An appeal has been launched by The WildLife Foundation to rescue three lion cubs—Oleg, Rafael, and Shanti—stranded in war-torn Ukraine and bring them to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Oleg was rescued from private owners fleeing the Sumy region, while siblings Rafael and Shanti were found near their starving mother in the Kharkiv region. The foundation aims to raise funds to relocate the cubs to a safe, pride-like environment where they can live together for the first time.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park has a history of rescuing lions from dire conditions, including previous rescues from Romania and Ukraine. The park’s director of animals and CEO expressed their commitment to providing a safe home for the cubs, highlighting the importance of donations to support such efforts. The WildLife Foundation emphasized that contributions, regardless of size, significantly impact the welfare of rescued animals worldwide.