Mice (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The lioness Vanda departed Planckendael Zoo in Muizen to spend her retirement at a British lion sanctuary. Vanda, the lioness, travelled from Ukraine to reside temporarily in Muizen. Vanda resided in an apartment building located in Ukraine.
Ukrainian lioness Vanda has been relocated from ZOO Planckendael in Muizen, Belgium, to the Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, United Kingdom. Vanda, who was temporarily housed in Muizen after being rescued from Ukraine, has undergone a significant transformation during her stay. According to Amanda Wielemans of ZOO Planckendael,
“She has changed from a shy animal into a strong lioness who also behaves like a real lioness.”
The move is part of a broader plan to provide Vanda and other rescued lions with a permanent home in Kent.
Vanda was one of several lions rescued from Ukraine and temporarily placed in Belgian zoos by the Big Cat Sanctuary. She was picked up from ZOO Planckendael yesterday after the organisation collected lion Rori from the Nature Rescue Center in Oudsbergen and lionesses Lira and Amani from Pairi Daiza Animal Park. Vanda’s caretakers in Muizen described her as malnourished and shy upon arrival, having been kept as a pet in an apartment in Kiev with no outdoor space. Intensive care and proper nutrition, including rabbit, goat, and beef, helped her regain strength and exhibit natural predatory behaviour.
“Vanda was malnourished and shy. She was kept as a pet in an apartment in Kiev. She also had no outdoor space.”
The caretakers at Planckendael started working intensively with Vanda.
“She was malnourished and also did not get the right food in Ukraine. But in the meantime, like her peers here, she also eats rabbit, goat and beef.”
What is the background of wildlife in conflict zones?
The rescue of Vanda demonstrates how warfare in Ukraine threatens wild animals because it creates care and habitat disruptions in conflict zones. Wildlife organisations worldwide confirm that current hostilities cause animals to endure bad nutrition and disrupt their habitats while forcing them into substandard conditions. Vanda experienced life as an apartment pet in Kyiv before becoming a symbol of the escalating problem of illegally kept exotic animals and their inadequate care during crisis situations.
Through the Big Cat Sanctuary, the organisation continues to work towards achieving its mission of supporting 50 big cat rescues across the world because specialised care and sanctuary spaces remain crucial. The animal evacuations from Ukraine in 2022 exceeded 1,000 animals, and most needed specialised medical care after their rescue. Vanda’s rescue experience at ZOO Planckendael demonstrates the essential nature of international cooperation, which enabled her transformation from starvation into improved strength and re-discovered natural instincts.
