4 orphaned Ukrainian lion cubs move to | CTB NEWS

A New Beginning for Four Lion Cubs Abandoned in Ukraine They Found in Minnesota

On November 29, the lion cubs Taras, Stefania, Lesya, and Prada were transported from Poland to the United States in wooden cages that had been carefully built for the journey.

The United States of America is the new home for four lion cubs that were abandoned in Ukraine.

According to a statement released by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) on Wednesday, the cubs, whose names are Taras, Stefania, Lesya, and Prada, were transported from Poland to the United States on November 29 in specially prepared wooden containers.

The cubs were then "unloaded into a warm indoor enclosure with plenty of food, drink, and toys," according to the announcement, after an eight-hour travel to The Wildcat Sanctuary (TWS) in Sandstone, Minnesota.

In a press release, the Wildlife Rescue Program Manager at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Meredith Whitney, stated that "These cubs have undergone more in their brief lives than any animal should."

She continued by saying, "They were born at breeding facilities in Ukraine during a conflict, and then they were orphaned when they were only a few weeks old." "We made a promise to these lion cubs early on that we would locate a heavenly and secure environment for them to spend the remainder of their lives together as a family. As a result of our prior collaboration with The Wildcat Sanctuary on the rescue of large cats, we are aware that a beautiful habitat is waiting for them there."

The cubs, who are between the ages of four and six months old, endured a lengthy journey out of Ukraine that lasted for thirty-six hours and then spent three weeks being cared for in the Poznan Zoo in Poland before being transported to the United States.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, a number of zoos and animal rescue organizations across Europe have taken in lions from the country. However, none of these facilities had any available space, which is what motivated The Wildcat Sanctuary and IFAW to take action.

Tammy Thies, the founder and executive director of The Wildcat Sanctuary (TWS), was quoted as saying in a release that "We've cared for 300 big cats at TWS and are painfully aware of the trauma that many big cats throughout the world endure."

"As soon as IFAW reached out to us to beg that we form a cooperation, we had no doubt that these cubs would eventually call our sanctuary their permanent home. They have a specialized open space to roam as well as cozy chambers within where they may rest their weary bodies after a lengthy travel."

The 9-hour flight completed by the lions on November 29 landed sometime about noontime. After passing through customs, the cubs were transferred with extreme caution to TWS, where they were eventually let out into an indoor quarantine enclosure that offered a comfortable place to sleep.

"They will get the opportunity to explore their huge outdoor environment in the next few days," continued the TWS announcement, which also noted that they will receive a comprehensive health check from a veterinarian. "They will get to explore their large outdoor habitat in the next few days," added the release.

"Their presence signifies the completion of a difficult journey that began with step one. After escaping the bombings and drone assaults in Ukraine, these young lions had to travel approximately 7,000 kilometres before they could finally relax in their new home "The TWS proceeded.

According to Thies, "we intend to continue working with IFAW and members of the Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance to preserve more big cats from the war-torn Ukraine."