The situation of animals in Ukraine, still at war with Russia, is concerning. Many animals have been left helpless and have become victims of the turmoil.
Recently, the news broke about the relocation of five traumatized lions to a sanctuary in the United Kingdom.
Animals in Ukraine: Five Lions Transferred
Five traumatized lions were rescued from the war zone in Ukraine and have now been settled in a new home in England after an international effort to keep them safe.
The male African lion Rori and the lionesses Amani, Lira, and Vanda arrived this month at the Big Cat Sanctuary after a 12-hour journey. They were transported by road and ferry from their temporary homes in zoos and animal shelters in Belgium.
They join lioness Yuna, who arrived in August, at the new Lion Rescue Center of the sanctuary, officially inaugurated on Tuesday, March 25th.
Why were the lions still in Ukraine?
The five lions were found near the front line in Ukraine’s war against the Russian invasion, neglected and abandoned by their owners.
“The five lions came from the illegal pet and wildlife trade,” explained Cameron Whitnall, managing director of the Big Cat Sanctuary to the Euronews agency.
The sanctuary is located near Ashford, about 80 kilometers southeast of London. “None of them came from zoos.”
Yuna was kept in a small brick cell and suffered a shock after missile debris fell near her enclosure. Rori, on the other hand, was mistreated in a private zoo.
The sanctuary staff believes that siblings Amani and Lira were raised to be used for taking photos with tourists when they were cubs.
