Wildlife Heritage Foundation Big Cat Sanctuary - Smarden

Embu said:
They're on their way!!

One down, three to go… Rori the lion is on his way home!

We have successfully collected Rori from Natuurhulpcentrum Opglabbeek! After a smooth health check, he was safely crated and loaded onto the Crossborder Animal Services transport truck. With everything going to plan, the team is now en route to collect Vanda, followed by sisters Amani and Lira at Pairi Daiza.

Stay tuned for live updates as these incredible rescued lions make their way to their forever home at The Big Cat Sanctuary! ❤️

#TheBigCatSanctuary #Rescue #LionRescue #BigCats
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Good, these animals will get the life that they deserve
 
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We did it… MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

After almost a year of hard work and determination, we can proudly share that we have successfully rescued five lions from Ukraine, and moved them into to their new forever home: The Lion Rescue Centre.

Rori, Vanda, Amani and Lira, have now been reunited with Yuna and moved into their new habitats. This is a significant moment for everyone here at The Big Cat Sanctuary, as the team are now able to give all five lions a second chance at life. None of this could have happened without all of your support. THANK YOU

#TheBigCatSanctuary #rescue #BigCats #Lions
 
The Big Cat Sanctuary has announced Yazhi, a puma, has died:

"Farewell to our beloved Puma, Yazhi

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Yazhi, our beloved puma, passed away on Tuesday 18th March.

At only a few months old Yazhi was taken in by Hertfordshire Zoo. At 18 months, this affectionate and playful puma joined us here at the Sanctuary, quickly settling in and forging bonds with her larger neighbours, Viktoria and Valentina.

Sadly, Yazhi's health began to decline very recently. She stopped eating, and after a period of monitoring, our vet confirmed that her kidneys had failed. Despite treatment, it was determined that Yazhi's condition couldn’t be reversed, and after careful consideration, we made the difficult decision with our vet to let her go peacefully.

Yazhi was a truly special cat to all of us at the Sanctuary and the team at Hertfordshire Zoo. She was and will remain a big part of our family.

Click the link to read more about Yazhi's story Farewell to Yazhi, our beloved Puma - The Big Cat Sanctuary'
 
Linc1068 said:
The Big Cat Sanctuary has announced Yazhi, a puma, has died:

"Farewell to our beloved Puma, Yazhi

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Yazhi, our beloved puma, passed away on Tuesday 18th March.

At only a few months old Yazhi was taken in by Hertfordshire Zoo. At 18 months, this affectionate and playful puma joined us here at the Sanctuary, quickly settling in and forging bonds with her larger neighbours, Viktoria and Valentina.

Sadly, Yazhi's health began to decline very recently. She stopped eating, and after a period of monitoring, our vet confirmed that her kidneys had failed. Despite treatment, it was determined that Yazhi's condition couldn’t be reversed, and after careful consideration, we made the difficult decision with our vet to let her go peacefully.

Yazhi was a truly special cat to all of us at the Sanctuary and the team at Hertfordshire Zoo. She was and will remain a big part of our family.

Click the link to read more about Yazhi's story Farewell to Yazhi, our beloved Puma - The Big Cat Sanctuary'
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I think that a cat with a personality, like she had, her keepers will miss her terribly
 
The Lion rescue center is officially open
The Big Cat Sanctuary on Instagram: "The Lion Rescue Centre is officially OPEN! In a momentous celebration for The Big Cat Sanctuary, Paul Hollywood, Ambassador and General Valerii Zaluzhnyi of Ukraine, Baroness Hayman, Director Cam Whitnall, Founder Peter Sampson, and Trustee Lynn Whitnall came together to cut the ribbon. The opening of the Lion Rescue Centre was nothing short of extraordinary! All five rescued lions have settled in beautifully, already showing curiosity and playfulness as they interact between their habitats. Their unique personalities have shone through from day one, and today, our guests had the privilege of being among the first to see them thriving in their new forever home. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and to the dedicated teams who worked tirelessly to make this rescue a reality. Here’s to a bright future for these incredible lions! #TheBigCatSanctuary #BigCats #Rescue #Lions #LionRescueCentre"
 
Haliaeetus said:
The Lion rescue center is officially open
The Big Cat Sanctuary on Instagram: "The Lion Rescue Centre is officially OPEN! In a momentous celebration for The Big Cat Sanctuary, Paul Hollywood, Ambassador and General Valerii Zaluzhnyi of Ukraine, Baroness Hayman, Director Cam Whitnall, Founder Peter Sampson, and Trustee Lynn Whitnall came together to cut the ribbon. The opening of the Lion Rescue Centre was nothing short of extraordinary! All five rescued lions have settled in beautifully, already showing curiosity and playfulness as they interact between their habitats. Their unique personalities have shone through from day one, and today, our guests had the privilege of being among the first to see them thriving in their new forever home. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and to the dedicated teams who worked tirelessly to make this rescue a reality. Here’s to a bright future for these incredible lions! #TheBigCatSanctuary #BigCats #Rescue #Lions #LionRescueCentre"
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I find it both great and sad that even after the five lions from Ukraine pass on, this rescue center still will be functioning. It’s great because there will be space for lions, it’s sad because there are still many lions in need of rescuing around the eastern hemisphere.
 
A female snow leopard, named Laila has been confirmed pregnant using ultrasound scan. This is the second time a snow leopard pregnancy has been used at the Sanctuary. Laila has had three previous litters
2019...2 males, Toshiba and Khumba
2021...1 male, Shen
2023...twins,Attan male and Zaya female
She is due May/June
This information was ITV news
 
Strathmorezoo said:
A female snow leopard, named Laila has been confirmed pregnant using ultrasound scan. This is the second time a snow leopard pregnancy has been used at the Sanctuary. Laila has had three previous litters
2019...2 males, Toshiba and Khumba
2021...1 male, Shen
2023...twins,Attan male and Zaya female
She is due May/June
This information was ITV news
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Does anyone know if Zaya and Attan are still at the sanctuary? I suppose they could be relocating them soon based on their age?
 
Just announced

Farewell to our beloved Sumatran tigeress, Puna

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Puna, our beloved Sumatran tiger, passed away on Wednesday 14th May.

Puna was our oldest resident, just shy of her 21st birthday, an exceptional age for any big cat. Puna was the second-oldest Sumatran tiger in Europe! She was one of the original cats for many of our team, a lasting memory of our early days when we started as the Wildlife Heritage Foundation in 2000.

Puna was the epitome of what a Sumatran tiger should be. Her striking markings, sleek coat, and bright amber eyes could take your breath away. These stunning features helped to make her the perfect ambassador for what is a Critically Endangered subspecies of tiger.

In her later years, Puna naturally began to slow down and was closely monitored by our keepers and vets. She experienced spinal stiffness and other age-related issues typical in elderly cats. Despite various treatments, we made the difficult decision alongside our vets to let her go peacefully.

Puna will always be remembered as the beautiful and affectionate queen of the Sanctuary. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of all who knew her.

Click the link to read more about Puna’s life Puna, our Sumatran tiger - The Big Cat Sanctuary
 
BCS have announced the birth of Laila's fourth litter - one female snow leopard cub:


Cam Whitnall on Instagram: "A Very Special Arrival… Meet Our Newborn Snow Leopard Cub! On 10th May, a beautiful female snow leopard cub was born here at the Sanctuary! Affectionately nicknamed “Little Lady” by our team, this tiny arrival is already capturing hearts. Both mum and cub are doing brilliantly, and the team is delighted with their progress so far. This birth marks a significant milestone in our work through the endangered species breeding programme, which helps maintain a genetically healthy population and provides a vital safety net for the future of snow leopards. It’s an important step forward for conservation and our global work to protect this species. Stay tuned to follow Little Lady’s journey here at the Sanctuary and keep your eyes peeled for the chance to help name her soon! #conservation #SnowLeopard #thebigcatsanctuary #cats #snowleopardcub
 #snowleopard #thebigcatsanctuary #snowleopardcub #bigcats"
 
Another sad loss

Farewell to our beloved puma, Viktoria

It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that on Monday 27th May we lost our dear puma, Viktoria.
Earlier this year, during a routine veterinary check, Viktoria was diagnosed with kidney disease; a condition that, while manageable, sadly has no cure. She was immediately placed on a supportive care plan, including medication and close monitoring by our team. For a time, Viktoria remained stable under this care but in recent weeks her health began to decline.

Blood tests confirmed that her kidney function had deteriorated significantly, and sadly, her kidneys had failed. After thoughtful consultation with our vet, Valerie Freeman, and with Viktoria’s comfort and wellbeing as our top priority, it became clear that there were no remaining treatment options. The most compassionate and ethical decision was to let her go peacefully, to prevent any further suffering.

Viktoria reached the amazing age of 17 years old, which is an incredible age for a puma, as in the wild they live on average between 12–13 years. Viktoria lived a long and happy life with us here at the Sanctuary.
Viktoria was a truly beautiful puma, who had the elegance and poise of a supermodel, with striking features that looked like they’d been perfectly contoured with makeup. She would often strut alongside her sister, Valentina, like they were on a catwalk, turning their enclosure into a runway.

Quieter and more reserved than her sister, Viktoria had a calm presence. It was always a special moment when Viktoria greeted you with her soft, friendly chittering, a gentle hello that felt like a privilege to receive.
The bond she shared with Valentina was lovely to see. They were often seen sat together in their cave or box, in mirror image or gently grooming one another. We will be keeping a close eye on Valentina and make sure she is receiving continuous comfort and care.

Viktoria was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

Click the link to read more about Viktoria’s life Goodbye to Viktoria - The Big Cat Sanctuary
 
lemziipie said:
BCS have announced the birth of Laila's fourth litter - one female snow leopard cub:


Cam Whitnall on Instagram: "A Very Special Arrival… Meet Our Newborn Snow Leopard Cub! On 10th May, a beautiful female snow leopard cub was born here at the Sanctuary! Affectionately nicknamed “Little Lady” by our team, this tiny arrival is already capturing hearts. Both mum and cub are doing brilliantly, and the team is delighted with their progress so far. This birth marks a significant milestone in our work through the endangered species breeding programme, which helps maintain a genetically healthy population and provides a vital safety net for the future of snow leopards. It’s an important step forward for conservation and our global work to protect this species. Stay tuned to follow Little Lady’s journey here at the Sanctuary and keep your eyes peeled for the chance to help name her soon! #conservation #SnowLeopard #thebigcatsanctuary #cats #snowleopardcub
 #snowleopard #thebigcatsanctuary #snowleopardcub #bigcats"
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The Snow Leopard cub has just passed away.
The Big Cat Sanctuary on Instagram: "It is with deep sadness that The Big Cat Sanctuary can confirm the passing of Laila’s snow leopard cub, affectionately nicknamed ‘Little Lady’, who was born at the Sanctuary on 10th May 2025. Our dedicated animal care team, who had been closely monitoring Laila and her cub since birth, are heartbroken by this loss. The cub sadly passed away late on the 4th June, and we are currently reviewing CCTV footage of the night with our expert team and vets to try and understand what may have occurred. "We are all devastated by this news," said Cam Whitnall, wildlife expert, conservationist and Managing Director of The Big Cat Sanctuary. "Laila is receiving the best possible care, and our focus is now on her well-being. While deeply saddened by this loss, our commitment to snow leopard conservation and the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme remains as strong as ever. Every life is precious, and this loss, though profoundly felt, reinforces the vital importance of our work to protect these magnificent and vulnerable big cats." Laila and her breeding partner, Yarko, have a successful breeding history, with previous offspring moving to other wildlife institutions to contribute to the vital breeding programme. Through responsible breeding, the Sanctuary remains committed to helping maintain a genetically healthy captive population, providing a critical safety net for the future of this elusive big cat. In the wild and captivity, cub survival rates can vary dramatically with some studies showing rates as low as 30%, and others reaching 80%, highlighting the challenges young cubs face. While this loss is a difficult part of the reality of conservation work, it strengthens our resolve to keep improving care, protocols, and collaboration across the sector. We continue to work alongside leading conservationists, researchers, and zoological partners to create ethical, sustainable strategies that give species like the snow leopard a real chance at survival. We thank our members, supporters, and the wider community for their ongoing understanding and compassion. These moments are never easy, but they reflect just how important our work is."
 
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Every rescue has a story.
This one? We have a lovely little tale to tell…

A special new arrival has joined our Sanctuary family, we can’t wait for you to meet them. Stay tuned!

#NewArrival #TheBigCatSanctuary #WildlifeRescue

Social media has a sneak glimpse on video of the new addition but I won't spoil it for anyone until is announced.
Just that it's a species they don't currently have
(maybe a first time species for the park)
 
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