In a moving example of resilience and care, an animal rescue charity has managed to bring two lionesses to safety from war-affected areas in Ukraine. One of these lions, Yuna, has taken her first steps into a peaceful, natural environment in the English countryside—a sharp contrast to the confined, concrete quarters she was born into.
Raised in captivity without ever feeling grass under her paws, Yuna endured significant trauma even before Russian bombings intensified her stress and fear. Thanks to the concerted efforts of The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Yuna now has a new beginning.
A Complicated, 30-Hour Rescue Mission
The rescue operation was no small feat. After carefully coordinating logistics, The Big Cat Sanctuary and IFAW embarked on a 30-hour journey to extract Yuna from Ukraine and transport her to Kent, where she could start a new life in a 32-acre facility designed to resemble her natural habitat.
A second lioness was also rescued and delivered to a sanctuary in Belgium, where she can live in safety and tranquility.
Upon arrival at her new sanctuary home, Yuna was hesitant. She spent days in her artificial den, sleeping on straw and too frightened by the memories of explosions to step into the light outside.
While the quiet of her surroundings marked a stark difference from the war-torn area she had left behind, it took time for her to trust this new place. The Big Cat Sanctuary staff gave her the time and space she needed, watching with patience as she began her journey toward confidence and healing.
“Yuna’s confidence is growing day by day, and it’s truly moving to see,” says Cam Whitnall, Project Lead at The Big Cat Sanctuary.
“After more than two and a half years since the war, Yuna had her first opportunity to step outside. Although she didn’t quite venture out, watching her tentatively peek at her outdoor space was such a heartwarming sight. It felt like a small but significant step forward in her journey of recovery. Each day here at the sanctuary, she’s becoming a little braver and more assured,” she adds.
The team recently released footage showing Yuna’s cautious first steps onto the grass—a moment that symbolizes both her growth and the success of the rescue mission. Her hesitant exploration marks a new chapter for a creature who had known nothing but confinement and fear.
Rescue Efforts Continue Amidst War
The Big Cat Sanctuary isn’t stopping with Yuna. Preparations are already underway to bring three more lionesses out of Ukraine. These lions, currently kept in appalling conditions in Kyiv, are in dire need of rescue and rehabilitation.
Among the three awaiting rescue are sisters Amani and Lira. The sisters are thought to have been illegally bred for photo exploitation, a practice common in certain areas where wild animals are raised for tourist photos and social media. While they appear healthy and have required no significant veterinary intervention, their past lives were far from ideal. The sanctuary aims to provide them with a safe space where they can experience a life free from exploitation.
Vanda, another lioness in Kyiv, has a particularly heartbreaking story. She was kept in a small apartment for five to six months without access to the outdoors or sunlight. In addition to severe confinement, Vanda was raised on an unsuitable diet that left her malnourished, infested with parasites, and suffering from early signs of rickets, a condition that weakens bones.
Since being taken in by veterinary staff, she has shown gradual signs of improvement, and with proper care, she could recover fully.
The Path to Healing and Rehabilitation
For these big cats, freedom comes with a hefty price. The sanctuary relies on donations to fund their ongoing rescue efforts and provide the necessary care to these animals. The process of relocating such large and sensitive animals from a war zone is financially and logistically challenging. Funds are essential for transportation, veterinary care, and building suitable enclosures that can accommodate lions’ specific needs.
If you would like to support these efforts, donations can be made directly to The Big Cat Sanctuary, which is registered as a charity in the United Kingdom. Contributions go directly toward the care and welfare of these remarkable creatures, who deserve the chance to live in safety.
This remarkable rescue marks a crucial step forward in animal welfare, showing that even in the most tumultuous times, there is a way to bring compassion and healing to creatures in need.
The vision of Yuna tentatively stepping onto grass, her journey of transformation underway, is a powerful reminder of the importance of such efforts and the profound impact they have on individual lives.
See Yuna take a her first few tentative steps on grass in the video below:
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