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Ruben the lion was 15 years old when he was found in an abandoned zoo in Armenia. He was trapped alone in a concrete cell for 5 whole years, and in the process, according to the NY Post, he has lost his roar. The other animals in the zoo were relocated after its owner passed away, but not Ruben. Now, after 5,200-mile journey from Armenia to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa, Ruben has been given a second chance at life.
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President Jan Creamer, president of the ADI, said seeing Ruben take his first steps brought them all “to tears.” “Lions are the most sociable of the big cats, living in family prides in the wild,” she explained. “So it must have been devastating for Ruben to have no contact or communication with other lions. Seeing him walk on grass for the first time, hearing the voices of his own kind, with the African sun on his back, brought us all to tears.”
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When Ruben first arrived to the sanctuary, his legs were wobbly, and he was suffering from malnutrition and lack of exercise, but very quickly, his behavior completely changed. “His whole demeanor has transformed, his face is relaxed and no longer fearful,” Creamer said. “His determination to walk is inspiring.” She added: “If he stumbles or falls, he just picks himself up and keeps going. He is nothing short of heroic.”
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