Lambert may have grown into a powerful lion, but there is one thing from his childhood he still refuses to give up—a soft blanket.
When Vicky Keahey first saw Lambert in June 2014, the young lion was in desperate need of a safe home. He had been illegally purchased as a pet for a family’s children, who wanted their own “Simba” after watching The Lion King. But the family soon realized they could not care for him and contacted Keahey’s rescue, In-Sync Exotics.
Keahey quickly noticed something unusual about Lambert. His previous owners had told her that the young lion used to sleep in bed with his grandfather.
Wanting to make him feel comfortable in his new surroundings, Keahey placed a blanket inside his enclosure. Lambert immediately curled up on it and fell asleep.
That simple moment became a lasting habit.
Ever since then, Keahey has made sure Lambert has a blanket to sleep with. Even as he grew into a much larger and stronger lion, the familiar comfort remained part of his routine.
Lambert cannot be released into the wild because he was raised around humans. Instead, he continues to live at In-Sync Exotics, where he has thousands of square feet to explore, including a covered den, grassy areas and a pool where he loves to play.
He may now be an energetic, playful lion with plenty of personality, but when nighttime comes, Lambert still has one very familiar comfort waiting for him.