A group of five lions, scheduled to be euthanized in New Zealand for their skins, has been rescued after a group of investors intervened. The Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary was forced to close its doors last year due to a lack of funding, and officials considered transferring these animals impossible due to the lions' advanced age and health condition. Yesterday, a group of animal lovers and investors, called the 'Lionhearts Rescue' project, announced their intervention to save the lions. The group stated in a statement: 'We bought their land and closed the gates to the public, turning the former park into a private retirement sanctuary.' They added: 'No more shows or crowds, we will just provide peace, dignity, and the best care an aging lion could need.' The group had launched a crowdfunding campaign to feed and care for the five lions, considering that 'the rescue operation is complete, but the retirement has just begun, and feeding and caring for five elderly lions costs thousands of dollars every week, and we need our community to step up and help us fund their golden years'.
