A 190kg bronze lion statue installed as part of a charity exhibition on the Downs in Bristol has been stolen. Born Free Foundation commissioned 25 of the life-size figures to commemorate what would have been the centenary of their founder Bill Travers, declaring 2022 the 'Year of the Lion'.
These have been touring Britain to raise awareness of and funds for the charity, and they were nailed to the ground off Circular Road in Clifton. However, one of their number named Black went missing one night last week, and the international wildlife charity is now appealing for help from Bristol residents in hope of recovering the sculpture.
A visitor to the attraction noticed a patch of disturbed grass where the statue had been, informing Born Free who called the police. Officers from Avon and Somerset Police are now investigating the theft, thought to have taken place between July 27 and 28.
