Big cats rescued from Ukraine find new home in France

Atlas was rescued from a private owner

Three big cats have safely arrived at an animal park in Burgundy, France after travelling for nearly four days out of Ukraine.

A two-and-a-half-year-old male lion called Atlas was rescued from a private owner, while two lionesses, called Luladja and Queen, were rescued together from eastern Ukraine,

The trio of lions were temporarily placed at an wild animal rescue centre based near Ukraine's capital Kyiv, before they were taken to the Polish-Ukrainian border. From there, they were transported to their final destination in France.

Lionesses like Luladja and Queen usually live in the wild

The rescue of the lions is a big deal as animals like this are usually found in the wild where they live in groups called prides and hunt for their food.

However, once they've been kept in captivity, they can't be released back into the wild. It means suitable homes have to be found for them where they'll need to be cared for for the rest of their lives.

"Atlas, Luladja and Queen are the unexpected victims of war - lions that should be in Africa, being kept in poor conditions in a country ravaged by war," said wildlife rescue field officer Natalia Gozak.

"Animals such as lions born in captivity and rescued from these situations, sadly won't have the skills to survive in the wild. With the ongoing war, people keeping wild animals as pets have had to give them in, creating a tidal wave of these animals needing homes - something that is already in short supply,"

"Lions do not make suitable pets - they are wild animals so require expert specialist care to best meet their physical and psychological needs."