It featured a ranger also. The animals were all different and I know one of them was a lion. One peticular episode the animals helped a small child that was missing in the park. It was set in the 80's.They all had various pictures on their tummys, which sounds like care bears, but I'm sure it isn't. Has a differnet setting to the Care bears.

Its been bugging me for years... Please help!

Pretty sure you're talking about the Care Bear Cousins.. I found an opening for a cartoon called The Care Bear Family... ( You can see the lion and the elephant on the intro, but I also remember like a penguin or something too?. )
Care Bears Intro - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXqhKnv9y3c&NR=1)

You might be thinking of Shirt Tales. They were different types of animals who lived in a tree in the park. Mr. Dinkle was the park ranger. The cartoon was shown in the early to mid 80's. There was a Raccoon, Tiger, Monkey, Panda, and a mouse or mole. I think they solved crimes.