Sanctuary races to rescue five lions from Ukraine

The lions will be moved to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Ashford

An animal sanctuary in Kent says it is "on a mission" to rescue five African lions from Ukraine.

The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, near Ashford, is working alongside the International Fund for Animal Welfare to rescue one lion and four lionesses from war-torn Kyiv.

Cam Whitnall, from the sanctuary, said: "It’s a race against time, but we are determined to give them the best possible forever home they can have."

The lions have been temporarily living in a shelter called Wild Animal Rescue, which rescues animals across Ukraine, while a dedicated enclosure is built in Kent.

Cam Whitnall said: "We had to do something"

The lion is called Rori, and the four lionesses are called Amani, Lira, Vanda and Yuna.

The war has had an impact on the welfare of the lions.

In January 2024, debris was blasted close to Yuna’s enclosure, which led to her suffering from shell shock and loss of coordination.

Natalia Popova, co-ordinator of Wild Animal Rescue, said: "It’s a scary time for everyone here in Ukraine. These big cats must have been so frightened and confused."

Mr Whitnall added: "When we heard about the heart-breaking plight of these lions, we knew we had to do something, even though we don’t have the space at the sanctuary right now.”

The sanctuary says it is in the process of building a new rescue facility for the big cats and once built the lions will be welcomed to their "forever homes".

Ms Popova said she was relieved the lions had a "better life" ahead of them.