‘Race against time’ to rescue lions

A rescue operation is in motion to bring five African lions to the UK in order to give them a better life.

Rori, a male lion, and four lionesses – two sisters, Amani and Lira, Vanda, and Yuna – are currently living in a shelter in war-torn Ukraine, having been rescued from terrible conditions.

A new home is to be created for them at The Big Cat Sanctuary, in Smarden, a family-run centre dedicated to conserving and protecting endangered big cats.

The animals are all in recovery, with four out of five reportedly used for illegal breeding.

Two of them, Rori and Yuna, have also suffered from serious shell shock after debris fell near their enclosures following a missile attack.

The animals are currently being cared for in Kyiv at Wild Animal Rescue by Natalia Popova and a small support team. The Big Cat Sanctuary is working alongside IFAW (International Fund for Animal

Welfare) to evacuate the lions as quickly as possible.

Cam Whitnall from the sanctuary said: “It’s a race against time, but we are determined to give them the best possible forever home they can have – that's our mission because they deserve it after all they’ve been through.”

The Sanctuary has launched a fundraiser to help create the new facilities.

To donate, visit www.thebigcatsanctuary.org

Picture: Wild Animal Rescue/IFAW Rori is one of five lions set to be brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary