. FOUR PAWS became aware of Gjoni in November 2019 in a restaurant in Kosovo. He was smuggled into the country from Albania. The owner pleaded guilty to illegal transfer and tax evasion and paid a fine. Although the authorities confiscated him in 2020, he remained at the restaurant due to the lack of a suitable big cat facilities in Kosovo and the difficulties in getting a permit to transfer him out of the country.
In 2022, a fire broke out at the restaurant near his cage. While he was unharmed, the fire increased the urgency of finding him a safe home. The future did not look bright but local public pressure led to emergency approval by the local authorities for his temporary relocation to the Bear Sanctuary.
This marked the beginning of Gjoni’s journey home. A special enclosure at the bear sanctuary was built for him. He received medical care and a proper diet and his muscle tone improved. He stepped on grass for the first time in his life and began to explore. His confidence grew as keeper kindness replaced harassment, he began to groom himself. Gjoni is a full grown adult male with a long blond mane. He is growing into the majestic creature he was born to be.
Recognizing this was only a temporary solution, FOUR PAWS worked tirelessly with authorities in Kosovo and Albania to find a long-term home. In June 2025, after overcoming numerous export hurdles, they finally got his paperwork to leave the county and to be transported to the FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary in the Netherlands.
The challenge became getting him there, there are no direct flight airlines willing or able to fly a lion from Kosovo to the Netherlands. So a special transport van was brought to Pristina and on July 22 Gjoni began his 3 day Journey through 10 countries to Felida.
Gjoni is settling into his new home, exploring his surroundings and has even let out a magnificent roar. He is being closely monitored by the dedicated animal caretakers and will have the opportunity to interact with other lions in his outdoor enclosure. It is the first time since his birth 12 years ago he has seen another lion.
TIGERS in AMERICA was happy to help with funding the transport of get Gjoni home.
Some take away thoughts:
- Advocacy works: irrespective of country, local people care what happens to the big cats
- Persistence pays: it took a year to get the permits, but it saved his life
