Ukrainian Lions Make Their Debut Outside in Lion Country

13.5.2024 – Source: Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Photos by Sheila and Philip Baker

An immense 2,000 mile journey from Donetsk to Doncaster has led to this incredible moment. Mum, Aysa, and her 3 cubs, Emi, Santa, and Teddi finally left the raceway and began exploring their new home in Lion Country in the Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

While cautious of their new surroundings, it didn’t take long for them to relax and the cubs to begin playfully bounding around the hills of of their new home, a truly heart-warming sight!

Mum Aysa and her three 18-month-old cubs finally got to feel the grass under their paws and were able explore their reserve.

Rescued from the war-torn Donetsk region in Ukraine, they finally arrived at YWP in March after 9 months of being held in sanctuary in Poland, where due to the facilities, the youngsters grew up separated from their mum without seeing the sky or having the stimulation of the outside world. Now, that has changed.

After travelling 2000 miles across Europe the lions settled into their new Yorkshire home quickly and mum Aysa was then reunited with her cubs.

Now all four are enjoying the outside world in the expansive reserves of Lion Country, originally built for another group of rescued lions that came from Romania and the last two of which still live at the Park.

Colin Northcott, Deputy Section Head of Carnivores, said: ‘This is the moment we have all been waiting for.

‘I am completely overjoyed that this is finally happening- we have been working so hard to get to this point. Mum Aysa and her cubs have all done so well with adjusting to their new home, I feel like a proud dad!

‘The lions will certainly love seeing their new surroundings. I cannot wait to see them running around, playing, and enjoying new experiences such as walking on grass or seeing their reflections in the lake, as well as watching the birds flying in the sky. It will be incredible, and I am sure that they will become firm favourites with our visitors.’

The new residents of Lion Country will be out in their reserve every morning from 10:30am until early afternoon. They will have access to both the reserve and the indoor house. Should they choose to be inside, you may be able to see them on the lion house camera feed located in the Safari Courtyard.