Four lions have arrived at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster on Wednesday night after spending nine months in a Polish holding facility after being taken out of Ukraine to escape Russian bombing.
Gaining clearance for the transfer was a ‘painstaking’ seven-month process.
Aysa and her three lion cubs were originally rescued from the Donetsk region of Ukraine where she was abandoned after the Russian invasion.
She was relocated to a sanctuary in Kiev where she gave birth to Emi, Santa and Teddi.
After being relocated again to Poland, Aysa was separated from her cubs where they stayed in adjacent concrete pens measuring 15 square feet.
The four finally set off on the 1,000 mile drive to Yorkshire Wildlife Park (YWP) last Tuesday.
Their first weeks in the UK will be spent being evaluated by YWP staff, and they won’t be seen by visitors until they are rehabilitated enough to step into the seven-acre lion habitat.
Colin Northcott, Deputy Section Head of Carnivores said: “It’s overwhelming to finally have them here with us, just amazing. Our visitors are going to love them. This is a massive new world for them.
“Even the language they hear will be different. I’m trying to learn a few words in Polish to make them feel more at home.
“Poznan Zoo did an amazing thing by rescuing them and the staff over there looked after them really well, they look so healthy and fit. But it pulled at my heartstrings seeing them unable to enjoy the fresh air and the outside world.”
YWP will be updating the lions’ progress on their social media, and any donations to the Wildlife Foundation charity can be made here Lion Rescue 2 – Save four Ukrainian Lions! LION (nationalfundingscheme.org)