00:00After saving five lions from Ukraine, the Big Cat Sanctuary have set their sights on
00:04another big rescue, but this time for a much smaller cat.
00:08Ursa is a female Eurasian lynx found by Wild Animal Rescue in Kyiv, and the sanctuary are
00:13fundraising for £100,000 towards her rescue.
00:17Ursa's background is really sad.
00:19She was originally discovered as an illegal pet in Ukraine, and then she was taken after
00:26being confiscated from the owner to Natalia at Wild Animal Rescue as a temporary holding
00:32space.
00:33Now, with that, she had an infection in her stomach, she was riddled with parasites, she
00:38was malnourished, underdeveloped, far smaller than any lynx her age should be.
00:43She didn't have the right nutrients or care or diet.
00:45She'd never been outside before as well, and she still hasn't.
00:49So that's why it's pretty urgent, not only because she's not in the right environment,
00:53but also bombs are falling all around her space.
00:56The money would go towards Ursa's transport to Kent, as well as any emergency care she
01:00might need, with any extra funds also going towards her long-term care.
01:04Now the Big Cat Sanctuary are mainly known for their big animal rescues, whether it's
01:08the five Ukrainian lions or tigers like Luca here.
01:12But they also have smaller cats as well.
01:14Just like Ursa, they have reefs, the Eurasian lynx, as well as the Asiatic golden cat, Frank.
01:20What are the differences when caring for a big cat versus a smaller one?
01:24Most of the big guys are quite hardy, whereas smaller animals, smaller cats can be much
01:29more sensitive, more shy.
01:30So as keepers, we'll just have to be quite aware of our volume when we're talking, when
01:34we're working around the unit, our body language around her, making sure it's just nice and
01:38soft, nice and slow, nice and quiet to help her settle as best she can.
01:43So where she'll be moving into our Small Cat Rescue Centre has been an enclosure on site for
01:48many years.
01:49We're just doing some adjustments with the amount of planting, adding in extra CCTV, it's historically
01:55housed leopards and pumas, so actually it's a nice 3D space for a lynx to use.
02:02Behind the scenes, a lot of work goes into finding, transporting and caring for these animals.
02:07So for those at the sanctuary, when they rescued the five lions, it was a moment that was very
02:10emotional but really showed the importance of what they do.
02:13I just remember bursting into tears, giving a lot of the team a big hug.
02:20It was really emotional, and it was, it is an emotional rollercoaster.
02:24And especially with this sort of rescue, where you do not know what could happen, that the
02:31stakes are much higher, as it is a war zone.
02:35Once Ursa arrives in Kent, she'll be housed with Blob, the resident bobcat, where the
02:39sanctuary will give her more medical care and a better life in her new, forever home.
02:43Finn McDermid for Kame TV in Smarland.
Comments