Yuna, a 3-year-old lioness who survived the horrors of war and shellshock in Ukraine, has reached a life-changing milestone after her dramatic rescue by The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, UK. After enduring confinement on a cold concrete floor in a terrifying warzone, Yuna finally stepped into the outside world and felt grass beneath her paws for the first time in her life, marking the beginning of her incredible second chance.
Yuna’s arrival at The Big Cat Sanctuary truly marks a new beginning. Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, she was confined to a 3x4m space in a private home, living on a concrete floor. Missile explosions close to her enclosure meant she suffered shell shock, concussion, and loss of coordination. She was discovered and taken to Wild Animal Rescue; a facility supported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
The Big Cat Sanctuary (a renowned, family run wildlife charity) worked alongside Cross Border Animal Services (CBAS) to evacuate Yuna and a male lion, Rori, at the Wild Animal Rescue Centre in Kyiv on Friday 16th August. Whilst en-route the Sanctuary, Rori, was taken to his temporary holding facility, Natuurhulpcentrum in Belgium, whilst his forever home, the Lion Rescue Centre, is being built at the Sanctuary. The journey to the UK took five days, driving over 30 hours and traveling through six countries: France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Ukraine.
Since her arrival in Kent, Yuna has spent a week acclimating to her new surroundings in a private den, where the sanctuary’s dedicated team has focused on building her trust and confidence. The team took meticulous care to ensure Yuna’s transition was smooth and free from stress. Each day, they sat near her, speaking in soft, comforting tones, gradually allowing her to adjust to their presence. As the days passed, Yuna’s initial wariness began to fade, and she began to approach her caretakers willingly. This slow but steady progress signalled a significant breakthrough in Yuna’s emotional recovery.
“All the hard work has paid off for this very moment, to rescue Yuna from the war, give her a second chance at life, and to now feel fresh air and grass for the first time in her life is so special and beautiful.” said Cam Whitnall, Project Lead at The Big Cat Sanctuary. “It’s been an incredible team effort from everyone involved, and we’re so pleased that she’s settled in so well here at The Big Cat Sanctuary.”
As Yuna grows more accustomed to her new life, she has begun to reveal a playful and curious nature. She has been observed exploring her environment, engaging in natural behaviours like scratching trees and logs—activities that were impossible in her previous confined space. These playful behaviours not only demonstrate Yuna’s increasing confidence but are also crucial for rebuilding the muscle strength and mobility she lost during her time in captivity.
“The speed at which Yuna has started to settle into life at the Sanctuary has taken us all by surprise” says Briony Smith, Curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary. “We know we still have a long road ahead, but she is showing an amazing amount of courage and even a bit of cheekiness already and we couldn’t be happier.”
The Big Cat Sanctuary’s work is far from over as plans are already in motion to rescue the remaining three lionesses—Amani, Lira, and Vanda—from the Wild Animal Rescue in Kyiv. These lionesses will be temporarily housed in Belgium while construction continues with the Lion Rescue Centre at The Big Cat Sanctuary.
This rescue mission, along with the construction of the Lion Rescue Centre, has been made possible through the generous support of the public. To date, the Big Cat Sanctuary charity has raised £350,000 of its £500,000 target. Each donation brings them one step closer to giving Yuna, Rori, and the other lionesses the safe and enriching lives they deserve.
The charity encourages the public to follow Yuna’s journey to recovery by becoming a member and following them on social media.
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