World's "loneliest lion" who was left in an abandoned zoo and lost his ability to roar gets rescued, hears other lions after 6 years alone, and learns to roar again: 'Seeing him walk on grass for the first time... brought us all to tears"

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Aug 6, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Lions are incredibly social creatures. We know that there is this stereotype out there that cats are solitary and all of that, but that's not really true, and it is especially not true for lions. Lions have their prides, of course, and they love chilling together and hanging out. Lions get connected with humans as well - some special humans who we are incredibly jealous of all the time. Lions even connect with other animals - like dogs, and with the internet, we have the privilege of seeing that.

All of which makes this story so much more painful to read about. A lion named Ruben was left alone for six whole years in an abandoned zoo. No one to hang out with, no one to play with, not even a single lion to talk to, and so over time, with the years and the loneliness, Ruben not only lost his spirit, but he lost his ability to roar as well. And then he got rescued, and everything changed instantly. 

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    KL Pet Pro ALREADY KNOW E DIFFERENCE THE SIGN OF CATNIP CATS ALREADY THE DIFFERENCE Animal Defenders International
    via ADI / SWNS

  • 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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    Animal Defenders International
    via ADI / SWNS

  • 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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    Animal Defenders International
    via ADI / SWNS

  • 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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    Animal Defenders International
    via ADI / SWNS
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    Animal Defenders International
    via ADI / SWNS
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    KUNDUS Animal Defenders International
    via ADI / SWNS
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    Animal Defenders International
    via ADI / SWNS
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    Animal Defenders International
    via ADI / SWNS
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    Animal Defenders International
    via ADI / SWNS
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    Animal Defenders International
    via ADI / SWNS
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    animal_defenders_international 82w HOW RUBEN'S LIFE TRANSFORMED IN ELEVEN AMAZING PICTURES. The world's loneliest lion had been left behind in a zoo that closed in Armenia. All alone, he had lost his roar and confinement and malnutrition left him with difficulty walking. His progress since stepping out at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in August
    via animal_defenders_international
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    has been beyond our dreams. His movement has improved; he has relaxed; he played with his first toy and keeps on playing; he saw and heard other lions after six lonely years; and he is roaring with other lions again. 2023 was Ruben's year, but we hope for even more in 2024 including a bigger habitat.
    via animal_defenders_international
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    Ruben looking relaxed at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. ADI
    via animal_defenders_international
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    F AVATION SECURITY RESTRICTED AREA Ruben arrives at Yerevan Airport, Armenia in his ADI travel crate ADI
    via animal_defenders_international
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    Ruben in his ADI crate awaits his flight. ADI
    via animal_defenders_international
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    QAT R LN Ruben boards the flight to freedom that was donated by Qatar Airways Cargo ADI
    via animal_defenders_international
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    ADI AD AD AD Ruben reaches South Africa ADI
    via animal_defenders_international
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    QATAR ADI CARGO Ruben had a night in quarantine at Old Chapel Veterinary Clinic and saw Easy a lioness from ADIWS undergoing treatment slat ADI
    via animal_defenders_international
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    Ruben steps onto African soil for the first time at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. ADI
    via animal_defenders_international
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    ALREADY KNOW DIFFERENCE Ruben relishing his very first toy, a giant catnip punchbag, especially made for him. ADI CATS TH
    via animal_defenders_international
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    On his first morning Ruben stepped from his house and gave a tiny roar - his roars would get louder.
    via animal_defenders_international
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    Watching Simba and Rey on his first day he is now roaring in chorus with them. 1 ADI
    via animal_defenders_international
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    He still has a long way to go, but Ruben's mobility has improved. Here he is enjoying a Christmas treat.
    via animal_defenders_international

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