Heartwarming footage shows a lynx being rescued from war-torn Ukraine as she makes her journey to a Kent animal park.
Eurasian lynx Ursa has begun her 1,500-mile voyage from the Wild Animals Rescue Center in Kyiv to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden.
Ursa being moved from Kyiv, Ukraine ahead of her long trip to Kent. Picture: The Big Cat Sanctuary
The two-year-old has been rescued, having previously been living in “appalling conditions”.
Keepers from the Kent sanctuary, near Ashford, have announced she is now at the Polish border ahead of her arrival at her new home in the coming days.
A statement said: “Ursa has now been safely loaded into her crate.
“In –10°C conditions, our team is working carefully to keep her warm, calm and comfortable as we prepare to get back on the road as swiftly, and safely, as possible.
“This is a live rescue. While Ursa and the team are safe right now, situations here can change rapidly.
“What an incredible journey this has already been and this is only the beginning of Ursa’s new life.”
Born in 2023, Ursa was found as a malnourished kitten, riddled with parasites, having been illegally kept as a family pet.
After being confiscated by police, she was moved to the Wild Animal Rescue Center where initial veterinary exams revealed severe intestinal infections and stunted growth due to malnutrition.
With bombs also falling around the site in Kyiv and putting her life at constant risk, the decision was made to evacuate her ahead of a move to Kent.
Having been hand-raised and lacking the skills to survive alone, experts confirm Ursa can never return to the wild though.
However, the emergency rescue mission will land her a forever home and allow her to walk on grass for the first time in her life.
The sanctuary’s managing director, Cam Whitnall, said: “Whilst we are incredibly grateful for the funding, the hardest part of this mission is now ahead of us.
Ursa is being evacuated from Ukraine ahead of her move to Smarden. Picture: The Big Cat Sanctuary
“Navigating a war zone brings immense logistical challenges and unpredictable risks, especially when transporting a vulnerable animal like Ursa.
“This journey will be fraught with danger and complexity, but it is a vital one.
“Ursa has lived under the shadow of conflict for far too long, and despite the obstacles we face in the coming days, we are fully committed to navigating these hazards to ensure she finally reaches the safety of her forever home in Kent.”
Keepers have begun work on the Small Cat Rescue Centre, where they hope Ursa will permanently live alongside Blob the Bobcat and Rhys, another Eurasian lynx.
Funding Ursa’s rescue, transport and emergency care has come at a cost of £100,000, with the money raised purely through donations.
Ursa has been described as “a playful girl who deserves to live a happy, healthy and safe life”.
How the Small Cat Rescue Centre is set to look. Picture: The Big Cat Sanctuary
Should the mission prove successful, her new home will provide her with a “calm, secure space” where “she can finally live without fear” in a lifelong, peaceful environment.
The purpose-built facility has been designed to meet the physical and psychological needs of the cats, ensuring a secure and stimulating space for their future.
The Eurasian lynx is native to the forests and mountains across Eurasia, with a broad range stretching through Scandinavia, Russia and Siberia, and central Asia.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, there are fears it may soon become the first cat species to become extinct for at least 2,000 years due to threats caused by habitat loss, poaching and a decreasing food base.
Just dozens of the species, which have a body length of up to 120cm and weigh about 20kg, are believed to remain in the wild.