The Russian invasion of Ukraine caused many people to flee the country. West of Kiev, the manager of a rescue center asked a Polish zoo for help to evacuate not people… but various wild animals. The convoy was able to arrive after a long journey of more than two days.
Six lions, six tigers, two caracals (or African lynx) and an African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) arrived safely by truck from Ukraine to Poland. It took two days for these wild animals, from a sanctuary east of Kiev, to flee the Russian invasion. Reuters Thursday March 3.
The animals were transported to Poland at the instigation of the zoo manager. The latter asked for help from another branch, located in Pozna, in the west of the country.
“They had to walk a long way to avoid Zhytomyr and other bombings”Poznan Zoo spokeswoman Malgorzata Chodyla told Reuters. “They had to turn around several times because all the roads were destroyed, full of holes, impossible to pass with such a load, that’s why it took so long”†
When all the animals have arrived alive in Poland, the zoo team is concerned about the fate of a 17-year-old female tiger, visibly fatigued from this journey in a truck, accompanied by three males who until then had had no experience caring for them. of wild animals. The three men returned to Ukraine to fight against the Russian army, the Polish zoo spokesman said.
The animals by their side would have to stay for a few days to rest and regain their strength, but they were able to continue their journey to Belgium. A rescue center could support the six lions and the African wild dog.
Do you want to help the Ukrainian people? This article tells you how.