Rescued Lion Trio Oleg, Rafael, and Shanti at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

Imagine being a young lion, having seen more scary things than most people ever will. Now, picture being brought to a safe new home where you can finally just be a cub. That's the real-life story for three very special lions who have captured hearts at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. After a dramatic journey from a conflict zone, this brave trio, siblings Oleg, Rafael, and Shanti, have just had their very first major health check-up, and it's a huge step in their incredible story of survival.

A tough start for a new pride

Life didn't start easy for this orphaned trio. Their stories are a bit different, but both are equally heartbreaking. Oleg was rescued as a youngster from private owners who had to flee their home in Ukraine as the war got worse. Meanwhile, his new siblings, Rafael and Shanti, were found in another region after suffering a constant, terrifying bombardment. They were discovered next to their mother, who sadly didn't make it.

Coming from such a dangerous conflict zone, the young lions were understandably shaken. When they first arrived at the park back in September, they were timid and scared. Bex Brown, the Head of Carnivores at the park, mentioned how traumatised they were. "Whenever they saw an aeroplane or helicopter, they would go back into the house and cower down." It’s a sad reminder of what the young pride had been through. But this was the beginning of a new chapter for the rescued lions.

Time for a full health MOT

So, what’s a health MOT? Think of it like the really detailed check-up you might have at the doctor's, but for a massive lion! On 16 December 2025, a team of specialist vets from the International Zoo Veterinary Group arrived at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster to give the trio a full once-over. These medical examinations were essential to make sure the siblings were healthy after their ordeal and to check on their future wellbeing. The vets had a big job to do to assess the orphaned pride.

The check-up was incredibly thorough. Here’s a little breakdown of what the lions went through:

• Blood samples: These were taken to check everything from their general health to how well their organs are working. It also helps the vets understand their genetic wellbeing, which is basically their family history written in their DNA.
• Teeth check: Just like when you go to the dentist, the vets had a good look at their teeth to make sure they were strong and healthy for munching.
• Joints and bones: The vets carefully moved their limbs to check their joints and bones were growing properly, before taking X-rays to get a proper look inside.

These detailed health MOTs are a massive part of ensuring the lion trio can live long, happy lives, free from the worries of their past.

A special check-up for the boys

For the two brothers, Oleg and Rafael, the day involved an extra step. The lion siblings were getting older and approaching breeding maturity. That just means they were getting to an age where they could become dads. Bex Brown explained, "Oleg and Rafael were coming up to breeding age and the vets recommended that we vasectomise them, so this was a good opportunity to give the youngsters a full MOT."

The vets performed vasectomy procedures on both male lions. It’s a simple, common operation that means they can't have cubs in the future. This is really important in wildlife parks to help manage the lion population responsibly. What was amazing was how brave Oleg was. Usually, an animal needs to be darted with a tranquilliser, but Oleg had built up so much trust with the team that he walked right up to the vets for his injection and calmly drifted off to sleep. He was then carried on a stretcher to a temporary operating theatre set up in the den next door. The same careful procedure was followed for Rafael and Shanti.

From cowering cubs to a confident trio

The best news of all? The results from the medical examinations are looking good! Bex said, "It was a long day for us but as stress free as possible for the lions and the results are looking good which is great news for everyone. They all came round really well and were soon back to their normal selves."

And their recovery isn’t just physical. The change in the trio’s confidence is unbelievable. Just a few months ago, Oleg was hiding away on his own. Now, the three siblings are back together, and it's like they were never apart. They’ve been seen playing games of hide and seek in their new home. Bex added, "It was great to see them run and chase each other and pretend to hunt each other. At first they could do the seek but not the hide part. They didn't know how to sneak up." The boys have even developed what the keepers are calling a real 'bromance'!

A new chapter for the orphaned siblings

This heartwarming story is a huge success for Yorkshire Wildlife Park, which has a long history of helping animals in need. In fact, this is their third lion rescue, and over the years they have successfully relocated a total of 17 lions to their fantastic Lion Country habitat. For Oleg, Rafael, and Shanti, their journey has been one of incredible strength.

From a terrifying life in a conflict zone to a safe haven in Yorkshire, this orphaned pride has shown just how resilient animals can be. Thanks to the care of the park’s team and the specialist vets, this lion trio can now look forward to a future filled with play, friendship, and plenty more games of hide and seek. Their story is a powerful reminder of hope and the amazing work being done to protect wildlife around the world. The journey for this very special lion pride is just beginning.