Yorkshire Wildlife Park's video: Yorkshire Wildlife Park s landmark Lion Rescue 2016

The world famous lions of Yorkshire Wildlife Park are celebrating the landmark 11th anniversary since they were saved from the hell of a squalid eastern European zoo. The neglected pride was kept in filthy concrete pens, fed on a meagre diet of scraps and faced an uncertain future. But a massive public campaign co-ordinated by the YWP brought them to the UK and a new, healthy life roaming a purpose-built nine-acre home with a lake, waterfall, rocks and grassland. The 13 lions, who included two cubs aged just eight months old, rediscovered their health and have been a favourite with visitors to the award-winning park, near Doncaster, ever since. The £150,000 mercy mission was described as the ‘biggest ever cat rescue’ giving them a whole new life thanks to the dedication of YWP staff. YWP CEO John Minion was the first to see the lions in Oradea Zoo, “They were in such poor condition, covered in sores and kept in tiny pens. It was heart-breaking. It is hard to believe that it was five years ago this week that they were released into Lion Country for the first time. “But it was such a memorable event that means so much to us and the public. “These are magnificent animals and they probably wouldn’t be alive today if we hadn’t rescued them. And it’s thanks to the kindness of the public that we were able to raise enough money to bring them here. “It is a very special date for the lions and all of us here because it just reminds us how important our welfare and conservation work is. The pride is happy and healthy and that is a wonderful achievement, something worth celebrating.” The lions were carefully nurtured and rehabilitated back to health by veterinary experts and YWP staff at the enclosure, at the park at Branton. Sadly since then, the eldest lion Johnny Senior passed away in June 2012 after his health declined, Cezar and Johnny Junior and the oldest female Frieda in 2014. Since opening in 2009 YWP has become internationally renowned for being the fastest growing and most innovative wildlife park in the UK. Director Cheryl Williams said: “Whatever else we achieve Lion Rescue will always be special as it was the first time we really made a difference for a group of animals on a significant scale and demonstrated that YWP is about animal welfare as well as conservation. Everyone who supports us should be proud."