He may be king of the jungle but this African lion that was rescued as an adorable cub who just so happens to be obsessed with only one thing … BLANKETS!
In June 2014, Lambert was just a cute cub rescued by Vicky Keahey, the founder of Texas’ In-Sync Exotic Wildlife Rescue and Educational Center from a family that was no longer care for him.
‘We received a call from the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS),’ Keahey told The Dodo.
‘They were contacted by a private owner who had (illegally) purchased Lambert for his 2-year-old and 3-year-old children after going to see the movie ‘The Lion King.’
‘The little kids told their daddy they wanted a Simba, so he went out and bought them one.’
In June 2014, Lambert (above) was a cute cub rescued by Vicky Keahey, the founder of Texas’ In-Sync Exotic Wildlife Rescue and Educational Center from a family that could no longer care for him
Lambert was illegally purchased by a man who bought him for his children after they saw the hit Disney movie ‘The Lion King’. After only a few months of having him, the family decided they no longer wanted him
After being asked by GFAS if she would accept Lambert, Keahey said that she was more than happy to take care of him. Lambert was born in captivity and was made to be as tame as a lion could be so he could not be released back into the wild
Keahey explained that she is isn’t quite sure just what changed with the family, but they decided they didn’t want Lambert anymore. Lambert was just three months old.
After being asked by GFAS if she would take in Lambert, Keahey said that she was more than happy to take care of him.
Lambert was born in captivity and is as tame as a lion could be so he could not be released back into the wild for his own safety..
Keahey said that when he first stepped into his enclosure, he appeared to be very curious and very excited, but then he started to pace and showed signs of anxiety.
‘We had heard from the previous owners that he slept in the bed with the grandfather,’ Keahey told The Dodo.
Keahey said that when he first stepped into his enclosure, he appeared to be curious and excited, but then he started to pace and showed signs of anxiety. Lambert was previously allowed to sleep in the bed with the children’s grandfather
Keahey decided to give him a blanket when he first went into his enclosure. She said: ‘He curled up on that blanket and he went right to sleep. Ever since then, I always give him a blanket’
‘I started thinking, ‘Okay, he’s used to being in a house, he’s used to sleeping in the bed with grandpa.’
‘So I got him a blanket, went into the enclosure and put the blanket in one of the corners.
‘He curled up on that blanket and he went right to sleep. Ever since then, I always give him a blanket.’
Not a single night goes by that Lambert sleeps without a blanket and staff at the rescue facility enjoy providing him with fresh, warm ones to curl up with.
In addition, she also taught Lambert how to like and eat raw meat – something which he had never done before prior to arriving at her rescue facility.
Now, Lambert recently turned two years old and is still quite content just curlng up in warm fresh blankets.
Now, Lambert recently turned two years old and still loves to curl up in warm fresh blankets
When he’s in is enclosure, there’s nothing more that Lambert enjoys than cuddling up with a blanket. Officials at the rescue facility say that he sleep with it every night
Keahey said that when Lambert was just a cub he would play with plastic supply tubs, which ultimately launched his love for skateboarding.
‘He would put his feet in it and scoot it along the ground like he was skateboarding,’ she explained to The Dodo.
‘So one of the volunteers at the rescue built him an actual skateboard. Sure enough he put both of his feet on it and started skating around on it.’
Even though Lambert has a sweet face, Keahey shared that he does have quite an attitude, just like any other African cat.
‘If he likes you, you know it and if he doesn’t like you, you know it,’ she told The Dodo. ‘With me though, he’s my baby. He’s my child.’
Since Lambert came to the rescue when he was just a cub, employees have encouraged him to play in the water for relief during the summer heat that Texas is famous for.
Outside of cuddling with his blanket, Lambert also loves to play in his huge playground at the rescue facility that has lots of toys and trees.
Even though Lambert has a sweet face, Keahey shared that he does have an attitude, just like any other African cat
Since Lambert came to the rescue as a cub, employees have encouraged him to play in the water for relief during the summer heat that Texas is known to have
