Since the Russian invasion, a tremendous effort to save wild and exotic animals is carried out in Ukraine by volunteers and military. Nataliia Popova who initiated the evacuation is a former equestrian champion who turned her horse-riding centre outside Kyiv into an asylum for animals. Days after the aggression her facility filled up with exotic animals — big cats, bears, avians, reptiles.
Abandoned by the fleeing owners and found in ruins by the army, startled and wounded, were endangered animals of questionable origin. They mostly came from individuals who either kept them as pets or bred them for trade and entertainment. Because of in- and interbreeding many were sick, handicapped, and others mutilated, to be more suitable as pets.
Everybody wants a "Disney-moment”, explains Andrew Kushnir, American vet, while feeding lion cubs he took-over from a dealer, but these are not pets, but victims of black market. Born in tiny cages to human amusement, they are endangered species that won’t return to their habitats.
On Polish side Ewa Zgrabczyńska, director of ZOO in Poznań, went all-in to answer to Popova’s desperate call for help. Recognised in Poland as a tenacious defender of animal rights, she negotiated a framework that allowed for extraordinary transit of the animals to Poznań ZOO for quarantine and care, before redirecting them to asylums around the world.
The insane bravado of this operation, volunteers going to the frontlines for unwanted and wronged animals, is a larger-than-life story on human condition and an unforeseen opportunity to hinder the Ukrainian black market of animals, to the point it’s no more.
Andrew with cubs
Andrew Kushnir American veterinarian and volunteer feeds lion cubs he captured from black market in Odessa and hand-reared till they were ready for evacuation The night Andrew arrived to Nataliia Popova s sanctuary outside Kyiv for further transit the kamikaze drone strikes began Cubs named Taras Stefania and Lesya were shortly after evacuated to Poznan and later moved by a private jet to The Wildcat Sanctuary in Minnesota
Lion from Donetsk
Feeding one of the lions rescued from an abandoned private collection near the frontlines in Donetsk All the animals Popova took in are severely traumatised and in bad shape left alone behind by owners for whom they became a burden Oftentimes soldiers would find a private zoo in ruins with few animals alive or roaming free Popova with her team would go to asses the situation and evacuate them to her premises from where they would travel outside Ukraine
War cub
First transport from Kyiv was probably the most dramatic As Russian forces were advancing a transport of big cats was improvised with makeshift crates Once shut driver couldn t open them Convoy was then stopped by Russian soldiers but eventually made it through after three days with a delay dangerous to cats that couldn t be fed on the way From the border Polish team led by dr Ewa Zgrabczynska rushed to Poznan ZOO to open the crates examine and tend to the animals Miraculously no animals got harmed in the transport
Dr Ewa Zgrabczynska
Dr Ewa Zgrabczynska director of Pozna ZOO in her office after unpacking animals from first transport In the first day of conflict she has negotiated a temporary exemption with Polish Ministry of Environment that laid foundation for evacuation Zgrabczynska who didn t know Popova before the war is also know as unorthodox and tenacious defender of animal rights Together they burned the candle on both ends to save as many animals as possible from the ravages of war
Magnat centre
The rescue centre was improvised in Popova s horse-riding school Herself a former champion she gave up on her previous live when she took custody of first wounded lioness few years back Now the income generated by the facility contributes to rescue operation and treatment of animals
Ivan
Ivan driver for UAnimals asks on the radio about recent air raid as we pass Vinnitsa with supplies and sedatives to Popova s asylum where animals taken from the frontlines were gathered for evacuation
Korczowa
Re-packing of the evacuated animals to Polish cars on Korczowa border usually happened in the eye of the storm between fleeing refugees cars with humanitarian aid and volunteers crossing to join the Foreign Legion This transport brought-in 2 tigers 2 lions arctic foxes taken from a fur farm pet racoons cats and whatever other animal that needed urgent care Popova facing encirclement of Kyiv desperately needed to empty the facility
Quarantine
Poznan ZOO crew moves a makeshift crate with exotic cats to quarantine enclosures
African grey
African grey parrot the last one from about 200 specimens Popova received in the first days of war
Evening council
Evening gathering at Magnat horseriding centre with friends and volunteers as Borispol prepares for defence Few years back Popova was an equestrian champion but after she got custody over a wounded lioness her centre became a way to financially support the rescue operations She dedicated all her live to that ever since Knowing Kyiv could have been encircled in days we arrived with supply run from the zoo and to evacuate as many as possible
Runaway cub
Volunteers in Kyiv packing a lion cub for transport to Poland
Nataliia Popova
Nataliia s quiet moment of play with rescued animals moments before we depart When our convoy arrived she refused to evacuate without all animals in her custody despite Russian forces nearing her place On the first day of war she received dozens of pets exotic and not ranging from reptiles and avians to big cats and mammals because of her reputation of person who never says no Willing to take all risks for animals in need she s gained the reputation of the first responder among civilians and army
