KIEV, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- Safari Zoo, located in Berdyansk in southeastern Ukraine, will give South Africa five lions to restore their population, Ukrinform reported on Friday, citing the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection.
According to reports, the five predators - four females and one male - will be sent by plane from Kiev Borispol International Airport on Dec. 9. In South Africa, the lions born in Berdyansk one year and a half ago will live in the Love Lions Alive nature reserve.
Earlier, the owners of the Berdyansk zoo appealed to the Lawrence Anthony International Organization Charity Fund, which saves wild animals from circuses and private zoos, with a request to take the animals to Africa and received a positive reply.
The number of these big cats has been declining dramatically due to massive poaching in South Africa. The owners of the Ukrainian zoo decided to help restore the animals' population.
