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LION RESCUE - THE ROMANIAN LIONS FLY INTO DONCASTER

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A pride of lions has been rescued from a run down zoo, in Romania where they faced an uncertain future living in inadequate facilities and flown to Doncaster Sheffield Airport by Jet2.com, to start a new life at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

Believed to be the largest big cat rescue ever, Park Directors initiated a campaign through the charity Wildlife Heritage Foundation to raise £150,000 to save the lions in August after learning of their plight at Oradea Zoo from the organisation SOS Zoo. John Minion, Animal Director, visited the Park in July at the invitation of the zoo director Dhiana Ghender and was both shocked and moved by the experience and pledged to help the lions. “They are such magnificent animals and despite the heat and the poor facilities, their spirit was still very evident. One lioness even came over to greet us. Some of them have health problems that veterinary care, good diet, exercise and appropriate housing will help greatly. There is a wide range of ages from 18 month old cubs to Johnny Senior, who is 27 years old – a whole generation of lions. The staff at Oradea really love their animals and desperately want the best for them – we really wanted to help them.”

The appeal still has £25,000 to raise towards the rescue costs but the Park accelerated their plans to bring the lions to the UK on welfare grounds as the animals’ health was deteriorating due to the cold winter conditions in their inadequate housing at Oradea. The appeal was also helped by the generous offer of Philip Meeson, boss of friendly low fare airline Jet2.com to fly the lions and veterinary crew free of charge to the UK. There has also been outstanding support from Robin Hood Airport and ServisAir who are receiving the flight.

Mike Morton, Airport Director from Doncaster Sheffield Airport said: “This really is a tremendous event for us to be a part of.

“I thought we’d seen it all here but having a pride of lions flying in to Doncaster Sheffield Airport will be a momentous occasion. We are delighted to be able to help the Wildlife Park by enabling the lions to be land in Doncaster and are thrilled to be playing our part in this adventure which will see the lions reach their new home.”

On Tuesday 9^th Febuary, a team of vets and experts from Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Twycross Zoo, Shepreth Wild Animal Park, all members of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) flew out to Romania to initiate the rescue. This was a challenging and dangerous operation in difficult conditions, as up to five lions were kept in enclosures as small as 12’ x 15’. The team worked quickly in sub zero temperatures to tranquilise the individual lions and move them into travelling crates. This was an incredibly hard task for the vets to manage with the animals ranging in age from 15 months to 27 years. One of the youngest, Simba, walked into his crate without any need for tranquilising. Yorkshire Wildlife Park’s Animal Director John Minion described the experience,` I was heartbroken to see these proud cats back in these conditions back August and from then on we were committed to helping them. Their condition and health is poor, but their spirit is still unbroken. They have never known anything different than these conditions. Today was a surreal experience for me, the moment had come when they were finally leaving the zoo. Now I will be happy when they are back in Yorkshire. The lions are going to need a lot of veterinary care and rehabilitation before they can fully enjoy the 9 acre reserve that is currently being landscaped for them at Yorkshire Wildlife Park and I am now looking forward to the day that they feel grass underneath their feet for the first time.‘

The lions faced a four hour journey by road to Budapest Airport and left Oradea Zoo under a police escort, complete with blue lights and sirens.

The Wildlife Heritage Foundation, the charity that is working with the Park on the project has received over 12,000 donations so far in cheques, online donations and direct donations totalling over £126,000 – close to the target of £150,000. Many donations came from the readers of the News of the World. Cheryl Williams, Director of Yorkshire Wildlife Park thanked this newspaper and everyone who has made a donation or contacted them. “ This has been an amazing response. We are touched by the letters from those that have made donations, and each one no matter how small or how large counts. We have had so many calls from schools and colleges, from companies and individuals who want to hold events, collections or just help us raise awareness that we put a fundraising information pack on our website. There are also people who have given specialist help and materials towards the project, which all helps towards reaching the target. We want to thank those who have helped so far and ask everyone to keep spreading the word!’

Yorkshire Wildlife Park linked up with big cat charity Wildlife Heritage Foundation on this project and set up a website www.lionrescue.co.uk where people can donate directly to the project. Cheques may be sent to Wildlife Heritage Foundation (Save the Lions) at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Branton, Doncaster DN3 3NH.

The Park’s Chief Executive, Cheryl Williams said “ This is a huge project for the Park. We desperately wanted to help the lions and it is amazing that we have had the support from so many people to make this happen. This rescue is very high profile for us, for Yorkshire and especially Doncaster and everyone who has supported the project should be proud that they have really made a difference’

Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened on 4^th April 2009 and is on a 286 acre site of which the wildlife park is currently 55 acres. It has a variety of animals including Painted Hunting Dogs, the most endangered carnivore in Africa, three species of lemur in the woodland walkthrough Lemur Woods, and has recently received four Addax Antelope from Edinburgh Zoo which are part of the European breeding programme. There is more information on www.yorkshirewildlifepark.com . Yorkshire Wildlife Park is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

For more information on the lion project and photographs please see www.lionrescue.co.uk or contact Cheryl Williams on 01302 535057 or 07788 907706

Lion Rescue was supported by:

Ian Doubtfire, Managing Director of Jet2.com said, “Since we offered our support to transport the big cats free of charge to Doncaster, our team of highly trained individuals have worked around the clock to ensure this truly worthwhile rescue mission ran to schedule, whilst remaining stress free for our precious cargo of lions.

“After all the planning and hard work, delivering the pride of Yorkshire to their new home is a real achievement for everyone involved and we are all looking forward to seeing them at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park.”

The lions are truly the pride of Doncaster. Councillor Jonathan Wood, Doncaster Council's Cabinet Member for Business, said: "To take a full pride of lions is really something.

"When the lions are on view to visitors it will really add to the appeal of the park and make it a significant attraction for the region.

"From a business and tourism point of view, we are fully supportive of the Yorkshire Wildlife Park." Visitdoncaster.co.uk

Woburn Safari Park. The Woburn Safari Park Elephant Transporter trailer that the lions were moved in was loaned by kind permission of the Duke of Bedford and the Trustees of the Bedford Estate.

The driver, Lee Patterson and Tractor Unit that moved the lions from Robin Hood Airport was kindly loaned by the Wolseley Group:

Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield would also like to thank Wilfreda Beehive for providing coaches for all media at the airport.

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