A Eurasian lynx named Ursa, rescued from Ukraine where she was kept illegally as a private pet in a war zone, has taken her first steps in a new outdoor habitat at the Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, UK. After spending three years confined in a converted horse stable and suffering from severe malnutrition and infections, Ursa was safely transported to the sanctuary by a specialist team in February. The sanctuary has pledged lifelong care for her, as she is unable to survive in the wild.

The rescue mission, which also involved evacuating an Amur tiger to Belgium for rehoming in South Africa, raised over £134,000—exceeding its target. This funding will enable the sanctuary to build a state-of-the-art enclosure named the Premier Coatings Small Cat Rescue Centre, expected to open in late spring. The Big Cat Sanctuary has previously rescued other big cats from Ukraine, including five lions, providing them with permanent homes.