A desperate appeal has been launched to help feed the animals at two Kent wild animal parks during lockdown.

Bosses as Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, near Hythe, are appealing for support with fundraising efforts and donations to ensure they can continue their vital conservation work.

This includes caring for the 1,300 animals currently residing at the park and at its sister site Howletts, near Canterbury, and to also continue rescuing further animals in need around the world.

It costs more than £300,000 a week to operate the two sites, run by the Aspinall Foundation, meaning to keep both parks running through lockdown it will cost £1,200,000.

But with no visitors and no means of financial support from the government, bosses says this is 'not sustainable'.

In addition, after the first lockdown was introduced, the charity began working on one of their most ambitious projects to date - the rehoming of a family of brown bears from an Andorran zoo and three lions, Mojito, Timothy and Anthares, who were rescued from a circus in France.

Staff say Mojito and Timothy were rescued from the 'cruel clutches' of Circus Wonderland where they were 'deliberately underfed to keep them weak and small enough' to use for photoshoots.

As a result of this poor treatment, Mojito will require specialised care for the rest of his life.

Anthares was confiscated from another circus where he was forced to perform and lived in a 'tiny, filthy trailer'.

Port Lympne was then alerted to the plight of Julio, Enciam and Neu - three brown bears who will soon be homeless, along with their three young cubs.

The bear family’s current home is an adventure park in Andorra, which will soon be closing their zoo and this young family desperately needs a forever home where their cubs will be safe to grow up.

Managing director Tony Kelly said: "With the announcement of the second lockdown, not only are we fighting to feed our animals but we also want to be able to offer the lions Mojito, Timothy and Anthares and the bears Julio, Enciam, Neu and their babies a permanent and safe home.

"However, without help and donations from the public we are struggling to fulfil our desire to rescue these animals and feed those animals already under our care."

The creation of new sanctuaries for Mojito, Timothy, Anthares, Julio, Enciam, Neu and their cubs will cost £250,000.

There are various ways to help; donations can be made via the organisation's Animal Support Fund, by purchasing a Care Package for Animals from £5 or by Adopting An Animal with The Aspinall Foundation.

Read more: All the latest news from Hythe

More animal stories, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here