SANDSTONE, Minn. — The Wildcat Sanctuary has four new residents: Four lion cubs rescued from war-torn Ukraine. A male cub named Taras and three females, Stefania, Lesya and Prada, arrived at the Minneapolis airport this week. A team from the Sandston sanctuary drove them 90 miles to their new home, where they were uncaged and given fresh straw on which to rest up. The International Fund for Animal Welfare rescued the cubs from zoos in Odesa and Kyiv. Andrew Kushnir, an American veterinarian with the Animal Welfare fund, became their surrogate parent. Despite drone attacks and airstrikes, he prepared their specialized formula every three hours, the fund said. On nights when power went out, he used his arms and legs to warm their milk bottles. Kushnir finally arranged evacuation to a Polish zoo. After a few weeks, arrangements were made to fly them to Minnesota for a permanent home.

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Wildlife Sanctuary.Forty acres that are home to 130 wildcats that have free roam. It’s not a zoo. No visitors. The Sanctuary, however, posts online videos. Image: International Fund for Animal Welfare