Residents of Khmelnytskyi, a regional center in western Ukraine, woke up on 15 November to an unusual and alarming alert: two lionesses had escaped from a private wildlife rehabilitation center on the edge of the city. By the end of an hours-long search operation involving police, rescuers, drones and animal trainers, both big cats had been found and safely returned to their enclosure – but not before the incident raised serious questions about animal welfare, security and the regulation of private zoos in wartime Ukraine.

How the Escape Happened

According to the director of the rehabilitation center, Serhiy Palokhin, the drama began during the night when unknown individuals broke the locks on the doors of the lions’ enclosure. The damage was only discovered in the morning, when staff arrived and realized that both animals had left the fenced area.

The escapees were two young lionesses, approximately two years old, kept at the facility as part of a small “zoo corner” on the center’s premises. Local media report that the animals, named Simba and Sima, were brought to the center in 2023 by a citizen of India “temporarily” – and then never collected.

Early reports on local Telegram channels and news sites initially mentioned “two lions” on the loose before authorities clarified that both animals were in fact lionesses.

A City on Alert

Once the escape was confirmed, the patrol police issued warnings to residents of the western districts of Khmelnytskyi, urging people to stay vigilant and avoid wooded or undeveloped areas near the center. Rescuers from the State Emergency Service and a specialized UAV (drone) unit joined the search to scan the surrounding terrain from the air.

Footage later released by the patrol police showed teams of officers, emergency workers and animal handlers combing fields and industrial zones close to the facility. Despite the scale of the operation, officials stressed that the lionesses appeared to remain near the center throughout the ordeal rather than roaming deep into residential neighborhoods.

One Lioness Caught Quickly, the Second Found Later

Staff at the center managed to contain one of the lionesses relatively quickly. Palokhin says that together with a volunteer he was able to lure the animal into a smaller shelter on the grounds and secure her there while awaiting a tranquilizer and transport back to the main enclosure.

The second lioness, however, slipped beyond the immediate perimeter and triggered a wider search. For several hours, police, rescuers with drones and trainers scoured nearby streets, open lots and tree lines. Local media and social networks carried anxious updates: “One lion has already been caught, the other is being searched for.”

By the evening of 15 November, the missing animal had finally been located. According to both the regional prosecutor’s office and the center’s director, she never went far: she was eventually found near the same “zoo corner” where she had lived.

No residents or responders were injured, and both lionesses were recaptured alive. Ukrainian and foreign outlets later summarized the episode with a note of relief: the “hours-long search ends safely.”

Tragic Consequences for Other Animals

While the story ended well for Simba and Sima, it did not end well for all of the animals at the center. The Khmelnytskyi Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported that several animals kept in neighboring enclosures died during the incident. Details about the species and the precise circumstances have not yet been made public, but the deaths are central to the legal response now unfolding.

Prosecutors have opened a pre-trial investigation under Part 1 of Article 299 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – cruelty to animals. Investigators are working to establish exactly how the lionesses escaped, who may have broken the locks, and whether staff at the rehabilitation center fulfilled their obligations to ensure the safety and welfare of the animals in their care.

A Spotlight on Private Wildlife Facilities

The escape has thrown a spotlight on private wildlife rehabilitation centers and mini-zoos in Ukraine, many of which have operated under intense pressure since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Khmelnytskyi, although located far from the frontline, has experienced repeated missile and drone attacks on energy and infrastructure targets – factors that complicate everyday safety and emergency response.

Authorities have not yet announced concrete sanctions against the center, but the criminal investigation and intense media scrutiny are likely to increase pressure for stronger standards for keeping wild animals – especially apex predators – in captivity.

Public Reaction: Fear, Frustration and Questions

On social media, many Khmelnytskyi residents expressed a mix of fear and disbelief at the idea of big cats wandering near residential districts, even briefly. Others voiced frustration that people living under constant stress from air-raid alarms now have to worry about escaped predators as well.