A BUSINESSMAN who saved a pride of lions is now coming to rescue of tigers in Nepal. Adam Murry was in The Daily Echo earlier this year when he saved two lions and lionesses from a barbaric hunting craze in South Africa.

Now, with his non-profit making charity, the Bill Jordan Foundation for Wildlife, he is setting a sanctuary in Nepal's Royal National Chitwan Park to save tigers.

Mr Murry, 37, who runs various businesses in the Bournemouth area, from jewellers to salons, said: "We believe this project to be the first of its kind in the world.

"There are other tiger reserves but often they do not have the man power to protect the animals from the ever increasing threat of poachers.

"Their skins are sold for coats and rugs and their bones crushed into potions believed to increase the sex drive."

It is believed there are less than 2,000 tigers in the world and fewer than 100 in Nepal.

Mr Murry wishes to raise the profile of the animals' plight as experts say there is a danger they could be extinct in 18 months

Two tigers are currently at the rehabilitation and release sanctuary, which is on an island in Narayani River.

One was found in a box in August last year, about to be clubbed to death.

Mr Murry has managed to get 10 local businesses to donate £1,700 each towards the £20,000 needed to build the sanctuary.

Laura Keegan, daughter of former England football captain, Kevin Keegan, has also lent her support.

She said: "I was so honoured when asked to be part of the Bill Jordan Foundation.

"How anyone could mistreat an animal is beyond me, but with sadness and anger we know it goes on all over the world."

Work on the sanctuary has just started and it should be ready in six weeks.

Anyone who would like to make a donation to the Bill Jordan Foundation can send a cheque to Unit 4a, Westlands drive, Canford Cliffs, Poole, BH13 7LS.

THE TIGER - BY WILLIAM BLAKE

TIGER, tiger, burning bright

In the forests of the night,

What immortal hand or eye

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies

Burnt the fire of thine eyes?

On what wings dare he aspire?

What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder and what art

Could twist the sinews of thy heart?

And when thy heart began to beat,

What dread hand and what dread feet?

What the hammer? What the chain?

In what furnace was thy brain?

What the anvil? What dread grasp

Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,

And water'd heaven with their tears,

Did He smile His work to see?

Did He who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger, tiger, burning bright

In the forests of the night,

What immortal hand or eye

Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?