Yuna, the Traumatised Lioness, Finds a Forever Home at The Big Cat Sanctuary
Yuna, a lioness who has endured years of unimaginable trauma and suffering, has finally found a safe haven at The Big Cat Sanctuary. After living in war-torn Ukraine, Yuna arrived in the early hours of Saturday, 17th August, after traveling over 30 hours to get to the UK.
After months of vigorous planning and preparation alongside the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), the charity has now rescued the first two of the five lions out of Ukraine: Yuna and Rori. Yuna has come to The Big Cat Sanctuary and Rori has gone to a temporary facility, Natuurhulpcentrum, in Belgium, whilst his new forever home, the Lion Rescue Centre, is being built.
Yuna’s past is a story of neglect. Before being caught in the crossfire of conflict in Ukraine, she was confined to a small, inadequate 3x4 metre enclosure within a private home. For years, she was forced to live on a bare concrete floor, deprived of the natural environment every big cat needs. She has never even felt grass beneath her paws. Her living conditions, combined with the trauma of living in a war zone, left her severely shell-shocked and in dire need of rescue. In January 2024, debris was blasted so close to Yuna’s enclosure that she suffered from shell shock and loss of coordination.
Her arrival at The Big Cat Sanctuary signals a new beginning. Over the past three days, Yuna has been acclimating to her new surroundings and has been kept inside her den. Through CCTV, it shows that Yuna has been sleeping in her bed lots, especially after the 30-hour drive spanning nearly four days it took to get her to the Sanctuary.
On Monday, 19th August, Yuna was given access outside. Yuna, however, Yuna chose to stay inside. Over time, the Sanctuary will continue to give her access outside but will make sure it is her choice to do so. It is a whole new environment for Yuna, and the team is dedicated to making it as stress-free as possible for her.
“Yuna’s confidence growing day by day, and it’s truly moving to see. After more than two and a half years since the war, Yuna had her first opportunity to step outside. Although she didn’t quite venture out, watching her tentatively peek at her outdoor space was such a heartwarming sight. It felt like a small but significant step forward in her journey of recovery. Each day here at the sanctuary, she’s becoming a little braver and more assured” - States Cam Whitnall, Project Lead at The Big Cat Sanctuary.
The Big Cat Sanctuary is committed to providing Yuna with the love, care, and environment she needs to heal and thrive. While the road to recovery is long for Yuna, the Sanctuary will do everything to give her the best life and care necessary.
The Sanctuary invites the public to follow Yuna’s journey and support her recovery. Updates will be provided through our website and social media channels. You can become a member and receive regular updates of the Big Cats in Crisis campaign and get updates on Yuna.