Natalia Popova has discovered a brand new function in lifestyles: Rescuing wild animals and pets from the devastation wrought by means of the conflict in Ukraine.
“They’re my lifestyles,” says the 50-year-old, stroking a light-furred lioness like a kitten. From inside of an enclosure, the animal rejoices on the consideration, mendacity on her again and stretching her paws up towards her caretaker.
Popova, in cooperation with the animal coverage workforce UA Animals, has already stored greater than 300 animals from the conflict; 200 of them went out of the country and 100 discovered new properties in western Ukraine, which is regarded as more secure. A lot of them have been wild animals who have been saved as pets at non-public properties sooner than their homeowners fled Russian shelling and missiles.
Popova’s safe haven within the Kyiv area village of Chubynske now properties 133 animals. It’s a huge menagerie, together with 13 lions, a leopard, a tiger, 3 deer, wolves, foxes, raccoons and roe deer, in addition to domesticated animals like horses, donkeys, goats, rabbits, canine, cats and birds.
The animals anticipating evacuation to Poland have been rescued from sizzling spots corresponding to japanese Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Donetsk areas, which see day by day bombardments and lively combating. The Ukrainian squaddies who let Popova know when animals close to the entrance strains want assist shaggy dog story that she has many lives, like a cat. “Nobody desires to head there. Everyone seems to be afraid. I’m additionally scared, however I’m going anyway,” she stated.
Natalia Popova, 50, talks to a tiger at her animal safe haven in Kyiv area, Ukraine. (AP)
Frequently she is trembling within the automotive on her option to rescue every other wild animal. “I think very sorry for them. I will consider the strain animals are underneath as a result of the conflict, and no person can assist them,” Popova stated.
Most often, she is aware of not anything in regards to the animals she rescues, neither their names and ages nor their homeowners. “Animals don’t introduce themselves after they come to us,” she joked.
For the primary months of the conflict, Popova drove to conflict sizzling spots by myself, however a pair from UA Animals just lately presented to move and assist her.
“Our document is an evacuation in 16 mins, once we stored a lion between Kramatorsk and Sloviansk,” Popova stated. An economist by means of training and not using a formal veterinary enjoy, she administered anesthesia at the lion since the animal needed to be put to sleep sooner than it may well be transported.
Popova says she has at all times been very connected to animals. In kindergarten, she constructed properties for worms and talked to birds. In 1999, she opened the primary non-public horse membership in Ukraine. But it surely wasn’t till 4 years in the past that she stored her first lion.
A company in opposition to slaughterhouses approached her with a request for assist saving a lion with a damaged backbone. She didn’t know the way she may just assist as a result of her experience used to be in horses. But if she noticed a photograph of the large cat, Popova may just now not withstand.
Bears experience themselves in an animal safe haven that belongs to Natalia Popova, 50, in Kyiv area. (AP)
She constructed an enclosure and took within the lion the following morning, paying the landlord. Later, Popova created a social media web page titled “Lend a hand the Lioness,” and other people started to put in writing soliciting for assist saving different wild animals.
Yana, the primary lioness she rescued, has change into a circle of relatives member since she may just now not discover a new house because of a incapacity. Popova took care of her till she died two weeks in the past.
The safe haven is only a brief forestall for the animals. Popova rehabilitates them after which appears for brand new properties for them. She feels a different reference to every large cat, however says she does now not thoughts allowing them to cross. “I like them, and I needless to say I do not need the assets to offer them with the comfy lifestyles they deserve,” says Popova.
To start with, she bankrolled the safe haven together with her personal price range from the pony industry. However since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, the pony industry has now not been successful. With greater than $14,000 a month had to stay animals wholesome and fed, she has became to borrowing, and noticed her debt develop to $200,000.
She will get some cash from UA Animals and from donations, however worries about the right way to stay the whole lot in combination have saved her up at night time. “However I can nonetheless borrow cash, cross to sizzling spots and save animals. I will’t say no to them,” she stated.
Popova sends all her animals to the Poznań Zoo in Poland, which is helping her evacuate them and to find them new properties. Some animals have already been transported to Spain, France and South Africa. Her subsequent undertaking is sending 12 lions to Poland this week.
With out a finish to the combating in sight, Popova is aware of she is going to nonetheless be wanted. “My undertaking on this conflict is to avoid wasting wild animals,” she says.