“From February 24 to September 7, 2022, I lived and struggled amid the war. I was put in an underground jail for being suspected of having siding with Ukraine.”
These were the first lines that an Indian-origin Doctor named Girikumar Patil, also fondly called Jaguar Kumar, shared while speaking to me. I went numb.
We have been in touch ever since the war began, for I covered him back then. I have been inquiring about his well-being, and in particular, the cats that he dotes on. And when I say cats, I mean big cats – Jaguar, Lion, you name it! He has been giving a safe haven to these creatures for many years now and continues to do so despite the challenges.
Rescue And Separation Amid Russia-Ukraine War
Initially, Patil lived in Severodonetsk, a town in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, with his two big pet cats—a black panther and a jaguar. He adopted the animals from the Kyiv Zoo and refused to leave the country without them. He risked his life every day by stepping out before curfew to visit the market and arrange food for his pets.
“There used to be bombing on a daily basis. My pets were afraid. One had to suffer a lot for getting food and amenities, and there were power cuts for a minimum 2-3 times a day. I had to buy a generator that was highly expensive. There was no Wi-Fi,” he remembered with a lot of pain in his tone.
Patil constructed a 200m long enclosure with a bomb shelter for the three of them, spending nearly Rs 80 lakh. He didn’t have any option as the native zoos didn’t want to keep the big cats. Eventually, he had to leave them. The trauma was too much for him, but he managed to employ a caretaker and a wet nurse and sent them money while he was away so that his cats were taken care of. It didn’t last for long, but thankfully, they are now with a Russian zoo. Things have been sad and tedious.
“For the first 15 days, I was in a bunker with animals. Later, I came out through Latvia and Poland, and until May, I was in Poland. Gradually, I could come back to Ukraine. I have been living in the western region since May 2023.
Meanwhile, I appointed a caretaker and wet doctor for the cats. They were there for 14 months but started to demand more payment. One day, they left the animals and informed the local government.
I tried with many rescue organizations to save my cats, but they just took money to raise funds and did nothing to help. Some even tried to steal my cats!
I was mentally disturbed, and finally, by the end of September, they were rescued and housed at Saint Petersburg Zoo in Russia. After learning this, I contacted them, and they promised to return my animals when things got better. They keep sending me videos every 10 days.
The panther has adjusted, but the jaguar is moody. He may be missing me. Thankfully, I plan to meet them, most probably in May. I am expecting to meet them.”
Forming ‘Jaguar Kumar Wildlife’
Patil is a rescuer and nurturer, and he hasn’t stopped being that despite his pets’ separation. He recently created and registered an international wildlife charitable organization named “Jaguar Kumar Wildlife” and became a licensed Wildlife Rescuer and Experienced Big Cat Whisperer. In the process, he has rescued 6 more dogs and 2 lion cubs and has been raising them with love and excellent care. He plans to send them to the wild permanently.
He is now the Official Rescuer for Ukraine, Russia, and Europe, and the International Government Wildlife Organization appointed him.
Who is Girikumar Patil?
Born in Andhra Pradesh, Girikumar Patil has lived in Ukraine for many years. He went to Ukraine in 2007 to study medicine and pursued an MD Physician Degree from the Lugansk State Medical University, Lugansk City, Ukraine. He also got a Diploma in Orthopaedics From Kyiv, Ukraine. Since 2014, Patil has been a practicing orthopaedist in the country and has worked in a government hospital at Severodonetsk.
This is not the first time Patil has experienced tension or war. He earlier lived in Luhansk, where Russia-backed troops fought Ukrainian troops in 2014. It took away his restaurant and home.
The doctor owns many other pets. To raise funds, he shares videos of his life with the cats and that in Ukraine on his unique YouTube channel.
Besides these, Girikumar has also played small parts in some Telugu soaps and Ukrainian films and series.