Lion rescued from Ukraine takes first steps outside

A lioness rescued from war-torn Ukraine has taken her first steps outside at a sanctuary in Kent.

Three-year-old Yuna, who suffers from shell shock, arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden on August 17 and stayed in her enclosure for a week.

But the shelter, which said she had previously been confined to a small space on a concrete floor, said she had “begun to show a playful and curious nature.”

This involved her going outside her enclosure, feeling grass under her paws for the first time and scratching on trees and logs.

Yuna was held near Kiev after her rescueand was traumatized when debris from a rocket attack landed 300 meters (984 feet) from the small fence.

Lioness Yuna pictured outside her enclosure at The Big Cat Sanctuary — Yuna, a three-year-old lioness, previously lived on a concrete floor in Ukraine (The Big Cat Sanctuary)

According to the shelter, she was being held in a private home before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Rori, a male lion, is currently in Belgium. He will join the reserve once a purpose-built enclosure is ready in November.

Yuna in her enclosure at The Big Cat Sanctuary — Yuna was the first of five lions rescued from Ukraine and given a new home in Kent (The Big Cat Sanctuary)

Cam Whitnall from The Big Cat Sanctuary said staff had been “talking” to Yuna to help her settle into her new home.

“She now comes out for a few hours every day, but we are keeping a close eye on her because she is still very unsteady,” he said.

He added that Yuna had also undertaken other activities such as pest control and bark removal, and was also bewildered by the rain as she had no access to an outdoor enclosure before.

The sanctuary is aiming to raise £500,000 to complete the facility so it can eventually open. bring a total of five lions from Kiev to Kent.

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