
A sedated, blindfolded lion lies in the dirt in Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa, on June 29, 2015. The lion is one of seven which was transported from South Africa to Akagera National Park in Rwanda to reintroduce the animals to the country.

The group of lions includes five females donated by &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve and two males donated by Tembe Elephant Reserve.

Simon Naylor, Phinda Reserve manager, pulls a sedated lion into a travel container in at the reserve.

Sedated lions lie inside their travel containers as game reserve officials sort out transportation paperwork.

Rwandans, including schoolchildren, wait to welcome the arrival of the lions at Akagera National Park in Rwanda on June 30.

One of the transported lions yawns in her temporary enclosure on July 5.

Rwanda's new lions will spend a few weeks to acclimatize and be monitored by the Akagera National Park veterinary team.