PREVIEW

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Two traumatised lions, Yuna and Rori, are travelling from warzone to their forever home at the Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent.


The sanctuary has rescued the first two of the five traumatised lions out of Ukraine. Male Rori and female Yuna have crossed the Ukraine and Polish border crossing, Korczowa - Krakovets, and are now out of the warzone and will be travelling over 1,400 miles to safety to the UK and Belgium.

The Sanctuary is working alongside Cross Border Animal Services (CBAS), who, on Wednesday, 14 August 2024, arrived at the Wild Animal Rescue Centre in Kyiv to collect Yuna and Rori.


Yuna is the first of the lions being moved to The Big Cat Sanctuary with a temporary habitat ready for her arrival, creating a safe, comfortable, and enriching environment tailored to her needs, providing her with refuge for recovery and the best possible care. The other lion, Rori – a male who also suffered shell shock will be moving with Yuna on the same journey, although he will be dropped off en route at Natuurhulpcentrum in Belgium.

The Big Cat Sanctuary team have now dropped off Rori and he is settling in for his temporary stay at Natuurhulpcentrum in Belgium until the new rescue facility is built at the Sanctuary.


Cameron and Briony are following CBAS who are transporting Yuna through France, they will then board a ferry, and drive from Dover to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent.

Since launching the campaign, the charity has raised over £300,000 in donations from the public, which will go towards transport, veterinary care, and the Lion Rescue Centre.

The sanctuary will update followers daily via its social media channels as the move progresses.