Starving lions found in cramped cages in Ukraine begin new lease of life in South Africa
Starving lions and tigers have been rescued from war-torn Ukraine and given a new lease of life at a game reserve in South Africa.
Warriors of Wildlife rescued the hungry big cats from cramped cages in the Carpathian Mountains and the Mykolaiv region of Ukraine, where the conflict has depleted food supplies.
After being rescued in 2022, the animals made the 85-hour journey to Simbonga Game Reserve and Sanctuary on South Africa’s Eastern Cape.
The animals had been crated for hours during the journey across the continent, but appeared to be in good health after the long journey.
In total, the organization rescued seven big cats during the operation, including six lions named Cher, 8, Hercules, 4, Khaya, 4, Akera, 4, Mir, 4, and Simba, 10, as well as a tiger named Gina, 9.
Warriors of Wildlife rescued eight big cats from parts of war-torn Ukraine, including enclosures in the Carpathians and the Mykolaiv region, where the animals were kept in small cages with little food (pictured)
The lions underwent an 85-hour journey from Ukraine to Simbonga Game Reserve and Sanctuary on South Africa’s Eastern Cape, where they now live in large outdoor enclosures
Along with the lions, a nine-year-old tiger named Gina was also rescued from its enclosure in Ukraine (pictured this year in South Africa)
The lions now live in large enclosures, ready to start their new life.
Since moving from Europe, the sanctuary’s shelter manager Lauren Vad-Smith, 32, has documented the animals’ progress since they arrived in Africa.
Lauren said: ‘These animals now all live in our sanctuary in Simbonga Game Reserve in South Africa.
“The lions have lasted 85 hours in their crates from Ukraine to their destination in the reserve.
‘Our non-profit organization is called Warriors of Wildlife; we work all over the world with a primary focus currently in Ukraine and South Africa.
“Tourists can come and visit the lions and learn more about the animals and the work that goes into saving them.
“Our goal is to rescue and relocate animals in need in captivity.”
These weren’t the only animals rescued from the Eastern European country last year.
Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Warriors have Wildlife has rescued and relocated 37 lions from Ukraine to South Africa.
Gina the tiger pictured in Ukraine after Putin’s invasion of the country last year
Animals in these enclosures (pictured) were not the first big cats to be rescued. In May 2022, Warriors of Wildlife along with animal rescue groups Breaking the Chains traveled to the worn-down Black Sea port city of Odessa to rescue a group of lions and tigers.
Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Warriors have Wildlife has rescued and relocated 37 lions from Ukraine to South Africa
Photos shared by shelter manager Lauren Vad-Smith showed the terrible conditions the lions were placed in before being rescued
Prior to the rescue mission, the lions continued to starve and meat supplies for the animals were extremely low
Shared photos of the lions before their 2022 rescue (left), compared to those of the South African Game Reserve in 2023 (right) showed a drastic difference
The lions now have plenty of room to roam the open-air sanctuary while on-site volunteers care for them (right). It offers a stark contrast to their lives before in Ukraine in the months following the outbreak of war (left)
On a mission in May 2022, Warriors of Wildlife along with animal rescue group Breaking the Chains traveled to Odessa’s well-worn Black Sea port to rescue a group of Big Cats.
Nine lions, who were starving at the time, were rescued from their home in Biopark, Odessa.
Two adult males, five lionesses and two cubs were transferred to a temporary shelter in Targu Mures, Romania.
The animals were then moved to Simbonga Game Reserve or transferred to a wildlife sanctuary in the US.
Warriors of Wildlife was founded to rescue and relocate wildlife so they can be cared for by volunteers. Pictured: One of the lions rescued from Ukraine basks in the South African sun
At the sanctuary, 11 lions and Gina the tiger can be viewed by appointment only, as the recovery center can only be viewed by appointment
The animals now have a lot more space to roam in a natural environment instead of being cooped up in zoos
Lionel de Lange, founder of Warriors of Wildlife and a veteran of the South African Army, said at the time: ‘It was an international operation and it was great to work with other people who were eager to get this amazing job done.
“I hope that in the future we can go under the Russian nose again and save more animals together.
“It’s great for me to get an animal out of a difficult situation, but I suppose for me, as someone who has lived in Ukraine, it was extra special.
“The lion’s future was super bleak when he stayed in Odessa, because the mark is on the wall and it looks like the war won’t end anytime soon.”