Three Lions Evacuated to French Animal Park from Ukraine
Three lions from Ukraine – one male and two females – have been transported to a wildlife park near Dijon in Burgundy, France, as part of an initiative by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). The journey took approximately 88 hours, according to IFAW.
The male, Atlas, a one-and-a-half-year-old lion, was taken from a woman who had cared for him since birth. She explained that the animal began displaying aggressive behavior, possibly due to frequent sounds of bombardment. The two females, Luladja and Queen, both two years old, were rescued from the conflict zone in Donetsk.
The lions temporarily stayed at the Wildlife Rescue Center near Kyiv, and then, with the support of IFAW, were transported to the Polish-Ukrainian border and subsequently to France.
"Atlas, Luladja, and Queen became unexpected victims of war. In Parc de l’Auxois, they can look forward to a secure life, and we are delighted that they are now out of harm's way," said Natalia Hozak, a wildlife rescue specialist from the Ukrainian office of IFAW.
Parc de l’Auxois is a large natural center covering 40 hectares and housing approximately 500 animals.
As most large predators raised in captivity cannot return to the wild due to a lack of survival skills, rescue organizations actively seek centers where animals can receive continuous care, as mentioned by IFAW. In Burgundy, the lions from Ukraine will embark on a new life. After adaptation, they will live together in an enclosure spanning 5,000 square meters.
The Gaze previously reported that the presence of a cat in a person's life is associated with more than a twofold increase in the risk of schizophrenia. This conclusion was drawn from an analysis of 17 studies on this topic over the last four decades.
Currently, this link is not fully understood, but researchers are exploring the possibility that infection with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite from domestic pets, especially cats, may be a contributing factor. This parasite is often found in domestic cats and can enter the human body through the animal's bite. T. gondii can penetrate the central nervous system and affect neurotransmitters involved in signal transmission between neurons in the brain. This, in turn, can lead to personality changes, the onset of psychotic symptoms, and the development of mental disorders, including schizophrenia.