Ukrainian Lioness Aysa Delivers Three Cubs at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

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Lioness Aysa rescued from Ukraine's war zone stuns staff at Yorkshire Wildlife Park with birth of three surprise cubs despite being on contraception

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The big cat family's journey to safety covered 2,000 miles across six countries after enduring bombing and months of separation in Ukraine

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Zoo staff discovered Aysa became pregnant between her son Teddi's two vasectomy procedures, beating the 99% effectiveness rate of her contraception

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These cubs will have a better start in life than their older siblings," says Dr. Charlotte MacDonald, who chose to keep the family together despite pregnancy risks

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The newborn cubs, described as "little fluffballs" with eyes still closed, are constantly attended by their protective mother who never leaves their side

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Aysa's older cubs—now two years old—show keen interest in their new siblings, with female cub Santa eager "to do a bit of mothering herself

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This rescue story mirrors other big cat rescues from Ukraine, including five lions at Kent's Big Cat Sanctuary who had never felt grass before arriving in the UK

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The lions will remain permanently at Yorkshire Wildlife Park with "no further intention of breeding," ensuring a peaceful future for the war-affected family

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[{"selector":"#anim-469a857d-424c-48ad-9798-cfc43488b400","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ba7edd13-6ec6-463c-b47c-4a4438b779ab","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-590d60b8-b7c7-4ad1-a34f-e56e00f50cd6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1987e8fb-70c4-429a-b43e-1130ba17a6f4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-98964be5-8be1-448c-8a9a-b53e44a5af64","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.2381%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Fishing Boats Fuel Malayan Tiger Trafficking Crisis Learn more