In Albania, flaunting big cats on social media is deeply embedded in the macho culture of Balkan gangsterism. Big cats have become the ultimate symbols of power among criminals and influencers, for whom their dangerous nature, exclusivity and high price tags are indicators of success. They took their inspiration from Middle Eastern elites. “It’s a question of status for them 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 also 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 to confiscate the bears and 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 now stopped having bears, but they started with lions.”
Gjoni, the lion was bred in captivity in Albania and spent his life sitting in a restaurant in cramped cage watching people eat. FOUR PAWS became aware of lion Gjoni in November 2019 in a restaurant in Kosovo. Gjoni was smuggled into the country from Albania and used as a tourist attraction. The owner pleaded guilty to illegal transfer and tax evasion and paid a fine. Although the authorities confiscated Gjoni in 2020, he remained at the restaurant due to the lack of suitable big cat facilities in Kosovo and the permit difficulties to transfer him out of the country.
In 2022, a fire broke out at the restaurant near Gjoni’s cage. While he was unharmed, the fire increased the urgency of finding him a safe home. The future did not look bright for Gjoni. Public pressure led to emergency approval for his temporary relocation to the Bear Sanctuary in Prishtina.
This marked the beginning of Gjoni’s journey within the FOUR PAWS family, it began at the Bear Sanctuary in a special enclosure where stepped on grass for the first time in his life. He received medical care tailored to his species.
Recognizing that a bear sanctuary was only a temporary solution for a social animal like a lion, FOUR PAWS worked tirelessly with authorities in Kosovo and Albania to find a long-term, species-appropriate home for Gjoni. In June 2025, after overcoming numerous export hurdles, Gjoni was finally got his paperwork to leave the county and be transported to the FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary in the Netherlands.
The challenge became getting him there, there are no direct flight airlines able or willing to fly a lion from Kosovo to the Netherlands. So a special transport van was brought to Pristina and on July 22 the Gjoni began his 3 day Journey through 10 countries to Felida.
Gjoni is settling into his new environment, 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
