Rescue: Oradea zoo employees in Romania remove a sedated lion from a cage to prepare him for his journey to Yorkshire A pride of lions rescued from a dilapidated eastern European zoo will get a first glimpse of their new home today - in a chilly South Yorkshire town.
Doncaster may not be the Serengeti or the Masai Mara and the wildebeest and zebra are a bit thin on the ground but the wide open spaces of the Yorkshire Wildlife Park are expected to be a welcome relief for the neglected big cats.
The lions - dubbed the Pride of Yorkshire - were rescued from the concrete enclosures of the crumbling Oradea Zoo in Romania
They are due to touch down at Robin Hood Airport from where they will later be transported to their new home, which is just a mile away.
The park claims the operation to transport the 13 lions - aged from 15 months to Johnny Senior at 27 years old - is the world's biggest ever lion rescue.
It launched a £150,000 appeal last summer to bring the giant beasts from Romania, where conditions were so bad four adults were stuffed together in a 15ft by 12ft concrete cell.
Farewell: A zoo employee says goodbye to a lion bound for the airportNow they are heading for a state-of-the-art lion enclosure set in a seven-acre compound at the Doncaster attraction.
The budget airline Jet2.com is flying the animals to Yorkshire under the supervision of a team of wildlife experts and vets.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park Animal Director John Minion said: 'When I went to Romania to see the lions I was truly shocked and knew we had to help.
'We are so grateful to everyone who has given to the appeal and made this rescue possible.
'After so much planning and hard work it will be wonderful to have them back in the UK.
'Another £25,000 still desperately needs to be raised to fully equip the lion's enclosure.'
Mr Minion described how the lions faced being shot at the state-run zoo because of funding problems. He said he visited the site and staff there just wanted to save the animals they cared for.
Jet2.com boss Philip Meeson said: 'Since we offered to transport the lions and veterinary crew free of charge from Oradea Zoo to Doncaster we have dedicated a team of highly trained individuals to work around the clock to ensure this rescue mission runs to schedule.
'It's a real honour to be involved in the biggest ever big cat rescue to date and we look forward to delivering the pride to their new home at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster.'
Donations can be made at www.lionrescue.co.uk
Cramped: One of the small cages in Oradea Zoo, western Romania, where the lions were being kept
The lions are making a 1,100-mile journey from Romania to their new home in Yorkshiresource: dailymail
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