Lion from Ukraine arrives at Kent sanctuary
A lion rescued from Ukraine has successfully made it to Kent after leaving war-torn Kyiv. The “traumatised” three-year-old lioness, Yuna, appeared shell shocked but keepers hope that she can heal in her new home at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden.
Rori, a male lion is in Belgium and will join Yuna once a specially built enclosure is finished in November.
Yuna was described as being “so brave” having “been through so much” according to Briony Smith, a keeper at the sanctuary. She finished her 1,400 mile journey on Saturday, 17th August.
“When the bombs hit last year she suffered from shell shock and concussion and she wouldn’t stand for a very long time,” Cam Whitnall, a keeper from the sanctuary said. “You could see from her body movement that she was suffering and she wouldn’t eat. For the last three months she has got a loss of co-ordination when she walks.”
While the new enclosure for the lion contains trees and ramps to climb up, staff have removed most to the ground level so that she cannot hurt herself.
“We are trying to get her outside and build up the muscles on her legs and get her out to feel grass under her paws for the very first time,” Whitnall said.
The sanctuary hopes to raise £500,000 to finish the facility and eventually bring over a total of five lions from Kyiv to Kent.
