As citizens flee war-torn Ukraine, it is abandoned animals suffering the most. However, there is hope yet for these silent victims as animal organizations have united with concerned citizens to oversee rescues. One such heartwarming story is that of Yuna, a tigress whose eventual rescue from Ukraine saw her travelling 1,400 miles to a sanctuary in Smarden, Kent, where videos have captured the moment, she sets foot on safe ground.
A New and Safer Home
On 17th August, a shell-shocked Yuna finally arrived at the Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent, from Ukraine. The three-year-old lioness was traumatized after debris from a missile attack landed just 300 meters from her small concrete enclosure in Kyiv. Yuna was discovered by citizens who took her to Wild Animal Rescue, a facility supported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
When Yuna arrived at the sanctuary in Kent, she was so nervous she remained in her enclosure for a week. To help her recover, sanctuary workers adapted her new enclosure by removing obstacles that could cause her injury. She was constantly encouraged and coaxed to explore the outdoors.
Touching Grass for The First Time
According to vets, Yuna suffered loss of coordination while walking. This was because she had lived in a tiny enclosure for more than three months with hardly any space to move. At the Kent sanctuary, Yuna gradually began opening up, revealing a playful and curious nature.
Many felt it would take Yuna months to recover, but last week, she surprised everyone when her enclosure was opened. At first, Yuna stood in the doorway, hesitant and unsure. She retreated inside briefly but then decided to take that leap of faith, venturing out. It was an amazing moment as the lioness wandered around, paws on the ground for the first time in months. Walking around, she then appeared calmer and at peace.
Rescuers Risking Lives to Get Animals to Safety
Yuna is not the only lioness rescued from Ukraine. Another male lion, Rori, is currently housed in Belgium, awaiting his departure to join Yuna at the Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent. Wild Animal Rescue, a brave animal rescue organization in Kyiv, has been relentlessly working with AAP (Animal Advocacy and Protection), a European welfare organization, to rescue animals from Ukraine.
According to reports, rescue drivers have been held at gunpoint by Russian soldiers, but that has not deterred them from saving six young lions, several tigers, two caracals and an African wild dog thus far. Most of the animals are safely driven across the Polish border after which they are housed in temporary sanctuaries awaiting rehabilitation elsewhere like Yuna. The eventual aim is to bring five more lions to the Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden.
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