Wildlife park appeals for help with expansion plan

Wingham Wildlife Park is appealing to the public to help fund a major expansion it says will improve conditions for endangered animals.

The park, near Canterbury, says construction is underway to double the size of its site and build new enclosures for species including black rhinos and Asiatic lions.

It says it now needs to raise £50,000 to help pay for enrichment toys, a feeding rack, climbing apparatus and specialist equipment.

Managing director, Tony Binskin, said the expansion was about "building a better future for wildlife" and supporting breeding programmes for endangered species.

Binskin said he hoped the expansion would also inspire visitors to "care more deeply about conservation".

"We're incredibly proud to invite our community to be part of something that will make a lasting difference," he said.

The park says the money will go towards enrichment toys for the lions, a feeding rack for the rhinos, climbing apparatus for the big cats, specialist equipment for the pygmy hippos and extra maintenance tools for staff.

It added it plans to welcome three Asiatic lions - Theo, Rakesh and Thor - from Fota Wildlife Park in Ireland, although a date for their arrival has not been announced.

According to the Zoological Society of London, there are about 600 Asiatic lions left in the Gir Forest in western India, which is their only natural habitat.

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