Costa Blanca

Two African lions that were rescued in Ukraine bid farewell to Alicante

After two and a half years of rehabilitation at the Primadomus rescue centre in Villena (Alicante), two lions, male Sem and female Liena, who were three and five years old when the European animal welfare organisation AAP rescued them from the war in Ukraine, are headed to their forever home at the Isindile Big Cat & Predator sanctuary in South Africa.

In October 2022, they were discovered “completely abandoned” in the Donetsk region and brought to the AAP rescue centre in Spain. They received initial aid at the shelter near Kyiv from the Ukrainian organisation Wild Animal Rescue, which was “aware of the need to seek suitable rescue centres outside the country due to the conflict situation, the lack of adequate facilities, and the stress caused by the proximity of the war front.”

In particular, the animals were stressed by the surrounding gunfire and shelling, which drove them to strike the bars and gates of the Ukrainian animal sanctuary, the AAP said in a statement.

Together with two other lions, they reached AAP Primadomus in Villena after travelling more than 3,600 kilometres. In these 3,000-square-meter facilities, they have gradually been able to move past the scars of their past. They have gone from being traumatised animals that would hide in the vegetation at the slightest sound and constantly growl to others who are finding peace and learning to use their senses to find food.

Develop your instincts

Both of them “have regained their peace ,” according to the AAP, “which has allowed them to return to optimal condition and the opportunity to socialise with each other, thus helping with their physical, social, and behavioural rehabilitation .”

Both lions received specialised care from the organisation, which has since located “the best place for the animals to spend the rest of their lives.” This is South Africa’s Isindile Big Cat & Predator Sanctuary. Their demands will be met by a 10,000 m² facility in the middle of nature where they can live “a dignified life and develop their wild instincts.”

After rehabilitation, the organisation seeks a “permanent home” for these animals “in renowned sanctuaries and zoos,” according to Pablo Delgado, director of the Villena rescue centre and head of the AAP Big Cats area. This is done in order to provide other specimens in need of assistance with “the opportunity to come to the rescue centre to recover from their past.”

A voyage of this kind necessitates meticulous planning. The animals must be acclimated to their boxes in order to reduce any stress the trip may create, in addition to all the licenses and paperwork needed for a transcontinental trip.

More animals who have been rescued

The AAP in Ukraine has rescued more animals besides Sem and Liena. Since the conflict began, 12 animals—nine lions, one monkey, one leopard, and one wild dog—the majority of which were owned privately in the nation, have been able to find “a safe place to recover at the organization’s facilities” in Spain.

“The organization’s rehoming partners have found a permanent home for nearly all of them, who are now fully recovered. Sadly, the issue of exotic animal ownership as pets is not specific to nations like Ukraine. The AAP highlights that one of the biggest marketplaces for exotic pets worldwide is the European Union, which has an impact on biodiversity, public health, and pet welfare.

According to the organisation, some of these creatures “end up, hopefully, in rescue centres like those run by AAP, where Sem and Liena have been given a second chance to recover their lion form.”

“At AAP, we will continue working to achieve better regulation of the ownership and trade of exotic pets throughout Europe, to prevent more animals from suffering an uncertain fate, living a life of suffering they should never have been forced to endure,” says the group.

Credit: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/aapprimadomus

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Related Topics:Alicante Europe Health Public Social Spain Strike Villena

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Costa Blanca

Sticky Vicky’s daughter quits mum’s iconic Benidorm show

Adhesive the stage act has been sensationally abandoned by Vicky’s daughter, who has followed in her late mother’s footsteps, thereby leaving behind her family’s Benidorm legacy.

The unexpected decision was made after María Gadea Aragón assumed responsibility for the adult-themed magic performances following the passing of her mother, Victoria María Aragón Gadea, in 2023 at the age of 80.

María, who had been employing her mother’s stage identity in the well-known Spanish resort, has now discontinued her performances after a decade on stage.

María performed frequently at venues including the Palladium, Zodiaco, and Rockerfellers, as well as Benidorm which is a popular destination for British expatriates and vacationers.

Des Bellamy-Wright, an employee at the Benidorm Palladium, verified that María is no longer employed in the lively Spanish city. Des stated, “Sticky Vicky is no longer operational in Benidorm.” The ‘Carmen Snake – Sticky Show’ is a similarly entertaining program that is broadcast every night at 12:45 a.m. “

The official reason for Maria’s retirement was not disclosed, and her final performance was in November 2024.

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Costa Blanca

Elche’s H&M shop closing

The Swedish retail chain H&M announced in 2024 that it would be reducing the number of stores and employment it has in Spain due to “organisational, productive, and economic” reasons. Around 50 layoffs were the result of the closure of stores in the L’Aljub retail centres in Elche, Ociopía in Orihuela, and Habaneras in Torrevieja, which had consequences for the province of Alicante.

Additionally, these were the sole instances in the Valencian Community that were impacted. The Torrevieja store was the first to shut its doors in May 2024 since that time. The Orihuela store was subsequently closed on September 14th of the same year. Currently, the Elche store has shuttered its doors. The facility was closed to the public on March 14th, following its final day of operation on March 11th. It will be entirely shut down on March 22nd. Approximately 20 employees are being laid off at this Elche store. It is the final establishment in the province of Alicante that will not reopen, and the circumstances of the dismissal were negotiated in October. The employees have departed the company with an agreement as a result of these negotiations, according to Yolanda de la Casa, the general secretary of the CCOO Services Federation in Alicante.

The dismissal terms that were established following the October negotiations were 45 days until 2012 and 33 days until the present. A gratuity of 3,500 euros was granted for the first five years, 4,000 euros for the next ten years, and a maximum of 4,500 euros for the subsequent years.

Furthermore, three relocations have occurred among the 50 individuals who were laid off in the province, spanning Elche, Orihuela, and Torrevieja. Lely Fernández of UGT l’Alacantí-La Marina informed this newspaper that these were part-time employees from the Habaneras shopping centre in Torrevieja who were transferred to the La Zenia shopping centre, which continues to operate and is accessible.

H&M initiated 2024 by announcing the closure of 28 stores and approximately 588 collective redundancies. The figure was reduced to 521 reductions in a subsequent revision.

The Torrevieja store closed its doors to the public on May 17th, 2024, and the lease expired on May 24th, never to be reopened. Nevertheless, numerous employees at this establishment were granted the opportunity to relocate to other nearby stores that were still operational. In September 2024, Ociopía followed suit, and Elche followed suit in March 2025.

The H&M group operates over 100 stores and employs nearly 4,000 individuals in the country. This decision was made by the Scandinavian company in order to “adapt and perfect” its stores in a “changing” shopping environment for its consumers. Additionally, Spain would be responsible for 17% of the brand’s global closures, as indicated by the data that the company disclosed months ago when it presented its 2023 financial year.

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Costa Blanca

Man stole fire extinguishers to sell as scrap metal

A 20-year-old male is currently under investigation by the Guardia Civil for the purported theft of ten fire extinguishers. The fire extinguishers were discovered by Seprona officers during an inspection of a scrap metal establishment in Torrevieja. The store manager and the criminal are both the subject of an investigation.

The fire extinguishers, which were in near-new condition and completely charged, were discovered by the Servicio de Protección a la Naturaleza (Seprona) officers during the inspection. The investigation was initiated due to the fact that this material is “uncommon” in this form of business, as explained by sources from the Armed Forces.

Upon discovering the fire extinguishers, the officers enquired about the scrapyard manager’s documentation regarding the extinguishers’ arrival. The manager responded that he did not possess any proof of ownership. Additionally, he disclosed that a woman and her son had abandoned them there without his permission.

The company responsible for maintaining the fire extinguishers was identified by Seprona officers after they analysed the evidence and proof acquired. This verified that the extinguishers were located in a building in Torrevieja. The missing equipment was reported by the property manager of this community of proprietors shortly thereafter.

Fire extinguishers were recovered

Officers were permitted to confiscate the fire extinguishers and transport them to the Torrevieja Civil Guard barracks as a result of the formal complaint. Upon verification of their origin, they were returned to their legitimate owners.

The individuals implicated have been identified as a result of the operation. The 20-year-old man who is supposed to have stolen the fire extinguishers is being investigated for theft, while the 23-year-old proprietor of the scrap yard is being investigated for receiving stolen goods.

The Guardia Civil emphasises the necessity of reporting these types of incidents and reminds all individuals of the significance of doing so. In order to prevent the acquisition of stolen material, scrap metal dealers must establish rigorous controls, such as document checks on sellers and items received.