White tiger endures bombs in wait for rescue

The white tiger, known as Aleks, will be rehomed at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park after he was found abandoned in Ukraine

A white tiger traumatised by the sound of bombs in war-torn Ukraine is one veterinary check away from being cleared to travel to his new home in the UK.

Aleks was found abandoned last year in the Kharkiv region of north-east Ukraine before he was taken to an animal shelter in Chubynske, near Kyiv.

Lincolnshire Wildlife Park, near Boston, has been busy preparing for Aleks's arrival, and are now just waiting on a veterinary team to check he is healthy enough for the long journey across Europe.

Park chief executive Steve Nichols said: "He's going to come massively traumatised, they're still being bombed as we're talking now."

He said he had learned from emails sent by the Ukrainian animal rescuers that some of the animals they were caring for had already died due to shell shock.

On waiting for Aleks to arrive, he said: "The poor creature is sat in this horrendous place and we just feel frustrated we could get him over here and sort the paperwork afterwards.

"Obviously we just can't do that.

"The next four weeks we will see movement and will definitely have a date and hopefully he will be en route to Lincolnshire."

Lincolnshire Wildlife Park installed a new enclosure gate on Monday

Aleks will be driven from Ukraine through Poland and northern Europe and then from Dover to his new home at the wildlife park at Friskney in Lincolnshire.

Before his rescue and treatment, the tiger was dehydrated, infested with parasites and exhausted, as well as having gastrointestinal issues, and liver and kidney issues, the park said.

Mr Nichols said the park had got almost everything ready for Aleks following a fundraising campaign set up to help cover the £100,000 cost of his new enclosure.

A gate was installed at his enclosure on Monday, leaving a swimming pool and play frame as the final items to be added.

Park chief executive Steve Nichols said he was "excited" about the arrival of the white tiger

Once he arrives, Aleks will go through a three-stage process to get him settled - starting with an indoor closure with a sleeping area, playroom and feeding room.

With veterinary help, he will then go into an outdoor enclosure, and then hopefully join the other tigers at the park.

Mr Nichols said he hoped the different stages would get Aleks "used to the Lincolnshire sunshine and peace and quiet".

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices