URSA - The Big Cat Sanctuary

PRESS RELEASE: From Kyiv to Kent

Rescuing 'URSA' the Eurasian Lynx from war-torn Ukraine

Cats in Crisis: Lynx Rescue

 

The Big Cat Sanctuary announces an urgent new mission to rescue Ursa, a young female Eurasian lynx, from war-torn Ukraine, following the global success of its Big Cats in Crisis campaign.

A global leader in wild cat care and conservation, The Big Cat Sanctuary is calling on the public to help fund the rescue and lifelong care of Ursa, who was found living in appalling conditions after being illegally kept as a private pet. Now housed at Wild Animal Rescue Center on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ursa remains in danger as bombs continue to fall in the surrounding area.

This mission follows the extraordinary rescue of five lions; Rori, Amani, Lira, Vanda and Yuna, from Ukraine during a high-stakes ten-month operation.

Led by wildlife expert and Sanctuary Managing Director, Cam Whitnall, the campaign raised £500,000 to build the Lion Rescue Centre, which opened in March 2025. Today, those lions are thriving in Kent, many having felt grass beneath their paws for the first time since their arrival. Now, Cam and his team are motivated towards helping a smaller but equally vulnerable, feline in desperate need.

 

Ursa’s Story

Born in 2023, Ursa’s early life was marked by neglect and illegality. Discovered as a kitten by the organisation URSA, after whom she was later named, she was being kept by a private individual in their home before the police intervened. Ursa was confiscated by court order and transferred to Wild Animal Rescue Center on the outskirts of Kyiv, where she is receiving the care and treatment she desperately needed to improve her health.

Initial veterinary examinations revealed the true extent of her suffering. Ursa was battling a severe intestinal infection and heavy parasite burdens. Critically, due to poor nutrition and incorrect feeding during her vital growth months, she remains significantly smaller than a lynx of her age should be. Having been hand-raised by humans and lacking the physical size and skills to defend herself, experts have confirmed that Ursa could never survive in the wild.

Ursa needs to be moved to safety as soon as possible and The Big Cat Sanctuary is going to do everything in its power to make that happen.

The Mission Ahead

The Big Cat Sanctuary is now preparing a complex and high-risk rescue operation to bring Ursa safely to the UK. The mission includes:
  • Rescue:Navigating an active war zone to evacuate Ursa from Ukraine.
  • Border Crossing:Managing complex international logistics, veterinary requirements and permits to transport a protected species safely to the UK.
  • A Forever Home:Providing Ursa with a secure habitat within the Sanctuary’s Small Cat Rescue Centre, alongside other rescued small cats, including Blob the bobcat.
Cam Whitnall, Managing Director of The Big Cat Sanctuary, who is the driving force behind the rescue, said: “Our mission to rescue the five lions from Ukraine showed the world what is possible when people come together. Now, we are asking for that same incredible support for Ursa. She has had a difficult start to life, stunted by poor care and living under the constant shadow of war. Ursa deserves a future where she is safe, and we are determined to bring her to the Sanctuary, giving her the peaceful, forever home she deserves. Every donation helps us complete this dangerous but very necessary journey. We cannot, and will not, leave her behind.”

How to Help

The Sanctuary needs to raise a minimum of £100,000 to ensure the safe rescue of Ursa, which includes her transportation and emergency care. Any funds raised beyond this will support Ursa’s long-term care and help rescue other animals still in danger.

The Big Cat Sanctuary is urging the public to join the mission and follow Ursa’s journey from Kyiv to Kent. Donations will go directly towards the transport costs and the redevelopment of her new habitat.

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