Wingham Wildlife Park welcomes three male Asiatic lions

{'text': 'Wingham Wildlife Park'}

{'text': 'The two-year-olds arrived from Ireland at the start of the month'}

{'text': 'A wildlife park in Kent has welcomed three Asiatic lions, saying it is now the only place in the county to have these endangered animals.'}

{'text': 'Wingham Wildlife Park in Canterbury said it was "delighted" to have Theo, Rakesh and Thor joining their sanctuary.'}

{'text': 'The lions, which are all two-years-old born from the same litter, arrived from Fota Wildlife Park in Ireland at the beginning of May.'}

{'text': 'Tony Binskin, managing director, said this was a "significant moment" for the wildlife park as well as conservation.'}

{'text': 'Binksin said the lions would be part of a breeding programme, managed by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, for endangered animals.'}

{'text': 'According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there are between 500 to 600 Asiatic lions remaining in the wild.'}

{'text': '"Being part of the programme allows us to play a real and meaningful role in protecting the future of this incredible species," Binskin said.'}

{'text': '"We hope to help secure their future and the survival of the species."'}

{'text': 'Wingham Wildlife Park'}

{'text': 'The lions have been described as "magnificent animals"'}

{'text': 'Binskin added they were "incredibly proud" to have the lions as new residents of the wildlife park where visitors could visit the "magnificent animals".'}

{'text': 'He said the lions would be housed in a brand-new enclosure, designed to provide the "highest standards of welfare" while allowing natural behaviours to thrive.'}

{'text': 'Binksin added the lions would not be visible to the public while they acclimatise to their new environment.'}

{'text': 'He said the wildlife park aimed to open both the lion and new tiger habitats to visitors later this year.'}

{'text': 'According to London Zoo, Asiatic lion populations once ranged in areas including Turkey, across Asia to eastern India but were hunted to near extinction.'}

{'text': 'The zoo said the current wild population only live in Gir Forest, India.'}