Starving lions and tigers have been rescued from war-torn Ukraine and given a new lease of life on a game reserve in South Africa.
Warriors of Wildlife rescued the starving big cats from cramped cages in the Carpathian mountains and the Mykolaiv region of Ukraine, where food supplies were running low because of Putin’s invasion.
After being rescued in 2022, the animals made the 85-hour journey to Simbonga Game Reserve and Sanctuary on the Eastern Cape in South Africa.
The animals had been kept in crates for hours during the cross-continent journey but were found to be in good health following the long trip.
In total, the organisation rescued seven big cats during the operation, including six lions named Hercules, Khaya, Akera and Mir – all four – and Simba, 10 and Cher, eight. They also rescued a nine-year-old tiger named Gina.
The lions are now living in large enclosures ready to embark on their new life.
Since their move from Europe, sanctuary manager at the reserve Lauren Vad-Smith, 32, has been documenting the animals progress since arriving in Africa.
Lauren said: ‘These animals now all live at our sanctuary in South Africa at Simbonga Game Reserve.
‘The lions endured 85 hours in their crates from Ukraine to their destination at the sanctuary.
‘Our non-profit organisation is called Warriors of Wildlife; we work across the globe with a primary focus in Ukraine and South Africa currently.
‘Tourists are able to come and visit the lions and learn about the animals as well as well as the work that goes in to rescuing them.
‘Our goal is to rescue and relocate captive animals in need.’
These were not the only animals to be rescued from the Eastern European country in the last year.
Since the war in Ukraine broke out, Warriors have Wildlife have rescued and relocated 37 lions from Ukraine to South Africa.
During one mission back in May 2022, Warriors of Wildlife along with the animal rescue group Breaking the Chains, travelled to the wore-torn Black Sea port of Odessa to rescue a group of Big Cats.
Nine lions, who were facing starvation at the time, were rescued from their home in Biopark, Odessa.
Two adult males, five lionesses, as well as two cubs, were taken to a temporary home in Targu Mures, Romania.
The animals were then either moved on to Simbonga Game Reserve or transferred to a wildlife sanctuary in the US.
Warriors of Wildlife founder and South African Army veteran Lionel de Lange said at the time: ‘It was an international operation, and it was great to work with other people who were keen on getting this amazing job done.
‘I hope we can go back in under the Russian noses again and rescue more animals together in the future.
‘It’s great for me to get any animal out of a bad situation but I suppose for me as someone who has lived in Ukraine it was extra special.
‘The lions future was super bleak staying in Odesa because the writing is on the wall, and it looks like there’s not going to be an end to the war anytime soon.’
This article by Eirian Jane Prosser was first published by The Daily Mail on 27 April 2023. Lead Image: Warriors of Wildlife rescued eight big cats from parts of war-torn Ukraine, including enclosures in the Carpathian mountains and the Mykolaiv region, where the animals were in small cages with little food (pictured)
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