12th February 2010
Lion Rescue.co.uk - New Home
This website will remain online until the 1st May - however it will not be updated.
Please visit www.yorkshirewildlifepark.com and click on Lion Rescue
10th February 2010
Lion Rescue – the Romanian lions arrive at Yorkshire Wildlife Park
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 the UK to start a new life at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster.
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. 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, the owner of friendly low fare airline Jet2.com to fly them to the UK. There has also been outstanding support from Robin Hood Airport and Servis Air who are receiving the flight.
On Tuesday 9th 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 safely 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 has counted. We want to thank those who have helped so far and ask everyone to keep spreading the word. People can donate at www.lionrescue.co.uk
Cheryl Williams added“ 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’
9th February 2010
The Lion Rescue has started. The Team of Lion Rescue experts has arrived in Romania and the Rescue has begun.
26th January 2010
The Lion House is being Constructed - Watch this space
14th January 2010
Jet2.com Brings (a) Pride to Yorkshire
Yorkshire’s airline to rescue 13 lions from run-down Romanian zoo
Friendly low fare airline, Jet2.com has pledged to fly a pride of neglected lions from a Romanian zoo to Yorkshire free of charge this February as part of, what is planned to be, the biggest ever big cat rescue to date.
Jet2.com has joined forces with Yorkshire Wildlife Park, who is leading the mission, to charter a one-off flight to rescue a pride of 13 lions which are being held in cramped conditions, facing an uncertain future at Oradea Zoo, Romania.
Under the supervision of leading wildlife veterinarians, the big cats, which range in age from one to 27 years old, will be flown to Doncaster Robin Hood Airport and re-housed at a specially built 10-acre enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster.
Philip Meeson, Boss of Jet2.com said, “When we heard about the plight of the lions at the Romanian zoo, we immediately offered to provide a Jet2.com charter aircraft and the support of our highly trained staff free of charge to transport the big cats to their new home near Doncaster this February.”
“As Yorkshire’s leading leisure airline, it’s a great honour to be involved in what is looking to be one of the biggest ever cat rescues. We are working closely with the wildlife park to ensure the campaign runs as smoothly as possible so that these majestic animals will soon, quite literally, be the pride of Yorkshire.”
Cheryl Williams, Director of Yorkshire Wildlife Park said, “This is a huge project for the Park and we are extremely grateful to Jet2.com for chartering a flight specifically for these magnificent creatures that desperately need our help.
“Without Jet2.com’s generosity, we would now be facing a long and arduous journey by road which would have been particularly treacherous with temperatures now dropping to minus 20 throughout central Europe. We just can’t thank them enough.”
John Minion, Animal Director at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, commented on his visit to Oradea Zoo, “The zoo is in a very poor state of repair, with lack of money for even food for the animals. The Romanian zoo now must now abide to European legislation; therefore these issues are now being addressed, which is why we have planned this mission.”
“Despite the dreadful living conditions, their spirit was still very evident as seen by one of the lionesses who came over to greet us, purring like a family cat. Some of them had health problems that veterinary care, good diet, exercise and appropriate housing will help greatly.”
Yorkshire Wildlife Park who has raised over £120,000 for the welfare mission, but is still in need of another £30,000 to pay for veterinary care, building a lion house, transportation costs and creating the reserve for the big cats. Further donations can be made at www.lionrescue.co.uk
For more information visit www.jet2.com or to make a donation to the lion rescue mission, visit www.lionrescue.co.uk
12th January 2010
Please send a link to this website to all of your friends, family and work colleagues. If you have a Facebook Account please post a link to www.LionRescue.co.uk.
5th January 2010
Please send a link to this website to all of your friends, family and work colleagues. If you have a Facebook Account please post a link to www.LionRescue.co.uk.
31st December 2009
Please visit www.buy.at/lionrescue. Every purchase made via this unique fundraising webshop will result in a donation being made to the www.LionRescue.co.uk fund. For example - if you take up the Sky Offer we will receive a donation worth £125...... Please post this on your Facebook Walls and help spread the word. thank You www.buy.at/lionrescue - The webshop for Yorkshire Wildlife Park Lion Rescue campaign.
29th December 2009
Please visit www.buy.at/lionrescue. Every purchase made via this unique fundraising webshop will result in a donation being made to the www.LionRescue.co.uk fund. For example - if you take up the Sky Offer we will receive a donation worth £125...... Please post this on your Facebook Walls and help spread the word. thank You www.buy.at/lionrescue - The webshop for Yorkshire Wildlife Park Lion Rescue campaign.
28th December 2009
As we approach the New Year we would like to thank all those who have supported the LionRescue.co.uk Campaign during 2009 and look forward to you all helping us with the final push. The Lions will be arriving some time in February (date to be communicated soon)
21st December 2009
Please send a link to this website to all of your friends, family and work colleagues. If you have a Facebook Account please post a link to www.LionRescue.co.uk.
20th December 2009
We have now reached a total of £123,430. This is absolutely fantastic. We have less than £27,000 to go. Please do all than you can to support us and help promote this very worthwhile cause. to donate please click on the link below or visit www.justgiving.com/lionrescue
16th December 2009
We have now reached 82% of our total £123,000. This is absolutely fantastic. We have less than £27,000 to go. Please do all than you can to support us and help promote this very worthwhile cause. to donate please click on the link below or visit www.justgiving.com/lionrescue
12th December 2009
The JustGiving Website provides the most accurate total for monies raised so far. Please click on the link below
10th December 2009
"The Latest New of the World Article” Please click on the link below.
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/598750/Pride-is-saved-by-generous-NOTW-readers-campaign.html
5th December 2009
Please send a link to this website to all of your friends, family and work colleagues. If you have a Facebook Account please post a link to www.LionRescue.co.uk.
1st December 2009
Please send a link to this website to all of your friends, family and work colleagues. If you have a Facebook Account please post a link to www.LionRescue.co.uk.
29th November 2009
Please send a link to this website to all of your friends, family and work colleagues. If you have a Facebook Account please post a link to www.LionRescue.co.uk.
27th November 2009 “Pictures from Oradea - Part 2”
These Pictures were taken by John Minion - YWP Animal Director during his latest visit to Romania.
25th November 2009 “Pictures from Oradea”
These Pictures were taken by John Minion - YWP Animal Director during his latest visit to Romania
23rd November 2009
“Help save our Pride”
Hampshire based artist sends Aid Yorkshire’s way!
We need help! Fearing a low turn out in the country’s turbulent weather we are taking the opportunity to remind you that everybody is invited this Saturday to the auction of a truly magnificent piece of art in aid of Yorkshire Wildlife’s – Lion Rescue Project. This piece of fundraising has had many hurdles to jump through in its journey to succeed but we are determined not to let the weather beat us! That said we need bidders! Please help!
Lion Rescue is focused on the rescue of 14 lions from cramped, rundown conditions in a Romanian Zoo and delivering them to a new 7 acre purpose built facility within the park which is just outside of Doncaster.
Answering their call for funding Hampshire based artist, Jane Pascoe-Absolom has produced a special piece Entitled “Rise of an Empire – Caesar’s Pride” depicting Caesar the head of the incoming pride joined by a lioness. It is hoped the sale of the painting will go some way to filling the remaining gap in funding that Yorkshire Wildlife have if they are to realise their £150,000 dream to bring these animals to the park.
Not only will the lucky winning bidder take this fantastic painting home but they will also receive two priceless experiences, A VIP “behind the scenes” Tour of the current & future Yorkshire Wildlife, which will include animal feeds and a further exclusive invitation to the dignitaries event (reserved for VIP’s) when the Lions first arrive.
We do hope as many people as possible will consider attending the auction which will be held at 3pm on the 28th November at Yorkshire Wildlife, Nr Doncaster, DN4 6TB.
RSVP: art@janepascoeabsolom.com
The piece can be viewed in the gallery of Jane’s website www.janepascoeabsolom.com, but for further information or to Pledge a bid in anticipation of absence:
Telephone Dean: 07981 395857 OR 01420 849350
Email: art@janepascoeabsolom.com - subject Lion Pride
15th November 2009
"The Latest New of the World Article” Please click on the link below.
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/598750/Pride-is-saved-by-generous-NOTW-readers-campaign.html
12th November 2009
"Only £30K to go”
A huge thank you to all those who have donated so far. We have now raised a massive £130K in less than 8 weeks. Please keep donating and please keep asking your friends to do the same.
5th November 2009
“Beaming with Pride”
Jane is proud to announce that she has produced a special piece which will be auctioned for the Lion Rescue charity. Passionate about wildlife and its well being, this is an amazing opportunity to further progress Jane, whilst contributing to an incredibly worthy cause by following her heart and donating the entire proceeds to the charity.
Entitled “Rise of an Empire – Caesar’s Pride”, the piece is the perfect tribute to the cause and features Caesar, the Head of the Pride accompanied by a beautiful lioness just like so many powerful men. This piece will embark on a brief tour before spending a week at Yorkshire Wildlife which will conclude with it being auctioned with the help of a top London auction house around the weekend of 28th November . The piece can now be viewed in Jane’s gallery, but If you are want to know more about this story or indeed place a bid for the piece with us now, then please contact us.
Telephone Dean: 07981 395857
Email: art@janepascoeabsolom.com - subject Lion Pride
15th October 2009
Please send a link to this website to all of your friends, family and work colleagues. If you have a Facebook Account please post a link to www.LionRescue.co.uk.
7th October 2009
Funds raised so far £114563.21
3rd October 2009
Please send a link to this website to all of your friends, family and work colleagues. If you have a Facebook Account please post a link to www.LionRescue.co.uk.
28th September 2009
“Beaming with Pride”
Jane is proud to announce that she has produced a special piece which will be auctioned for the Lion Rescue charity. Passionate about wildlife and its well being, this is an amazing opportunity to further progress Jane, whilst contributing to an incredibly worthy cause by following her heart and donating the entire proceeds to the charity.
Entitled “Rise of an Empire – Caesar’s Pride”, the piece is the perfect tribute to the cause and features Caesar, the Head of the Pride accompanied by a beautiful lioness just like so many powerful men. This piece will embark on a brief tour before spending a week at Yorkshire Wildlife which will conclude with it being auctioned with the help of a top London auction house. The piece can now be viewed in Jane’s gallery, but If you are want to know more about this story or indeed place a bid for the piece with us now, then please contact us.
Telephone Dean: 07981 395857
Email: art@janepascoeabsolom.com - subject Lion Pride
28th October 2009 - News of the World Articles
Read the News of the World Article online - visit http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/499787/Free-dying-lions-in-Romanian-zoo.html
26th October 2009
Please send a link to this website to all of your friends, family and work colleagues. If you have a Facebook Account please post a link to www.LionRescue.co.uk.
24th October 2009
Funds raised so far £116021.32
23rd October 2009
Please send a link to this website to all of your friends, family and work colleagues. If you have a Facebook Account please post a link to www.LionRescue.co.uk.
18th October 2009
Please send a link to this website to all of your friends, family and work colleagues. If you have a Facebook Account please post a link to www.LionRescue.co.uk.
16th October 2009
“Beaming with Pride”
Jane is proud to announce that she has produced a special piece which will be auctioned for the Lion Rescue charity. Passionate about wildlife and its well being, this is an amazing opportunity to further progress Jane, whilst contributing to an incredibly worthy cause by following her heart and donating the entire proceeds to the charity.
Entitled “Rise of an Empire – Caesar’s Pride”, the piece is the perfect tribute to the cause and features Caesar, the Head of the Pride accompanied by a beautiful lioness just like so many powerful men. This piece will embark on a brief tour before spending a week at Yorkshire Wildlife which will conclude with it being auctioned with the help of a top London auction house around the weekend of 17th October. The piece can now be viewed in Jane’s gallery, but If you are want to know more about this story or indeed place a bid for the piece with us now, then please contact us.
Telephone Dean: 07981 395857
Email: art@janepascoeabsolom.com - subject Lion Pride
15th October 2009
Please send a link to this website to all of your friends, family and work colleagues. If you have a Facebook Account please post a link to www.LionRescue.co.uk.
7th October 2009
Funds raised so far £114563.21
3rd October 2009
Please send a link to this website to all of your friends, family and work colleagues. If you have a Facebook Account please post a link to www.LionRescue.co.uk.
28th September 2009
“Beaming with Pride”
Jane is proud to announce that she has produced a special piece which will be auctioned for the Lion Rescue charity. Passionate about wildlife and its well being, this is an amazing opportunity to further progress Jane, whilst contributing to an incredibly worthy cause by following her heart and donating the entire proceeds to the charity.
Entitled “Rise of an Empire – Caesar’s Pride”, the piece is the perfect tribute to the cause and features Caesar, the Head of the Pride accompanied by a beautiful lioness just like so many powerful men. This piece will embark on a brief tour before spending a week at Yorkshire Wildlife which will conclude with it being auctioned with the help of a top London auction house around the weekend of 17th October. The piece can now be viewed in Jane’s gallery, but If you are want to know more about this story or indeed place a bid for the piece with us now, then please contact us.
Telephone Dean: 07981 395857
Email: art@janepascoeabsolom.com - subject Lion Pride
22nd September 2009
Funds raised so far approaches the £110,000 Mark.
20th September 2009
Read the latest News of the World Article online - visit http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/499787/Free-dying-lions-in-Romanian-zoo.html
13th September 2009
Read the latest News of the World Article online - visit http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/499787/Free-dying-lions-in-Romanian-zoo.html
12th September 2009
We are approaching the half way mark. We are now two weeks into the campaign and are rapidly approaching the half way mark. A huge thank you to all those who have donated so far, please continue to help us promote the campaign.
7th September 2009
We are doing all we can to keep you up to date with the total amount raised so far. Unfortunately this is proving difficult as we are receiving donations from many different sources, all of which have to be recorded, checked and then cleared. At midnight every day we update the total on our www.Justgiving.com/lionrescue website. The Online Total shows the total amount of money raised by people donating using www.Justgiving.com/lionrescue to make a donation. The Offline Total shows the amount accumulated from cheques received in the post, donations taken at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park (Collection Buckets), donations received via PayPal and direct bank transfer. We will also be including this week donations which have been sent directly to the Wildlife Heritage Foundation.
The important thing to recognise is that the total raised is going up and the amount needed to bring the lions to their new home here in Yorkshire is coming down, with every single donation, no matter how it is made.
Many thanks to those who have donated so far.
6th September 2009
The total amount raised so far is just over £45,000. A huge thank you to all those who have donated. To see the latest total please visit www.Justgiving.com/LionRescue.
Please visit www.NOTW.co.uk to see the latest article
5th September 2009
Total raised so far online has exceeded £20,000 A huge thank you to all those who have donated. To see the latest total please visit www.Justgiving.com/LionRescue. We really need your support to save these magnificent creatures. Time is not on our side so we need to act fast. Please do all you can to promote this campaign. Please e-mail all your friends, family and work colleagues and ask them to do the same. We really are the last hope these Lions have.
3rd September 2009
Please send a link to this website to all of your friends, family and work colleagues. If you have a Facebook Account please post a link to www.LionRescue.co.uk.
2nd September 2009
A huge thank you to all those who donated yesterday. We still have a long way to go until we hit our target of £150,000. Please send a link to this website to all of your friends, family and work colleagues. If you have a Facebook Account please post a link to www.LionRescue.co.uk.
1st September 2009
Total raised so far is £15077. A huge thank you to all those who have donated. To see the latest total please visit www.Justgiving.com/LionRescue. We really need your support to save these magnificent creatures. Time is not on our side so we need to act fast. Please do all you can to promote this campaign. Please e-mail all your friends, family and work colleagues and ask them to do the same. We really are the last hope these Lions have.
Thank you
August 31st 2009
Just over £6500 raised so far... A huge thank you to all those who donated yesterday. We still have a long way to go until we hit our target of £150,000. Please send a link to this website to all of your friends, family and work colleagues. If you have a Facebook Account please post a link to www.LionRescue.co.uk.
Please go to www.Justgiving.com/LionRescue to make a donation.
30th August 2009
The BBC News Homepage are supporting our campaign - please click on one of the images below to view.
August 29th 2009
www.Justgiving.com/LionRescue website goes live.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the Lion Rescue Campaign and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - We raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
August 25th 2009
Donate Online- Simply click on the Donate button below and you will be transferred to our online donations website hosted by PayPal.
August 15th 2009
The Future for Oradea Zoo
Oradea Zoo may be eligible for a grant in the future to modernise and redevelop the zoo but this would not help the lions now. The current zoo staff and director need help, guidance and support from the zoo community as do many other institutions across Eastern Europe. Yorkshire Wildlife Park hopes to create an ongoing partnership with Oradea and mentor an appropriate new development which will be sustainable for the future.
August 14th 2009
The Move
The facility is unlikely to be complete by the time of the move if YWP hits the November deadline to complete the move before the snows of winter close in. However, the core house and holding areas would be complete , in order to securely hold the lions during their 6 month rabies quarantine which can take place on site.
The move from Romania (most likely by road in convoy) with lions and the other animals coming to the UK and primates to the Welsh Monkey Rescue Centre) will undoubtedly cause quite a stir not just in Doncaster but in the UK.
July 2009
Visit to Oradea Zoo by Yorkshire Wildlife Park Animal Director John Minion
John visited the zoo in July after the call for help. The Zoo is in a very poor state of repair and has inexperienced staff to maintain animal husbandry levels. Romanian zoos now have to abide by European legislation which means that Oradea Zoo must address these issues. The animal facilities are very poor – the smallest pen contains 5 lions and measures 3.5m x 4m. The facilities are also poorly constructed and falling down in parts. There is a lack of money for food and repairs. There are also bears and wolves in poor conditions. If the fundraising campaign is a real success, there is a very real chance that the bears and wolves could also be repatriated to Yorkshire Wildlife Park. John was moved by the plight of the lions – and especially by one lioness whose spirit was not crushed by the tiny cage that she was kept in but came over to him and rubbed her head against the bars encouraging John to scratch her head, making happy noised just like a cat. At that moment, John knew that he had to do all that he could to get the lions out of there.
