Czech Fighter Karlos Vémola’s Lioness Elsa Transferred to Liberec Zoo After State Seizure

The Czech environmental inspection seized a lioness named Elsa from mixed‑martial‑arts star Karlos Vémola after he failed to prove the animal’s legal origin under the CITES convention. After a 30‑day quarantine, Elsa was moved to the outdoor big‑cat enclosure at Liberec Zoo, where she is now on public display. Vémola told proCNN Prima News, “It is sad because she is alone, but I am glad she is in good care, in good hands.” Liberec Zoo’s chief zoologist Luboš Melichar described the lioness as calm and well‑adjusted.

Vémola, who keeps large cats on his property, also recounted a dramatic feeding episode in which a live chicken triggered a fierce reaction from the lioness, nearly injuring him. He later released the remaining chickens and returned the lions to a more conventional diet. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about private ownership of protected wildlife in the Czech Republic.