Lioness who escaped and wandered into Ukraine during the war is taken on a Boeing 747 to South Africa

The Air France-KLM Group informs that lions Vasylyna and Nikola embarked on a significant trip last Thursday, April 25, aboard a Boeing 747 freighter operated by Martinair Cargo bound for South Africa.

This remarkable flight with the big Jumbo Jet marks a new chapter in the lives of these majestic creatures, who were flown from FELIDA, the specialized sanctuary for big cats run by the animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS in Friesland, Netherlands, to LIONSROCK, a sanctuary with an extensive area of ​​1,250 hectares managed by the same organization in South Africa.

The airline describes that it is proud to play a significant role in this journey, drawing on its extensive experience in transporting wild animals. It has a dedicated animal hotel at the KLM Cargo facility in Schiphol, Netherlands, and specialized staff who oversee the animals’ welfare during travel.

“At our animal hotel in Schiphol, we prioritize dedication to providing the best care for our animal passengers. We guarantee the highest level of attention and care for each animal in our care, from the moment of arrival until departure. Our team of experienced professionals is ready to offer the best care and assistance, including special diets, medication administration and, of course, lots of love and attention. We strive to ensure that every animal with us is happy, healthy and well cared for.”said Mirjam Scherer, Global Head of Special Logistics at Air France KLM Martinair Cargo.

Lions Vasylyna and Nikola share similar life experiences. Lioness Vasylyna arrived at the big cat sanctuary on June 7th. Originally kept as a pet in Ukraine, she managed to escape and wandered the war-affected streets of a village near Kharkiv before being captured and taken to a temporary wildlife shelter in Ukraine. Due to the war situation and lack of adequate care and space, she was quickly transferred to the Netherlands.

Nikola’s journey to FOUR PAWS specialized sanctuary began after being rescued from illegal private possession in Montenegro. In February 2022, it was found and confiscated by local authorities. After ten days wandering the streets near Budva on the Adriatic coast, exhausted and malnourished, he was taken to FELIDA.

“Vasylyna and Nikola’s move to LIONSROCK means they will finally have the opportunity to live in a large sanctuary, surrounded by other lions. While it is sad that they never had the opportunity to be released into the wild due to illegal trade, we are happy to offer them a more natural life here.”said Petra Sleven, director of FOUR PAWS.

Air France-KLM Group Information