Rescued white tiger's move to UK 'imminent'

3 hours ago

Eleanor MaslinEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

News image — Aleks is still waiting to embark on his journey to Lincolnshire after he was found abandoned in Ukraine

Animal rescue in Ukraine A tiger with predominantly white fur and dark grey stripes is lying down on ground covered in straw. He is looking directly into the camera, has light blue eyes and his tongue is poking out slightly. — Aleks is still waiting to embark on his journey to Lincolnshire after he was found abandoned in Ukraine

A white tiger "waking up with freezing fur" in war-torn Ukraine is still waiting to travel to his new home in the UK.

Aleks was found abandoned last year in the Kharkiv region before he was taken to an animal shelter in Chubynske, near Kyiv.

Lincolnshire Wildlife Park, near Boston, said all the paperwork had been completed and they were just waiting for his carrying crate to be arranged before he embarks on his journey to the park.

Chief executive Steve Nichols said: "We've got the kettle on, we're waiting, we are ready and will get him here one way or another."

Richard Madden/BBC Steve Nichols, a man with grey hair and wearing a green T-shirt, feeds a slice of apples to two lemurs which are perched on his shoulder. He is standing in an animal enclosure which is surrounded by leafy green bushes and a metal fence. — Park chief executive Steve Nichols says they expect to known when Aleks' journey will start "imminently"

Nichols said the animal rescue team in Ukraine was "working to their absolute limits" in the war environment.

Aleks is currently living in a "concrete box with straw on the floor", as the rescue team did not expect the rehoming process to take so long, Nichols explained.

"The poor people are trying their hardest just to stop the water from freezing. We feel so aware that we can't control that side of it," he added.

Nichols said if Aleks was at the park, he would be "living a life of luxury" instead of "waking up with freezing fur".

Lincolnshire Wildlife Park A tall metal gate with square holes in it with two men dressed all in back leaning their hands against it. — Lincolnshire Wildlife Park installed a new enclosure gate in October in preparation for Aleks' arrival

Before his rescue and treatment, the tiger was dehydrated, infested with parasites and exhausted, as well as having gastrointestinal, liver and kidney issues, the park said.

In October, Nichols said the park was waiting for vets to check Aleks was healthy enough for the long journey across Europe.

On Friday, he said: "We are at the stage where all we need is the dimensions of the carrying crate for Aleks so a vehicle can be allocated and a date."

He said the park expected to be given a date "imminently" for when Aleks will be starting his journey across Europe.

"I would say within the next three weeks he will be on the road here," he added.

Aleks will be driven from Ukraine through Poland and northern Europe and then from Dover to his new home at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park.

When he arrives, Aleks will go through a three-stage process to get him settled - initially in an indoor closure with a sleeping area, playroom and feeding room.

With veterinary help, he will move to an outdoor enclosure before joining other tigers at the park.

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