This daring animal rescue operation dubbed “Behind Enemy Lions” is the largest ever big-cat rescue from an active war zone!
Ukraine (27 May 2022) – In a daring mission executed on Tuesday, May 24, a pride of 9 lions were safely rescued from the Bio Park Zoo in Odesa, Ukraine, thanks to the efforts of South Africa’s Warriors of Wildlife organisation.
The nine lions were facing starvation at their home in the war-torn Black Seaport, where meat supplies were running dangerously low because of the armed conflict with Russia. In addition to this, there was also the very real danger of Russian missiles either striking the animals or damaging their enclosures and causing civilians to be in danger from loose predators. Odesa has come under Russian military shelling since the start of the war.
The team believe that this operation is the largest ever big-cat rescue from an active war zone.
Warriors of Wildlife director Lionel de Lange was the driving force responsible for arranging the rescue and repatriation of the lions to a temporary home at Targo Mures Zoo in Romania.
Lionel travelled thousands of miles from South Africa to complete the mission together with award-winning South African radio presenter Daron Mann. Help was enlisted from British animal rescue specialists Breaking The Chains. Founder/Director of Worldwide Vets Gemma Campling also accompanied the team into Ukraine to sedate the animals prior to travel and ensure their general well-being and good health.
After vet checks and sedation on the day of departure, each lion was individually crated and carefully loaded onto trucks for a 30-hour convoy journey through three countries.
A significant factor in the success of this speedy operation was the CITES paperwork being expedited post-haste by Roxanna Ciorni of the Casa Lui Patrocle organisation in Romania. She also facilitated with the processing of all necessary admin documents and liaised on the matter with security officials and the director of Targo Mures Zoo, Mr Janos Szantho.
It was Szantho, in collaboration with the mayor’s office of the city of Targo Mures, who gave the green light for their zoo to provide a safe haven for this young pride of lions whilst their permanent home is secured.
“Ideally, we would like to keep the entire pride together, but we understand that this is an extremely big ask of any single sanctuary, and it may not end up being possible. Negotiations in this regard are ongoing though,” Lionel said
“It’s extremely satisfying for me to rescue any animal out of a difficult situation, but as someone who has lived in Ukraine, this was extra special,” he added.
De Lange, who has now rescued and relocated as many as 38 lions, 8 bears and a tiger from captivity, vowed that this would not be the last rescue he and his team would perform.
“There are many more animals in need of help, and funds permitting, we will continue to keep trying to rescue them”, he said.
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