Lion saved as cub from Ukraine war and brought to US battles rare fungal disease
Four-year-old Taras, who now resides at a Minnesota sanctuary, was diagnosed with an often fatal infection A lion that escaped the war in Ukraine after being found as a four-month-old cub inside a duffel bag at Odesa railway station is facing an even greater battle for survival in his new home in Minnesota from a rare and often fatal fungal disease. Taras, his two sisters Lesya and Stefania, and…
A lion, named Taras, was rescued from the Ukraine war after being found as a four-month-old cub in a duffel bag at Odesa railway station. Taras and his three relatives were airlifted to a sanctuary in Minnesota in November 2022. At four years old, Taras was diagnosed with blastomycosis, a rare and often fatal fungal disease, in May.
The disease is contracted from soil and is frequently fatal if not caught early and treated. Taras was treated with intensive therapy, including daily injections, but he still requires oral medication twice a day. The sanctuary's founder, Tammy Thies, expressed deep gratitude for the staff and veterinarians who detected the disease early.
She emphasized that Taras's chance of survival was guarded, and weeks or months might pass before he is deemed free of the disease. Despite the challenges, Taras has reconnected with his family and is now inseparable from them.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
