Rescued lions from Ukraine receive clean bill of health at Yorkshire Wildlife Park
Oleg, Rafael and Shanti have had what vets are calling a 'full MOT' - before they get released into a larger enclosure with other lions
Three young lions rescued from Ukraine have been given a clean bill of health following thorough examinations at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
Oleg, along with siblings Rafael and Shanti, were brought to the park after being rescued from challenging conditions in Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkiv regions during the ongoing war.
The trio has been adjusting to their new environment in Lion Country, the seven-acre habitat at the park close to Doncaster.
Specialist vets recently conducted full health checks on the lions, marking a significant step in their rehabilitation.
Alongside standard health assessments, Oleg and Rafael underwent vasectomies as they approach breeding age.
Bex Brown, Head of Carnivores at the park, said: “The team has been working closely with the lions to build up their confidence and settle them in.
"Training them helps provide the foundation for better care, making procedures like injections stress-free for the animals.”
The checks included blood sampling to evaluate organ and genetic health, close examination of teeth, and X-rays.
While Rafael and Shanti underwent similar assessments, Oleg’s training allowed vets to give him a tranquilliser injection seamlessly, avoiding the need to shoot him with a dart gun.
Brown added: “Sometimes young lions can appear to have slightly bowed legs during growth spurts, which might resolve naturally through proper diet, sunshine, and exercise here at the park.”
Since their arrival three months ago, keepers sat Oleg, Rafael, and Shanti have shown hug progress. Initially, Oleg was withdrawn, while all three lions displayed distress at loud noises such as aeroplanes.
“Now they’ve been playing hide-and-seek and snuggling up together at night. The boys have developed a ‘bromance,’ chasing and pretending to hunt each other. These behaviours have emerged as they’ve gained confidence in their spacious habitats": Brown said.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park has undertaken multiple lion rescues since 2010, saving 17 lions so far.
Once fully recuperated, the lions will be introduced to the other big cats at Lion Country, where visitors can see them thriving in their newly adapted environment.