MANOR Wildlife Park owner Anna Ryder Richardson is appealing for the public's help to bring three badly treated lions to Pembrokeshire.

The lions, one mother and two grown-up cubs, were being kept in squalid cages at a private zoo owned by an Armenian oligarch in the town of Gyumri.

Following an international campaign to free them from the semi-abandoned facility, they have been moved to a purpose-built compound where they are now receiving veterinary care.

Former Changing Rooms presenter Anna is aiming to take the process one step further and transport them to the UK and a large enclosure at her zoo near Tenby.

“This is a heartfelt story about three beautiful animals that have been neglected and abused and are in a horrible situation. They were kept in those cages for years and being fed off scraps,” said Anna, who aims to raise the £25,000 needed to transport the animals from Armenia to the UK.

Two brown bears that were also housed in the cramped Gyumri zoo have been relocated to a bear sanctuary in Romania thanks to funding from the Brigitte Bardot Foundation.

The Nature Foundation has been given legal consent to bring the lions to Pembrokeshire.

“The conditions these animals had been left in were so appalling that I decided to help. They were kept in separate cages and have never experienced running around in grass and playing with each other,” said Anna.

While there has been a big campaign to rescue the animals from their plight, Anna emphasis that the process is not over until they are released from cages and bought to the UK.

“I think if they [fundraisers] knew, they would be quite surprised that they are still in cages in Armenia.”

“I hope these lions will help people understand about the cruelty of animals being kept in captivity, in circuses and in private collections.

“We’re actually trying to get the cages that they have been kept in here. These lions are going to be an example of how we’re all going wrong in the world,” said Anna.

A quarantine facility has already been approved to house the three lions at Manor Wildlife Park. In the long run there could be plans to permanently keep the lions at its sister zoo, Peak Wildlife Park, in Staffordshire.

“There is land in Staffordshire where we could have a big enclosure where they could live for the rest of their lives. That is a big plan and could cost upwards of £150,000. But here they have a space for them to stay as long as necessary,” said Anna.

Donation buckets have been placed around Manor Wildlife Park, but the fund is still far short of the £25,000 target.

“Once the lions arrive, we will be holding an Out of Africa evening with private viewings and drinks to celebrate. If anyone donates over £250 to the fund, they will get an invite to the event,” said Anna.

The Nature Foundation has named its campaign #ROAR – reach out and rescue – and so far over £3,000 has been raised.

For further details and to make a donation visit www.tnf.foundation