Rescued as a young cub from the streets of Ukraine, Vasylyna arrived at FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary frightened, vulnerable and in need of gentle rehabilitation. There, she slowly regained her strength and confidence, adds the sanctuary.

It was also at FELIDA that she met Nikola, a young lion rescued from Montenegro. Their connection grew naturally, from curious interactions to playful bonding and mutual grooming. Caregivers fondly described their relationship as the love story of "Nikolyna", says the sanctuary. 

In April 2024, the pair embarked on a new chapter in Africa at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary, where they could finally experience the freedom and peace, adds the sanctuary.

When Vasylyna passed away unexpectedly, the loss was devastating to those who knew her. She was still young and previous health checks had shown no signs of underlying concerns. The shock was deeply felt by her caretakers and by Nikola, who suddenly found himself without his companion, says the sanctuary.

"When a bonded animal loses their partner, the emotional impact can be profound. Ensuring the wellbeing of the surviving animal becomes our immediate priority," says Hildegard Pirker, Manager of LIONSROCK Sanctuary.

Since Vasylyna's passing, Nikola has been receiving individualised support from the sanctuary's behaviour consultant. His tailored care plan includes:

  • close behavioural observation to monitor his emotional needs
  • additional enrichment activities from volunteers to keep his environment stimulating
  • occasional enclosure swaps to offer new scents, sights and experiences, and
  • access to neighbouring enclosures for safe visual contact and social stimulation.

His enclosure is one of four linked through gates to the next one, giving the team flexibility to swap Nikola and his neighbours, says the sanctuary.

Looking ahead, the sanctuary hopes to find Nikola a suitable companion again. He is still young, and lions are social animals who benefit greatly from companionship. While there is currently no suitable match at LIONSROCK, this may change in future.

Although her life was short, Vasylyna's story aims to remain one of courage, recovery and hope a symbol of why sanctuaries matter and why every rescued animal deserves safety, dignity and love, adds the sanctuary.

"Despite her past Vasylyna had nothing but trust towards people and was eager to experience life. We wanted nothing more than to give her a long and deserving life here in our sanctuary, but we must be grateful that she had the chance to experience it at all. All our big cats are a symbol of resilience, and we take solace knowing that she had not only overcome her past but was thriving in her new home," concludes Pirker.

For more information, visit www.lionsrock.org. You can also follow LIONSROCK on Facebook, or on Instagram.

*Image courtesy of contributor