Taras, a lion rescued from Ukraine, is being treated in the U.S. for a rare fungal infection
Taras, a four-year-old lion who was found as a cub in a travel bag at the Odessa train station and taken to the U.S. during the war, has been diagnosed with blastomycosis—a rare fungal infection that can often be fatal. The animal is currently at the Wildcat Sanctuary near Sandstone, Minnesota, according to The Guardian.
In May, veterinarians noticed that Taras had become lethargic and lost his appetite. After a series of tests, including a trip to a specialized clinic in Minneapolis for a lung scan and biopsy, he was diagnosed with blastomycosis. This is a non-contagious infection usually contracted through the soil; it is also known as Gilcrest’s disease.
According to the shelter’s founder and executive director, Tammy Tis, during the first weeks of treatment, the lion was administered an antifungal medication twice a day via an intravenous catheter. Taras responded well to the treatment and has already returned to the pride, but he still receives oral medication twice a day. During feeding, he is temporarily separated from the other lions to prevent them from eating the food laced with medication.
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Taras, his sisters Lesya and Stefania, as well as Prada—a slightly older lion cub from Kyiv who is not related to them—were brought to the U.S. in November 2022 by staff from the Wildcat Sanctuary. The sanctuary organized their rescue in collaboration with the International Fund for Animal Welfare. An American veterinarian evacuated the animals from Kyiv to Poland via a 36-hour overland route, where they awaited U.S. import permits.
Tis said the exact origin of the lions is unknown. In her opinion, the animals may have been taken from their mother and prepared for the illegal international trade in exotic animals, but the war may have thwarted those plans. She added that shelter staff may need several more weeks or months to confirm that Taras has fully recovered from his illness.
