Lion saved as cub from Ukraine war and brought to US battles rare fungal disease
Taras, a four-year-old lion rescued from the war in Ukraine, is battling a rare fungal disease called blastomycosis. He was diagnosed with the often fatal infection after showing symptoms of sluggishness and loss of appetite. Taras has responded well to intensive treatment, but his recovery is still uncertain and he requires ongoing medication.
- ▪Taras was rescued from Ukraine as a four-month-old cub and brought to a Minnesota sanctuary with his two sisters and another unrelated cub.
- ▪The lion was diagnosed with blastomycosis, a non-contagious fungal infection usually contracted from soil, after showing symptoms of illness.
- ▪Taras's survival is considered a 'second miracle' after he escaped the war in Ukraine, and his recovery is still uncertain despite responding well to treatment.
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| Original publisher | The Guardian — US |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/08/ukrainian-lion-fights-fungal-disease |
| Publication time | Sat, 08 Aug 2026 13:00:46 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-08-08T13:10:41.771Z |
| Last seen | 2026-08-08T13:10:41.771Z |
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| Cluster | L0DGYgH7OAy5 · 1 stories |
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Taras the lion Photograph: Wildlife SanctuaryView image in fullscreenTaras the lion Photograph: Wildlife SanctuaryUS newsLion saved as cub from Ukraine war and brought to US battles rare fungal diseaseFour-year-old Taras, who now resides at a Minnesota sanctuary, was diagnosed with an often fatal infectionRichard LuscombeSat 8 Aug 2026 09.00 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleA 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 an unrelated, slightly older cub from Kyiv named Prada, were brought to the US in November 2022 by the Wildcat Sanctuary, a…
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