Shell-shocked lion from Ukraine thriving after rescue

The Advertiser

3 days ago

A lioness rescued from Ukraine is "thriving" and has fallen in love, a year after being evacuated to the United Kingdom.
Three-year-old Yuna was rescued after living in a three-by-four-metre enclosure with a bare concrete floor.
When evacuated, she could not stand because of a severe concussion caused by shell shock.
Her story became the catalyst for the Big Cats in Crisis campaign, which eventually saw four more lions brought to Kent from Ukraine.
A fundraising campaign collected £500,000 ($A1.0 million) to build a centre for the big cats.
A year on, Yuna is thriving.
"Yuna is a different animal from the one we met a year ago," Big Cat Sanctuary's managing director and wildlife expert Cam Whitnall said.
"The change in her has been incredible to witness. She's full of personality, loves exploring her new surroundings, and is finally living the life a lion should."
The lioness has even struck up a romance with fellow rescue lion Rori, who lives in an enclosure next to hers.
"She's not just a rescue, she's a testament to resilience and the symbol of hope that inspired the rescue of Rori, Amani, Lira and Vanda," Whitnall said.
A lioness rescued from Ukraine is "thriving" and has fallen in love, a year after being evacuated to the United Kingdom.
Three-year-old Yuna was rescued after living in a three-by-four-metre enclosure with a bare concrete floor.
When evacuated, she could not stand because of a severe concussion caused by shell shock.
Her story became the catalyst for the Big Cats in Crisis campaign, which eventually saw four more lions brought to Kent from Ukraine.
A fundraising campaign collected £500,000 ($A1.0 million) to build a centre for the big cats.
A year on, Yuna is thriving.
"Yuna is a different animal from the one we met a year ago," Big Cat Sanctuary's managing director and wildlife expert Cam Whitnall said.
"The change in her has been incredible to witness. She's full of personality, loves exploring her new surroundings, and is finally living the life a lion should."
The lioness has even struck up a romance with fellow rescue lion Rori, who lives in an enclosure next to hers.
"She's not just a rescue, she's a testament to resilience and the symbol of hope that inspired the rescue of Rori, Amani, Lira and Vanda," Whitnall said.
A lioness rescued from Ukraine is "thriving" and has fallen in love, a year after being evacuated to the United Kingdom.
Three-year-old Yuna was rescued after living in a three-by-four-metre enclosure with a bare concrete floor.
When evacuated, she could not stand because of a severe concussion caused by shell shock.
Her story became the catalyst for the Big Cats in Crisis campaign, which eventually saw four more lions brought to Kent from Ukraine.
A fundraising campaign collected £500,000 ($A1.0 million) to build a centre for the big cats.
A year on, Yuna is thriving.
"Yuna is a different animal from the one we met a year ago," Big Cat Sanctuary's managing director and wildlife expert Cam Whitnall said.
"The change in her has been incredible to witness. She's full of personality, loves exploring her new surroundings, and is finally living the life a lion should."
The lioness has even struck up a romance with fellow rescue lion Rori, who lives in an enclosure next to hers.
"She's not just a rescue, she's a testament to resilience and the symbol of hope that inspired the rescue of Rori, Amani, Lira and Vanda," Whitnall said.
A lioness rescued from Ukraine is "thriving" and has fallen in love, a year after being evacuated to the United Kingdom.
Three-year-old Yuna was rescued after living in a three-by-four-metre enclosure with a bare concrete floor.
When evacuated, she could not stand because of a severe concussion caused by shell shock.
Her story became the catalyst for the Big Cats in Crisis campaign, which eventually saw four more lions brought to Kent from Ukraine.
A fundraising campaign collected £500,000 ($A1.0 million) to build a centre for the big cats.
A year on, Yuna is thriving.
"Yuna is a different animal from the one we met a year ago," Big Cat Sanctuary's managing director and wildlife expert Cam Whitnall said.
"The change in her has been incredible to witness. She's full of personality, loves exploring her new surroundings, and is finally living the life a lion should."
The lioness has even struck up a romance with fellow rescue lion Rori, who lives in an enclosure next to hers.
"She's not just a rescue, she's a testament to resilience and the symbol of hope that inspired the rescue of Rori, Amani, Lira and Vanda," Whitnall said.