Sanctuary in the wild for the lion rescued by MoS readers

He was one of four lions flown to the sanctuary of a wildlife reserve following the generosity of Mail on Sunday readers.

Sinbad, who is just half the size he should be due to conditions that stunted his development, now has a three-acre enclosure in which to romp.

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Sinbad leaps joyfully from his transit cage to new freedom after his rescue flight from Romania

He was one of four lions flown to the sanctuary of a wildlife reserve

Home was previously a 10ft by 6ft cage in a park at Timisoara, western Romania, where the six-year-old wore down his teeth chewing the bars.

Also rescued in the operation by The Born Free Foundation were lioness Jools and her offspring James and Jerry.

They had spent the winter locked away in darkness after their zoo at Buhusi, north-east Romania, closed.

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His release follows the generosity of Mail on Sunday readers

He now has a three-acre enclosure in which to romp

All four were moved to the Shamwari reserve in South Africa after this newspaper highlighted the plight of animals in Romanian zoos and readers gave £35,000 to help rescue them.

Born Free is still working to rehome other animals in the country.

If you would like to co-adopt Sinbad, helping to feed and care for him and other threatened big cats, visit www.bornfree.org.uk or phone 0870 777 4321 or 01403 240170.

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He was rescued from appalling conditions in a Romanian zoo

Sinbad is just half the size he should be due to conditions that stunted his development