Lions and tigers driven out of Ukraine to safety in Polish zoo

WARSAW, March 3 (Reuters) – A truck carrying six lions, six tigers, two caracals and an African wild pet from a sanctuary east of Kyiv reached Poland on Thursday right after a two-day drive to escape the Russian invasion, a Polish zoo formal claimed.

The operator of the sanctuary had asked for aid from Poznan zoo in western Poland to get the animals to basic safety.

“They had to go a prolonged way close to to avoid Zhytomyr and other bombardment zones. They experienced to change back again numerous occasions, simply because all the roadways have been blown up, comprehensive of holes, extremely hard to move with such cargo, which is why it took so extended,” claimed Poznan zoo spokesperson Malgorzata Chodyla.

“But listed here they are, and we just are not able to feel it.”

A 1st attempt to make the journey failed soon after the truck encountered Russian tanks and could not get through.

Chodyla explained all the animals, like tiger cubs, survived the extended journey, but the zoo was apprehensive about a 17-year-old feminine tiger who seemed incredibly fatigued.

Serving to the driver ended up 3 more mature adult males with no experience in handling wild animals, and who had now long gone back to Kyiv to protect their city, she explained.

Soon after the animals have got some relaxation in Poznan, they may possibly vacation additional west. A Belgian sanctuary declared it would get in the six lions and the African wild pet, Chodyla added.

Reporting by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk editing by Alexandra Hudson

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