British conservationists have launched an urgent appeal to rescue five traumatized lions from Ukraine.
Kent-based Big Cat Sanctuary is hoping to evacuate a group of African lions currently living in critical conditions in war-torn kyiv.
They include Rori, a male lion, and four lionesses: Vanda, Yuna, and sisters Amani and Lira.
The lions, temporarily living in a shelter, have already had a traumatic life: some were rescued from private homes where they were kept in appalling conditions.
The charity is working alongside the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to relocate them and build a new rescue center at the Sanctuary.
British conservationists have launched an urgent appeal to rescue five traumatized lions from Ukraine.
Kent-based Big Cat Sanctuary is hoping to evacuate a group of African lions currently living in critical conditions in war-torn kyiv.
Amani and Lira were clearly conceived and born during the war.
The big cats currently in kyiv include Rori, a male lion (pictured) and four lionesses: Vanda, Yuna and sisters Amani and Lira.
The ongoing war has caused considerable distress to the big cats.
Veterinarians perform health checks and medical procedures on sedated big cats
The lions, temporarily living in a shelter, have already had a traumatic life: some were rescued from private homes where they were kept in appalling conditions.
Sisters Amani and Lira were rescued from a breeding facility in Ukraine, where they were found kept in an enclosure with their mother and father.
It is believed there were plans to use some of the lions for illegal breeding.
“When we heard about the heartbreaking plight of these lions, we knew we had to do something, even though we don’t have space at the Sanctuary right now,” said Cam Whitnall of The Big Cat Sanctuary.
‘We immediately got to work, trying to figure out how to make this idea a reality with IFAW. It’s a race against time, but we are determined to give them the best forever home possible; “That’s our mission because they deserve it after everything they’ve been through.”
Natalia Popova has been rescuing and rehoming hundreds of war-torn wild animals and pets in Ukraine, including bears, leopards, tigers, monkeys, camels, hyenas and peacocks.
She coordinates the current lion shelter at Wild Animal Rescue and said the big cats were left “scared and confused.”
“Some were born during the conflict and know no other life than the constant chaos of war,” he said.
‘Some have been directly affected by the bombings. “I feel relieved that these lions now have a better life ahead of them.”
The ongoing war has caused considerable distress to the big cats.
Yuna, a three-year-old girl, was found by military volunteers in February 2023, where she was kept in a house in inadequate conditions along with a male lion.
It is believed there were plans to use them for illegal breeding, and the pair lived in a small enclosure with a bare concrete floor.
Yuna could barely stand when she was taken to her current shelter at Wild Animal Rescue.
In January 2024, during a large-scale Russian missile attack, debris fell approximately 300 m from the Yuna compound.
The explosion was so intense that it caused a severe concussion resulting in a complete loss of coordination. For a long time, Yuna remained curled up in a corner of her enclosure, growling and showing signs of stress.
Vanda, a young lioness about a year old, was rescued from a private owner in southeastern Ukraine. She was kept in an apartment by a military man, who kept her as a pet with her family.
Yuna could barely stand when she was taken to her current shelter at Wild Animal Rescue.
“When we heard about the heartbreaking plight of these lions, we knew we had to do something, even though we don’t have space at the Sanctuary right now,” said Cam Whitnall of The Big Cat Sanctuary.
It is believed that Rori, the three-year-old male lion, was also used for illegal breeding. When he was rescued in January 2023, he could not stand and suffered severe coordination problems, probably caused by the electric shock.
Natalia Popova coordinates the current lion shelter at Wild Animal Rescue and said the big cats were left “scared and confused.”
Vanda is only one year old and was rescued from an apartment in southeastern Ukraine
Meanwhile, Vanda is only one year old and was rescued from an apartment in southeastern Ukraine. She had been kept as a family pet, but she had no access to sun or a proper enclosure and she was severely malnourished.
Sisters Amani and Lira were rescued from a breeding facility in Ukraine, where they were found kept in an enclosure with their mother and father.
It is believed that Rori, the three-year-old male lion, was also used for illegal breeding. When he was rescued in January 2023, he could not stand and suffered severe coordination problems, probably caused by the impact of a grenade.
Natalia Gozak, Wildlife Rescue Field Officer at IFAW, said: “Ukraine is no longer a stranger to tragedy, and the stories of these big cats are no different.
‘I’m happy that, at least for them, they are heading somewhere safer. The Big Cat Sanctuary has offered permanent homes to the remaining lions that IFAW supports, including Yuna, who we feared would not find a home due to her psychological problems.
Since the costs of building the new rescue center, transporting the lions and providing veterinary care are substantial, the Big Cat Sanctuary is asking the public for donations.
- To donate: https://thebigcatsanctuary.digitickets.co.uk/category/55960
