Yorkshire pride as 13 lions are rescued from Romania and flown to new home

JUST days ago they were crammed into a tiny concrete cell in a run-down Romanian zoo, facing an uncertain future in miserable conditions.

But a pride of 13 lions, ranging from 15 months to 27 years old, have begun a happier life in Yorkshire after a 150,000 rescue appeal.

The animals touched down at Robin Hood Airport yesterday lunchtime in a specially-converted Jet2.com Boeing 737 and were then loaded onto a 700,000 elephant-carrying lorry to be taken to their new home – the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, near Doncaster.

The lions were well-packed in specialist crates for their two-hour flight, and two men with shotguns stood by as the loading operation took place.

Pilot Warwick Swancott said it was one of the airline’s “odder charters” and added that he was “very pleased” to have been asked to fly the extraordinary cargo.

He added: “One of the lionesses has a bit of a temper on her and was knocking around a bit, but generally they were all very well-behaved.”

Cheryl Williams, director of the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, said she was “very excited” by the arrival of the lions – dubbed the Pride of Yorkshire – which was funded by more than 12,000 individual donations.

At the crumbling Oradea Zoo, conditions were so bad that four adult lions were stuffed together in a 15ft by 12ft concrete cell.

Animal director at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, 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 in the UK.”

Robin Hood Airport director Mike Morton said the move had taken place after a long and complex logistical operation, including a “dress rehearsal” at the airport the day before.

He added: “We had to ensure that, if a lion did escape, it wouldn’t be able to eat any of the passengers.”