We Helped Save Lions from Ukraine. The Animals Will Live in Belgium and the United Kingdom.

The British organization The Big Cat Sanctuary is trying to rescue five lions from war-torn Ukraine. Two of them have already crossed the Polish border. The customs agency AC Porath is assisting in organizing the customs procedures and transportation without unnecessary delays.

– Crossborder Animal Services, a company specializing in transporting zoo animals, was looking for a customs agent at the Korczowa border and reached out to us. That’s how we met and started preparing the necessary forms. The customs clearance of lions traveling from Ukraine, a third country, to the European Union requires presenting many different documents. We are happy to help – says Joanna Porath, owner of the customs agency AC Porath.

As she admits, it’s a challenge because the procedure requires meeting many criteria simultaneously, and in addition, certificates and permits must be presented in their original form. The main documents required for the procedure include: authorization for clearance, veterinary certificate, CITES permit (export, import, carrier), CHED notification, donation documents.

Rori and Yuna, who have safely crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border, will live in the Big Cat Sanctuary in the UK and the Natuur Hulp Centrum in Belgium. Rori was born in 2021 and lived on a private property. A few months ago, he was rescued from an area under Russian fire. The lioness Yuna, like Rori, is 3 years old and was injured during a missile attack on Ukraine in January. Yuna will be immediately welcomed into her new home, while Rori will temporarily stay with the team at the Natuur Hulp Centrum as his enclosure is still under construction. The Big Cat Sanctuary organization continues to raise funds to rescue the remaining three lions from Ukraine: Vanda, Lira, and Amani.