Lion missing from pride of place on Sheffield's Fargate just days before trail launch
The Pride of Yorkshire exhibit launches this Monday - but has one gone back to the jungle?
One of the Pride of Yorkshire lions created to raise money for Sheffield Children’s Hospital has already been removed for repairs.
The exhibit of 150 life-sized lion and lioness sculptures, alongside 150 smaller cubs, appeared across Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster in May to raise £2.8m for the trust.
However, one of the pride has already been poached.
The striking green-and-blue beast was placed outside Burger King on Fargate last week ahead of the charity trail launching on Monday, June 8.
But today (June 5), the only trace is his empty concrete plinth.
A spokesperson for Sheffield Children’s Hospital NHS Trust confirmed the wild cat has been taken for repairs after a hairline crack was discovered.
They added: “We think someone jumped on him.”
The trust expects the lion will be restored to pride of place outside Burger King in time for the launch on June 8.
What is Pride of Yorkshire?
The lions have been created by Attercliffe-based Simpson Patterns and individually designed by artists from across the region.
It comes after the popular Herd of Sheffield elephants in 2016 and the Bears of Sheffield in 2021.
Each large lion has been sponsored by businesses, and will later be auctioned off to raise funds for the hospital.
Schools and community groups have also designed and decorated the smaller cub sculptures.