Taras the lion rescued from Ukraine war battles rare fungal disease in US; internet says ‘fantastic story’

Taras, a lion rescued from war-torn Ukraine as a four-month-old cub, is facing a new fight for survival after being diagnosed with a rare and potentially fatal fungal disease at a sanctuary in Minnesota.The illness can be fatal in animals and humans if it is not detected and treated early. (The Wildcat Sanctuary)Taras was found inside a duffel bag at a railway station in Odesa, Ukraine. He and his sers, Lesya and Stefania, were later evacuated and brought to the US in November 2022 the Wildcat Sanctuary, in partnership with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).The cubs had first been taken from Kyiv to Poland an American veterinarian, a journey that took around 36 hours, as Russian missile and drone attacks continued in Ukraine.Taras diagnosed with rare fungal diseaseNow four years old, Taras had been an energetic member of the Ukrainian lion pride until May, when sanctuary staff noticed he had become sluggish and had stopped eating properly.After several tests, including an expensive scan and lung biopsy at a special clinic in Minneapolis, veterinarians diagnosed him with blastomycosis, a non-contagious fungal infection usually contracted from soil.The illness can be fatal in animals and humans if it is not detected and treated early. The disease was also blamed for the death of Ginger, a white tiger at a Wisconsin wildlife sanctuary in June, according to The Guardian.Tammy Thies, founder and CEO of the Wildcat Sanctuary, said Taras underwent intensive treatment, including twice-daily injections of high-strength antifungal medication through an IV during the early weeks.Also Read: 17 killed in Russian air strikes on Ukraine as war escalates“He was in a fight for his life,” Thies said.She explained that blastomycosis in big cats is often discovered only after respiratory symptoms appear, when the disease may already be advanced.“The special told us he had a guarded prognosis,” Thies said, recalling how she asked whether Taras had a 30% chance of survival. The specials, she said, could not give her a reassuring answer.Lion reunites with his sersTaras responded well to treatment and has since rejoined his pride, although his recovery is ongoing. He still needs oral medication twice a day, and sanctuary staff may need weeks or months before they know whether he is fully out of danger.Thies described his survival as Taras’ “second miracle” after his escape from the war in Ukraine.His reunion with his sers was particularly emotional. Staff initially arranged separate playdates so Taras could gradually reconnect with each sibling. “He wanted to be with his family,” Thies said, describing how the lions responded with nuzzling and rolling around together before welcoming him back.Taras still has to be separated from the pride twice daily so he can receive his medication without the other lions eating his food.Also Read: The dual-attrition trap in the Russia-Ukraine warInternet calls Taras’ survival a ‘fantastic story’Taras’ story has also drawn emotional reactions online, with social media users praising the sanctuary staff for helping him survive two major ordeals.One Instagram commenter called it “a fantastic story”, while another comment on X read, “He may pull through. They did really well to catch it early, it’s easily misdiagnosed.”Thies said the sanctuary team remained determined to help him recover despite the initial grim prognosis. “He has a fight on his hands but still has a lot of life to live,” she said.The exact origins of Taras and his sers remain unknown, but Thies believes they may have been taken from their mother and destined for the illegal exotic-animal trade before the war disrupted trafficking routes.