Rescued lion dies after 13 years at wildlife park

Ares the lineImage source, Yorkshire Wildlife Park
Image caption,

Ares came to the UK in 2010 from Romania

At a glance

  • Ares was one of 13 lions brought to the UK from Romania in a rescue mission in 2010

  • The 15-year-old African lion died following a period of declining health, Yorkshire Wildlife Park said

  • He was put down by staff at the park, a spokesperson added

  • Published

A lion brought to the UK as part of a rescue mission from a Romanian zoo more than a decade ago has died.

Fifteen-year-old Ares was put down at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster on Wednesday due to his "declining health", a spokesperson said.

The African lion was part of a 13-strong pride brought to the park in 2010 after an appeal raised £150,000 to rescue them.

In a statement announcing his death, the spokesperson said Ares "holds a special place in the park's history".

The announcement of Ares's death was made "with a heavy heart", they added.

"Our hearts go out to the dedicated animal rangers who provided unwavering love and care to Ares on a daily basis, forming an unbreakable bond over the years."

The rescued lions came from Oradea Zoo in Romania, where they had lived in small concrete-floored cages.

Following a year-long fundraising appeal which began in 2009, the pride were flown in a specially-modified Boeing 737 which landed at Robin Hood Airport, just a mile from their new home in South Yorkshire, on 11 February 2010.

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, externalTwitter, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk, external.

Related topics