-
Vanda was part of the 'Big Cats in Crisis' Campaign, one of the five lions to be rescued from Ukraine
-
She was kept as a pet and was found in a flat in Ukraine with no access outside or to sunlight
-
She was severely malnourished when found and was the smallest lion out of the five to be rescued
-
She was rescued from war-torn Ukraine in September 2024
-
Vanda was temporarily living at Planckendael Zoo in Belgium
Vanda is a young lioness and who was thought to be around one year old. She was rescued from a flat in south-eastern Ukraine and was bought to the Wild Animal Rescue Center in Kiyv Ukraine. Vanda was originally kept as a family pet and was surrendered when she became too hard to handle. Found with no access to sunlight or the outside and was severely malnourished. She is the smallest out of all the lions and was in desperate need of help and care.
Vanda was part of the Sanctuary’s Big Cats in Crisis campaign, the vital mission in rescuing five traumatised lions from war-torn Ukraine. The Sanctuary launched the campaign on 2nd May 2024, with a fundraising goal of £500,000 to bring all five lions, Yuna, Rori, Amani, Lira and Vanda, to the sanctuary and build them a new forever home, The Lion Rescue Centre.
Vanda when she was found by Wild Animal Rescue in Ukraine
Vanda when she was temporarily housed at Planckendael Zoo
Vanda living at her new forever home, the Lion Rescue Centre, at The Big Cat Sanctuary
Vanda had been temporarily living at Planckendael Zoo in Belgium while her new home, The Lion Rescue Centre, was being built at the Sanctuary. She was evacuated from the Wild Animal Rescue Centre in Kyiv, Ukraine, on the 18th September 2024. She traveled over 1,300 miles across three countries to the temporary facility in Belgium.
Since arriving at Planckendael, Vanda has developed from the small, timid lioness she once was to the energetic and excitable lioness she is now. She has been described as a “sweetheart” by the people caring for her and loves to run around her enclosure and interact with different types of enrichment.
Vanda arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary on Friday 14th March, alongside Rori, Amani, and Lira, as they moved into their new home at the Lion Rescue Centre. They arrived in the afternoon and was kept inside the house to acclimatise to their new surroundings after the long journey from Belgium.
After arriving at the Sanctuary, Vanda has settled into her new life wonderfully. She’s often seen exploring her home, lounging on the mounds and platforms, and eagerly snatching her food from her pole feed. This inquisitive and cheeky little lioness loves to watch and stalk nearby guests or staff, and at any opportunity, she’ll dart forward and show off her agility. We could not be prouder of how Vanda has been adapting to her new life.
Adopt HereThese iconic animals have powerful bodies weighing between 265 to 420 pounds. Lion roars can be heard from 5 miles or 8km away. An adult lion’s coat is yellow-gold, while the juveniles have some light spots which generally disappear with age. Only male lions typically boast manes, the impressive fringe of long hair that encircles their head.
Lions are the only cats that live in groups, called prides—although there is one population of solitary lions. Prides are family units that may comprise anywhere from two to forty lions—including up to to three or four males, around a dozen females, and their young.
Lions can hunt the largest prey – buffalo, giraffe, and even juvenile elephants. However, they predominantly prey upon medium-sized wildlife, such as wildebeest, zebra, and impala.
The vast majority of lions live in sub-Saharan Africa. The current world population is estimated to be under than 20,000 – down from as many as 200,000 in 1900. Lions are threatened by the illegal trade in meat and other body parts, habitat loss, and conflict with humans due to the real or perceived threat that lions pose to livestock.