Conflicts

The Belgian zoos of Planckendael in Flanders and Pairi Daiza in Wallonia have just taken in lionesses from Ukraine. These animals were in a wildlife sanctuary. The felines are in transit to an English sanctuary.

Amani, Lira and Vanda have arrived safely in Belgium. These three lion sisters were born in Ukraine in an illegal centre. After their seizure, they were housed in a wildlife sanctuary in Kiev. However, the war made their living conditions difficult. The British association The Big Cat Sanctuary organized their transfer from Kiev to Belgium. A journey of 1300km. Amani and Lira were taken in by Pairi Daiza in Hainaut and Vanda is in Planckendael in the Flemish Brabant.

Other Ukrainian lions in Belgium

These animals are not intended for public exhibition. They are awaiting their final transfer to their sanctuary in Kent in the United Kingdom. They will be joined by Rori, a lion who arrived in Belgium in August and is currently being cared for at the Natuurhulpcentrum in Oudsberg in Limburg. In this centre, there have already been two other Ukrainian lions who arrived in March 2022: Tsar and Jamil. Two animals who experienced a difficult transfer since Russian soldiers had intercepted their convoy on the way to Poland, threatening to kill the two big cats. Since March 2024, they have been housed in South Africa, Shamwari, their permanent place of residence.

(MH with Olivier Duquesne – Source: Le Soir & VRT – Picture: © Pairi Daiza)