Clarence has a medical before his journey from Tonga Terre D'accueil animal sanctuary in Lyon to Wingham Wildlife Park.

by Adam Williams

awilliams@thekmgroup.co.uk

Wingham Wildlife Park is preparing for two special additions in the new year.

Lions Clarence and Brutus are set to travel from southern France to east Kent in February having been rescued from their days with the travelling circus.

Last week, park owners Tony and Jackie Binskin travelled to big cat and primate sanctuary Tonga Terre D’accueil near Lyon, alongside animal registrar Markus Wilder to meet the four-year-olds lions.

The sanctuary, run by L’espace Zoologique de Saint-Martin-la-Plaine, looks after lions after their years in the circus and twins Clarence and Brutus are among their current residents.

Work has already begun to build a new enclosure for the pair at Wingham Wildlife Park and revamp an area seldom seen by visitors.

Tony Binskin explained: “We have already moved our rhea birds, which are similar to an ostrich, into a new enclosure, and think that this new enclosure will make much more use of the area in a way which will have a more profound impact on captive big cats.

“As much as possible we try to make sure that all of our enclosures are built by ourselves, and this one is no exception. In this way we can make sure that the enclosure is built perfectly for the animals in question.”

Plans are already under way for Clarence and Brutus’ journey to Wingham.

The pair will be transported from Lyon to Wingham where they will complete their six-month quarantine at the park.