A shell-shocked lioness has finally been rescued from war-torn Ukraine and felt the grass beneath her paws for the first time ever.
Yuna, three, was previously confined to a three by four-meter space in a private home before the war broke out - living on a cold concrete floor.
As war raged across Kyiv, missiles close to her enclosure meant she suffered from shell shock, a concussion and loss of coordination.
A dramatic rescue by The Big Cat Sanctuary , based near Ashford, Kent, saw Yuna evacuated through six countries over five days.
Three-year-old lioness, Yuna, takes her first-ever steps on grass inside her enclosure at The Big Cat Sanctuary. (The Big Cat Sanctuary via SWNS)
The lioness has now spent a week acclimatizing to her new private den at the Sanctuary and stood in the fresh air on grass for the first time in her life.
Cam Whitnall, Project Lead at The Big Cat Sanctuary , said: “All the hard work has paid off for this very moment.
"Rescuing Yuna from the war in Ukraine, giving her a second chance at life, and now seeing her feel fresh air and grass for the first time—it’s incredibly special and beautiful.
"It’s been an incredible team effort from everyone involved, and we’re so pleased that she’s settled in so well here at The Big Cat Sanctuary.”
(The Big Cat Sanctuary via SWNS)
Yuna was left suffering from shell shock after debris was blasted close to her enclosure - where she was thought to have lived all her life - in January this year.
She was found by military volunteers in Kyiv after the debris fell 300 meters from her, leaving her traumatized cowering in the corner.
As the journey across Europe, The Big Cat Sanctuary ensured Yuna’s transition was smooth and free from stress by sitting with her and speaking in soft comforting voices.
Yuna’s initial wariness began to fade, and she began to approach her caretakers willingly, signaling a significant breakthrough in Yuna’s emotional recovery.
Traumatized lioness Yuna after Kyiv missile attack. (The Big Cat Sanctuary via SWNS)
She has begun to reveal a curious nature, scratching trees and logs and keepers say this playful behavior demonstrates her increasing confidence.
Briony Smith, Curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said: “The speed at which Yuna has started to settle into life at the Sanctuary has taken us all by surprise.
“We know we still have a long road ahead, but she is showing an amazing amount of courage and even a bit of cheekiness already, and we couldn’t be happier.”
(The Big Cat Sanctuary via SWNS)
Plans are already in motion to rescue the remaining three lionesses—Amani, Lira, and Vanda—from the Wild Animal Rescue in Kyiv.
A lion, Rori, has been taken to a temporary holding facility in Belgium while his new enclosure is built at the Sanctuary.
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