Mice (Eurotoday) – 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.
Comments
2 responses to “Ukrainian Lioness Vanda Relocates from Planckendael to the UK”
-
Just what we all needed, a lioness moving from an apartment in Kyiv to a posh sanctuary in Kent—because who wouldn’t want to trade in a cramped flat for a luxury retirement? 🦁🥳 Next, they’ll be sending us the recipe for rabbit à la royal!
-
Just what the UK needed, another lioness to add to its collection of “exotic” pets! 🦁 I suppose it’s better than a mewling cat in a flat, eh? #RoarAndBore
-
Oh, the glamorous life of Vanda the lioness! From a Kiev apartment to a five-star retirement in the UK—who knew being a furry tenant could have such a glow-up? 🦁✨ Guess it’s true what they say: the grass (and rabbit) is always greener on the other side!
Last News
Member Nations Reach Agreement to Levy Tariffs on Fertilizers from Russia and Belarus
With this agreement, the Polish presidency can move forward with negotiations with the Euro
EU Nations Consider Flexible Gas Storage Targets to Control Prices
Brussels (Eurotoday) – European Union nations are considering making the bloc’s binding gas storage goals more flexible, over suspicions that the rules risk inflating gas prices.
Countries including France, Germany, and the Netherlands have cautioned that the EU’s binding deadlines to fill gas storage are forcing up prices. They argue that European buyers are required to purchase large volumes o
France gets relief as Fitch maintains credit rating
ESMA Provides Clarification on the Treatment of Settlement Fails Under the CSDR Penalty Mechanism
EU Nations Reach Consensus on Regulations for New Genomic Techniques in Plant Breeding
Ambassadors from EU member states, led by Poland’s presidency, concluded discussions on the new NGT
Kraainem: Three Men Convicted of Murdering Magali and Coline
Kraainem (Eurotoday) – On March 24, 2022, in Kraainem, Belgium, Magali Wagner and her daughter Coline Ghinet were drugged and stabbed. Pierre Devalet planned the murders, Ngongi executed them, and Vincent Léglise facilitated them. The sentence will be decided today, March 14, 2025.
The three men—Pierre Devalet, Ngongi, and Vincent Léglise—initially denied killing Magali Wagner and her daughter,
Trump claims ‘thousands’ of Ukrainian soldiers are surrounded in Kursk; Ukraine denies the claim
Ukraine’s military leadership has rejected claims that its forces are at risk of being surrounded by Russian troops and their North Korean allies. Ukrainian forces have faced increasing pressure following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to halt military aid and intelligence sharing in an effort to push Ukraine
European Commission Vice-President to Discuss Tariff Threats with US Officials
In the afternoon, Sefcovic is scheduled to hold phone conversations with prominent US officials, including Secretary
Bangladesh: Acute Hunger Among Rohingya Children Surges Amid Funding Cuts
Children living in the world’s largest refugee camp are facing the worst malnutrition levels since the 2017 mass displacement, according to Rana Flowers, UNICEF’s representative in Bangladesh. Speaking from Dhaka, she reported a sharp increase in severe acute malnutrition cases in Cox’s Bazar refugee camps, with emergency admiss
Ukrainian Lioness Vanda Relocates from Planckendael to the UK
Mice (Eurotoday) – 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. Va
Leave a Reply