A once-malnourished lynx who spent years living in “appalling conditions” has completed a huge voyage to her new Kent home.
Eurasian lynx Ursa begun her 1,500-mile trip from Kyiv, in Ukraine, to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden last Wednesday (February 11).
Ursa has already taken her first steps outside ever following her move to Smarden. Picture: The Big Cat Sanctuary
Now, the two-year-old has arrived at the animal park in a move which will see her go from living in a tiny horse stable to seeing the outside for the first time in her life.
Keepers from the sanctuary also rescued amur tiger, Mir, from Ukraine, who was taken to Belgium ahead of being rehomed in South Africa.
The sanctuary’s managing director, Cam Whitnall, says Ursa is “a playful girl who deserves to live a happy, healthy and safe life”.
He added: “To see Ursa take her first steps here in Kent is an incredibly emotional moment for the whole team.
Ursa being moved from Kyiv, Ukraine ahead of her long trip to Kent. Picture: The Big Cat Sanctuary
“This mission was fraught with unpredictability, navigating a war zone with two vulnerable predators, but seeing them both safe makes every risk worthwhile.
“Ursa has spent her life under the shadow of war – 1771379827 that story changes. She is finally home”.
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 her move to Kent.
Ursa was rescued from Ukraine and brought to Kent. Picture: The Big Cat Sanctuary
Having been hand-raised and lacking the skills to survive alone, experts confirm Ursa can never return to the wild.
The rescue mission has now awarded her a forever home and allowed her to walk on grass for the first time in her life.
Ursa officially set foot on UK soil on Friday (February 13) and took her very first steps into her temporary outdoor habitat this week.
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.
How the Small Cat Rescue Centre is set to look. Picture: The Big Cat Sanctuary
The state-of-the-art centre will feature innovative walkways and climbing systems and has been designed to meet the physical and psychological needs of the cats.
Ursa will reside in a specialised temporary enclosure, positioned adjacent to fellow lynx, Rhys, until the permanent facility is completed.
Funding Ursa’s rescue, transport and emergency care has come entirely through donations, with the money raised for that and the new centre hitting more than £130,000.
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.