A shell shocked lioness has finally been rescued from war-torn Ukraine and felt the grass beneath her paws for the first time.
Yuna, three, was previously confined to a 3m by 4m space in a private home before the war broke out, living on a cold concrete floor. As war raged, missiles close to her enclosure meant she suffered from shell shock, a concussion and loss of coordination.
A dramatic rescue by The Big Cat Sanctuary, based near Ashford, Kent, saw Yuna evacuated through six countries over five days. The lioness has now spent a week acclimatising to her new private den at the Sanctuary and stood in the fresh air on grass for the first time in her life.
READ MORE: Britain is a country of ‘internet trolls’ as worst ‘keyboard warrior’ cities mapped
Click for more of the latest news from across the world from the Daily Star.
Cam Whitnall, Project Lead at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said: “All the hard work has paid off for this very moment. “Rescuing Yuna from the war in Ukraine, giving her a second chance at life, and now seeing her feel fresh air and grass for the first time-it’s incredibly special and beautiful.
“It’s been an incredible team effort from everyone involved, and we’re so pleased that she’s settled in so well here at The Big Cat Sanctuary.”
Yuna was left suffering from shell-shock after debris was blasted close to her enclosure – where she was thought to have lived all her life – in January this year. She was found by military volunteers in Kyiv after the debris fell 300 metres from her, leaving her traumatised cowering in the corner.
On the journey across Europe, The Big Cat Sanctuary ensured Yuna’s transition was smooth and free from stress by sitting with her and speaking in soft comforting voices. Yuna’s initial wariness began to fade and she began to approach her caretakers willingly, signalling a significant breakthrough in her emotional recovery.
She has begun to reveal a curious nature, scratching trees and logs and keepers say this playful behaviour demonstrates her increasing confidence. Briony Smith, Curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said: “The speed at which Yuna has started to settle into life at the Sanctuary has taken us all by surprise.
“We know we still have a long road ahead, but she is showing an amazing amount of courage and even a bit of cheekiness already, and we couldn’t be happier.”
Plans are already in motion to rescue the remaining three lionesses – Amani, Lira, and Vanda – from the Wild Animal Rescue in Kyiv. A lion, Rori, has been taken to a temporary holding facility in Belgium while his new enclosure is built at the Sanctuary.
The Big Cat Sanctuary charity has raised £350,000 of its £500,000 target to complete the rescue.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.