Five “severely neglected” lions who were rescued from war-torn Ukraine have been welcomed to their new “forever home” in the UK – where they have all stepped on grass for the first time.
The Lion Rescue Centre was officially opened at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent, on Tuesday by the charity’s ambassador – Bake Off star Paul Hollywood.
A fundraising campaign collected £500,000 to build the centre which is the home for the lions Rori, Amani, Lira, Vanda and Yuna.
All five were found near the frontline in Ukraine, neglected and abandoned by their owners.
Yuna, a three-year-old female, was rescued after living in a 3×4 metre enclosure with a bare concrete floor.
When evacuated, she could not stand because of severe concussion caused by shell shock from heavy shelling during the war.
Rori, a three-year-old African male, was previously living in a private menagerie and was believed to be used for illegal breeding.
The lion could not stand – likely due to shell shock.
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Amani, left, and Lira settle into their new ‘forever home’. Pic: PA
Lion sisters Amani, left, and Lira. Pic: PA
Vanda, a severely malnourished 18-month-old female, was rescued from a flat where she was being kept as a family pet without access to the sun.
Amani and Lira, both females about three years old, are sisters who were rescued together after being illegally bred and used for photo exploitation.
Rori, Amani, Lira and Vanda, who arrived at the Big Cat Sanctuary this month after a 12-hour journey by road and ferry from temporary homes at zoos and animal shelters in Belgium, while joined Yuna arrived in August.
None of the lions had walked on grass until they arrived at the sanctuary in Kent.
The big cats were saved by the Wild Animals Rescue Center run by Natalia Popova, a Ukrainian woman who has saved hundreds of abandoned pets and zoo animals since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Lions, tigers, leopards, wolves, deer, monkeys and more have passed through her shelter, a converted horse stables near Kyiv.
Rori at the Lion Rescue Centre. Pic: PA
A Big Cat Sanctuary spokeswoman said: “The lions come from varying situations of neglect and abuse with four out of the five lions having never touched grass before – making their first steps out at The Lion Rescue Centre even more poignant.
“These beautiful cats have been severely neglected, confined to concrete enclosures, used for illegal breeding or kept as family pets.
“Their new habitats have been specially designed to provide each lion with the ideal environment to rest and recuperate.”
The spokeswoman added that each lion had individual needs due to their “previous hardships”.
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Lira at the Lion Rescue Centre. Pic: PA
Cameron Whitnall watches Vanda as she settles into her new home. Pic: PA
She added that the team at the Lion Rescue Centre will ensure the animals “receive the physical and psychological care needed to recover from their ordeal”.
“For example, Yuna’s environment has been designed to accommodate her neurological and coordination challenges, with no high platforms and a more gentle slope to climb,” the spokeswoman continued.
Baroness Hayman, the parliamentary under-secretary of state at the department for environment, food and rural affairs and Dr Gillian Fargher, the high sheriff of Kent, also attended the opening of the centre.
Cam Whitnall, managing director of The Big Cat Sanctuary, said: “We are so relieved to have these lions safe and settled in their forever home.
“Seeing their feet touch the grass for the first time in our state-of-the-art Lion Rescue Centre was an emotional moment for all involved. Nervous at first, all five cats are now starting to relax, play and explore their new habitat.”
