NATIONAL NEWS - British Army veterans have carried out a daring rescue mission to save nine lions from a Ukraine zoo in the biggest big cat extraction from a warzone.
Animal rescue groups Breaking the Chains and Warriors of Wildlife travelled to the war-torn Black Sea port of Odessa on Monday.
The mission was the brainchild of South African animal advocate Lionel de Lange, founder of Warriors of Wildlife, who joined forces with Britons Gemma Campling, director of Worldwide Vets, and Breaking the Chains founder and British Army veteran Tom.
Pic from Nathan Lainé/Magnus News.
Over 72 hours, the crack group travelled thousands of kilometres across three borders to carry out a lionhearted big cat extraction.
The nine lions were facing starvation at their home in the Biopark, Odessa, where supplies of meat were dangerously low because of the war.
And if Russian missiles raining down on the city damaged the animal enclosures, civilians would be in serious danger from loose large carnivores.
Pic from Nathan Lainé/Magnus News. Pic shows some of the nine lions during the start of the rescue from Biopark, Odessa, Ukraine.
And after a remarkable display of teamwork and determination all nine lions, two adult males, five females and a male and female cub, were safely brought out to their new temporary home in Romania on Wednesday.
Pic from Nathan Lainé/Magnus News. Pic shows some of the nine lions during the start of the rescue from Biopark, Odessa, Ukraine.
South African Army veteran De Lange said the eventual aim was to fly all the lions to a new life, potentially in South Africa at the Simbonga Game Reserve, or to a wildlife sanctuary in the US.
He thanked supporters who had helped raise thousands of rands for the mission to cover fuel, veterinary and security costs.
De Lange said: “It was an international operation and it was great to work with other people who were keen on getting this amazing job done. I hope we can go back in under the Russian noses again and rescue more animals together in the future.
Pic from Nathan Lainé/Magnus News. Pic shows one of the nine lions before transport from Biopark Zoo, Odessa, on Tuesday.
