A group of blind Ukrainian orphans, aged 15 to 21, have visited lions rescued from their war-torn homeland at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. The students, many of whom are orphans, were evacuated from their school for the blind in Kharkiv after it came under Russian bombardment. They described hearing the lions' roars as an emotional experience, drawing parallels to their own escapes from conflict.
Yelizoete Terletsko, 18, told The Mirror: 'I was really upset they had to leave our home in Ukraine, the same as me. But I’m really grateful that people helped them like they did me and we are all in a safe place now.' She recalled the terror of the bombing, saying: 'Because we’re blind we can hear differently. You can hear more and you feel the noises in your body.'
The students' school in Kharkiv was one of the first buildings hit by bombing and was virtually destroyed the day after they left. They initially hid in the basement, traumatised by both rats and rocket attacks. They were rescued by a Polish school for the disabled, which sent two coaches to bring them to safety.
Deputy head teacher Marzena Bialas said the students were 'really excited' to learn the lions had been shipped to the UK, and they phoned their former head teacher to share the news. The visit was supported by the Duchess of York, who helped arrange it, and funded by the Thomas Pocklington Trust and RNIB. Sarah, Duchess of York said: 'I hope the visit brings smiles to their faces – for me the smile of a child has always been the most important thing.'
The group also met sea lions and fed a giraffe, with one student squealing in delight as the animal grabbed a branch. The lion pride, including Aysa and her three cubs Santa, Emi and Teddi, arrived at the park last week thanks to the park's Wildlife Foundation.
