Today, lions Sem and Liena will begin an important journey. The two lions, rescued from a war zone in Ukraine by Animal Advocacy and Protection (AAP), will travel to their future home at the Isindile Big Cat & Predator Sanctuary in South Africa.
The aftermath of war
The male Sem and the female Liena, 3 and 5 years old at the time of their rescue, are two of the many animals that were left to their fate in the war zone. The Ukrainian organisation Wild Animal Rescue, based near Kiev, took them in. However, the war just came too close. The bombings and drone attacks came so close that the animals, completely stressed, injured themselves by throwing themselves against the bars and fences of their shelter. The animals therefore had to be evacuated urgently and various organisations throughout Europe stepped in to take them in. In the end, four lions – the males Sem, Lova and Pretzel and the female Liena – were brought to our facilities in Spain.
Recovering at AAP
From traumatised animals that hid in the bushes and growled loudly at every sound, they have changed into calm, confident lions. They have learned to use their senses to find food again in their 3000m2 enclosure. Sem is now the picture of calm and Liena has emerged as a playful, active lioness. Our animal caretakers also noticed that the two lions, who were in separate enclosures, often sought each other out. That is why they were eventually put together, which has improved their well-being both physically and mentally.A permanent home in South Africa
Sem and Liena have recovered, and that is why AAP started looking for an outplacement partner where the lions can spend the rest of their lives. We found this partner in Isindile Big Cat & Predator Sanctuary in South Africa. There, 10,000 square metres of natural environment awaits them. It is adapted to their needs and they can enjoy a dignified life there. ‘As soon as rescued animals have been rehabilitated, AAP looks for a permanent home for them at renowned sanctuaries and animal parks,’ explains Pablo Delgado, team leader of the Big Cat Complex at AAP. ’This way, we create space for other animals in need, giving them the chance to recover from their past.’Preparations for a journey of this nature require careful planning. In addition to all the permits and documentation for a transcontinental journey, the animals must become accustomed to their transport crates to minimise the stress that the journey can cause.
Other animals rescued in Ukraine
Sem and Liena are not the only animals that AAP has rescued from Ukraine. In total, we have taken in 12 animals (nine lions, one primate, one leopard and one wild dog). We have been able to find permanent homes for almost all of these animals with our outplacement partners. For example, leopard Brave was moved to Isindile Big Cat & Predator Sanctuary in February 2025, the same partner where Sem and Liena are travelling to.
