Caged lynx rescued from Putin’s bombs walks on grass for first time in UK forever home | UK | News
A Eurasian lynx rescued from the front line of war-torn Ukraine has taken its first steps onto the grass after being moved to a brand new, specially built sanctuary in Kent. Ursa the lynx was rescued from the devastation of Russian bombing before being brought to England.
Now, in an emotional turning point for international animal welfare, he has finally touched the soft grass inside his permanent enclosure at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Headcorn. The emotional moment marked the official opening of Premier Coatings Junior Cat Rescue Center and Rusty Spotted Cat Conservation Centre; The two state-of-the-art facilities were unveiled at a special ribbon-cutting event led by General Manager Cam Whitnall.
Rescued from illegal private ownership in Ukraine in early 2023, Ursa spent nearly three years living in a converted 4×4 horse stable near Kiev, under the constant threat of Russian bombardment and intense artillery fire. In January 2026, Kent’s Big Cat Sanctuary launched a £100,000 emergency campaign to fund its evacuation and the construction of a purpose-built enclosure, ultimately raising £134,152.
Ursa arrived safely in Kent in February after a grueling 1,400-mile cross-border journey out of the active war zone, led by Mr Whitnall, culminating in her big release on Thursday, July 23, when she took her first steps onto natural grass at her new permanent home.
The new Little Cat Rescue Center provides a peaceful haven not only for Ursa, but also for feral cats rescued from horrific conditions in the UK.
In January 2025, a joint rescue mission between Big Cat Sanctuary and Hertfordshire Zoo rescued 23 cats from serious neglect at the now-closed Cat Survival Trust in Hertfordshire. Three of these residents have found a permanent home at the new facility: Rhys, another Eurasian lynx, Boson the fishing cat, and Blob the Bobcat, who was rescued through Mr Whitnall’s direct personal intervention and was the last cat rescued from the neglected Hertfordshire area.
“While larger predators often dominate the headlines, these small cats face serious threats in the wild from habitat loss and human encroachment. By combining world-class welfare with cutting-edge technology, we are securing a sustainable future population.” Mr Whitnall said.
As well as the rescue centre, the reserve has also opened the Rusty-Spotted Cat Conservation Centre, which is now the UK’s largest habitat dedicated to the world’s smallest wildcat species. Fully grown, these nocturnal predators weigh as little as 0.9 kg; which is about the size of a red squirrel.
Designed to mimic local environments in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal, the complex is currently home to the resident male Kuda, with a female scheduled to arrive later this year to spearhead a vital international breeding programme.
The public will be able to see both new facilities firsthand during the sanctuary’s Big Cat Festival, which will run for two weeks from July 29 to August 2 and from August 5 to August 9.
