Two lions escaped from rehabilitation center in Khmelnytskyi: what is known
15 November 2025 14:46
Two lions escaped from the rehabilitation center for wild animals in Khmelnytskyi. Today, November 15, one was found, the search for the other continues in the city, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports with reference to animal rights activist Andriana Bailo.
The center’s director, Serhiy Palyokhin, also spoke about the incident.
“At night, unknown people broke the locks on the doors of the enclosure, I discovered it in the morning. As a result, two lions ran out,” – said Serhiy Palyokhin.
According to him, one lion was found, the search for the other is continuing.
The Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Khmelnytskyi Oblast said that a UAV unit will be involved in the search for the lion.
“Maybe finally the Khmelnytskyi authorities, the State Ecological Inspectorate of Ukraine will pay attention to the uncontrolled reproduction of wild animals and the conditions of keeping animals at the breeder Palyokhin. This shop needs to be closed down for a long time, since there is no control over the breeding of wild animals, which then leads to the fact that the animals end up in terrible conditions, become objects of smuggling, etc.
And finally, it is necessary to launch the mechanism for issuing permits for keeping wild animals in captivity, which has long been prescribed in the Law, but in fact does not work,” – says Andriana Bailo in a post.
