The male lion Akeru from Ukraine has settled in well in his new home at Knuthenborg Safari Park in Lolland. The three-year-old lion was recently brought to Denmark through a collaboration between the Danish organization Dyrenes Beskyttelse (Animal Protection) and Knuthenborg Safari Park. Akeru arrived from Poznan Zoo in Poland just ten days ago, and according to a press release from the park, he has already adapted to his new surroundings.
Upon his arrival, Akeru sparked great interest among the park’s other residents, including tigers, three other male lions, and especially the three Ukrainian lionesses. The park notes that the animals reacted quite calmly to his arrival. In total, Knuthenborg Safari Park now houses four lions from Ukraine, with more expected to arrive in the near future. Director Christoffer Knuth expresses satisfaction with the successful integration of Akeru into the park’s large facility. “Unfortunately, there is still a need to evacuate lions due to the war in Ukraine, and we are therefore pleased that releasing him into the large enclosure went very well,” he says.
The war in Ukraine, which has been raging since February 2022, has had serious consequences not only for people but also for animals. According to the UN, the conflict has claimed at least 10,000 civilian lives, and many animals from zoos, circuses, and private homes have also been affected. Some of these animals, including exotic species, have been kept as pets and potentially prepared for illegal sale. Akeru is one of the fortunate ones who have been rescued in time.
The rescue operation that brought Akeru to Denmark is part of a broader collaboration between Dyrenes Beskyttelse, 19 animal welfare organizations, zoos, and the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA). Poznan Zoo functions as a transit station for these evacuated animals before they find a more permanent home, as has happened with Akeru at Knuthenborg.
Knuthenborg Safari Park is currently the only Danish park that has received animals from Ukraine. The park is currently working on building a lion enclosure spanning 45,000 square meters to be able to accommodate and care for even more animals in the future.