Whipsnade lion to be lit weekly until end of year

A chalk lion carved into a hillside will be illuminated every week for the rest of the year to mark the Zoological Society of London's (ZSL) 200th anniversary.

Whipsnade Zoo's 147m-long (483ft) white lion will be lit every Wednesday throughout autumn and winter.

In total 2,330 bulbs were used to light up the lion's outline on Wednesday. It had previously been lit for special occasions such as Whipsnade Zoo's 50th anniversary in 1981.

Owen Craft, director of zoo operations at Whipsnade Zoo, said the lit-up lion is "shining a beacon of light on wildlife conservation".

The lion was designed in the 1930s by RB Brook-Greaves and was covered during World War Two to prevent it from assisting German pilots with navigation.

The creation was an idea of of astronomer Hugh Simmon, who worked at the zoo.

His grandson, Rod Carden-Lovell, was there for the illumination on Wednesday.

He said: "I am proud to have seen it lit up for ZSL's 200th anniversary; it's wonderful to see it celebrated in this way and to know that people will continue to enjoy it for years to come."

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