The Planckendael animal park at Muizen, near Mechelen (Antwerp Province) has a new resident. For the next few months Vanda, a lioness that had been kept as a pet in a flat in Ukraine will be cared for at Planckendael. Vanda had been kept in a room with no natural light. When she was taken from the flat she was malnourished.
For the next few months, the lioness will be given time to recover from her ordeal before moving to a new permanent how a lion sanctuary in Kent, in southeast England at the end of the year. It was the family that owned Vanda that asked for her to be taken away. Zoo Planckendael’s Amanda Wielemans told VRT News that
"She was living in a block of flats with no natural light and was being given the wrong food and as a result was malnourished. Eventually her owner’s raised the alarm, because it is of course dangerous to keep a wild animal like that”
The lioness will remain at Planckendael until the end of the year and will then be taken to a lion sanctuary in the English county of Kent.
Vistors won’t be able to see Vanda
Vanda will be kept out of view of visitors to Planckendael. "Vanda won’t be put with the other lions as they are all Asian lions. We will take care of her behind the scenes”.
The lion keepers at Planckendael are happy that Vanda is coming. "It’s a pleasure for us to be able to take care of Vanda. We have the correct facilities and expertise. She will be well looked after here”, lion keeper Frederik told VRT News.
Vanda was recused together with her 2 sisters Amani and Lira. They had been bred illegally to pose for photographs. Amani and Lira are currently at the Pairi Daiza animal park in Hainaut Province. Lion Rori, who was used for the illegal breeding, is being cared for at the Nature Assistance Centre in Oudsbergen (Limburg Province).