A Eurasian lynx rescued from the front line of war-torn Ukraine has taken her very first steps onto grass after being moved into a brand-new, purpose-built sanctuary in Kent. Ursa the lynx was saved from the devastation of Russian bombardment before being brought to the UK.
Now, in an emotional milestone for international animal welfare, she has finally touched down on soft turf inside her permanent enclosure at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Headcorn. The emotional moment marked the official opening of the Premier Coatings Small Cat Rescue Centre and the Rusty-Spotted Cat Conservation Centre, two state-of-the-art facilities unveiled at an exclusive ribbon-cutting event led by Managing Director, Cam Whitnall.
Rescued from illegal private ownership in Ukraine in early 2023, Ursa spent nearly three years living in a 4×4 converted horse stable near Kyiv under the constant threat of Russian bombardment and severe shellfire. In January 2026, Kent’s Big Cat Sanctuary launched a £100,000 emergency campaign – ultimately raising £134,152 – to fund her evacuation and construction of a purpose-built enclosure.
Following a harrowing 1,400-mile cross-border journey out of the active war zone led by Mr Whitnall, Ursa arrived safely in Kent in February, culminating in her grand release on Thursday (July 23) when she took her very first steps onto natural grass inside her new permanent home.
The new Small Cat Rescue Centre serves as a peaceful haven not only for Ursa but also for wild cats rescued from terrible conditions in the UK.
In January 2025, a joint rescue mission between The Big Cat Sanctuary and Hertfordshire Zoo saved 23 felines from severe neglect at the now-closed Cat Survival Trust in Hertfordshire. Three of those residents have found a permanent home in the new facility: Rhys, another Eurasian lynx, Boson the Fishing cat and Blob the Bobcat, who was saved through the direct personal intervention of Mr Whitnall and was the final cat secured from the neglected Hertfordshire site.
“While larger apex predators often dominate the headlines, these smaller cats face severe 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.
Alongside the rescue centre, the sanctuary opened the Rusty-Spotted Cat Conservation Centre – now the UK’s largest habitat dedicated to the world’s smallest wild cat species. Fully grown, these nocturnal predators weigh as little as 0.9 kg – about the size of a red squirrel.
Designed to mimic native environments across India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, the complex currently houses resident male Kuda, with a female scheduled to arrive later this year to spearhead a vital international breeding programme.
Members of the public can see both new facilities firsthand during the sanctuary’s Big Cat Fest, running across two weeks from July 29 to August 2 and August 5 to August 9.
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