Four Rescued Lions Begin Their Journey to The Big Cat Sanctuary

After almost 10 months, four rescued lions from war-torn Ukraine have begun their journey to the UK, where their new forever home at The Big Cat Sanctuary awaits. Rori, Amani, Lira and Vanda will be reunited with Yuna, who was also rescued and arrived safely at the Sanctuary in August 2024.

Each lion has been residing in temporary facilities across Belgium; Pairi Daiza, Natuur Help Centrum and Planckendael Zoo. They have provided them with short-term refuge whilst the Lion Rescue Centre, their new forever home at the Sanctuary, was being built. The Lion Rescue Centre is a state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility designed to meet the physical and psychological needs of each rescued lion, providing a safe and enriching environment for them to thrive.

On Thursday 13th March, the rescue team will start by collecting Rori, the male lion, from Natuurhulpcentrum, before traveling to Planckendael to pick up Vanda. They will then proceed to Pairi Daiza to collect the two sisters, Amani and Lira.

The rescue team and Cross Border Animal Services (CBAS) will then travel through Belgium to France, to board a ferry bound to the UK. The journey is expected to take around 12 hours, with the lions arriving at the Sanctuary on Friday 14th March. The Big Cat Sanctuary is fully prepared and committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all four lions throughout their journey.

“The moment we have been waiting and dreaming for is finally happening,” says Cam Whitnall, Managing Director of The Big Cat Sanctuary. “We will soon be en route to bringing these lions home. It has been an incredibly challenging journey, but we never lost sight of our mission; to give these magnificent lions the safe and secure future they deserve. Seeing Yuna reunited with Rori, Amani, Lira, and Vanda will be an emotional and rewarding milestone for the team and our supporters.”

The Big Cat Sanctuary has been overwhelmed by the public’s generosity, raising over £500,000 to make this vital mission possible. These funds have covered transportation, veterinary treatment, and the construction of the Lion Rescue Centre.

All five lions deserve a second chance at life following the trauma caused by the war. When Yuna was found, she was left unable to walk, suffering from severe shellshock caused by missile attacks. Vanda is thought to have been kept in an apartment for five to six months without any outdoor access or sunlight. Rori was confined in a private menagerie and also endured the trauma of war. Meanwhile, Amani and Lira were exploited for photo opportunities and are likely the result of illegal breeding practices. The lions were taken in by Wild Animals Rescue Centre (WAR), alongside the support of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). The rescue team consisted of Cam Whitnall and Briony Smith from The Big Cat Sanctuary, Natalia Popova from WAR, Natalia Gozak from IFAW and Geert Wijnands from CBAS.

The arrival of Rori, Amani, Lira and Vanda marks not just the end of their journey but the beginning of a new chapter filled with hope. The Sanctuary will share more updates as they travel through Europe and across the English Channel to the Sanctuary.