The lions have been able to make the longest journey back all thanks to the heroic rescue efforts of Animal Defenders International (ADI).
Thirty-three former circus lions are finally able to feel grass and dirt under their paws, and the warm African sun on their backs after a lifetime of pain and misery bestowed upon them by travelling circuses in Peru and Colombia.
Tim Phillips, Animal Defenders International co-founder told ‘eyewitness news’ that they had faced incredible challenges in tracking down and rescuing the lions from illegal circuses in Peru and Colombia.
ADI have worked with governments to impose bans on Circus animals, but sadly once they are banned they begin to only operate in remote areas and are pushed underground. ADI have worked tirelessly to track down the circuses still in operation and seize the animals.
This was not a quick job, it took the efforts of hundreds and over 18 months but it was well worth it.
Of the 100 or so total animals rescued, 33 were lions. These beautiful regal big cats have suffered almost a lifetime of abuse and unnatural conditions, confined to tiny cages.
Since these lions have been kept for so long, they would no longer be able to survive in the wild. Many have had their claws removed and their teeth filed down.
Source
Thirty-three former circus lions are finally able to feel grass and dirt under their paws, and the warm African sun on their backs after a lifetime of pain and misery bestowed upon them by travelling circuses in Peru and Colombia.
Tim Phillips, Animal Defenders International co-founder told ‘eyewitness news’ that they had faced incredible challenges in tracking down and rescuing the lions from illegal circuses in Peru and Colombia.
ADI have worked with governments to impose bans on Circus animals, but sadly once they are banned they begin to only operate in remote areas and are pushed underground. ADI have worked tirelessly to track down the circuses still in operation and seize the animals.
This was not a quick job, it took the efforts of hundreds and over 18 months but it was well worth it.
Of the 100 or so total animals rescued, 33 were lions. These beautiful regal big cats have suffered almost a lifetime of abuse and unnatural conditions, confined to tiny cages.
Since these lions have been kept for so long, they would no longer be able to survive in the wild. Many have had their claws removed and their teeth filed down.
Source
VIDEO
Love it. God bless adi and the lions.
ok, so if they meet each other and some have no claws won't that be terrible for the guy with no claws. Even in a enclosure, fighting will happen. What then?
This warms my heart. I am so grateful for these rescuers.
they will need medical/dental/psychological attention. Thank you for caring, thank you for acting on that!! very grateful, ana maria
To comment above,.. To Anonymus, Ummmm, I'm pretty sure they would have enough brains to know which ones has claws still and NOT put them in same enclosure,.. :O
Thank Gods they got rescued and Bless all involved in getting them to sanctuary
PTSD is not just human, it affects all animals. All of this can be done humanly but will take a lot of resources.
Thank you all for rescuing these abused animals.
The whole Key here is the fact that all of them are getting a Chance for a better Retirement than they would have had! Thank God for some people that go the extra mile to help animals being used like them! Keep up the great work!!!
Thank you for rescuing these magnificent creatures. May God bless you and the lions for helping them!
Bless you for saving some of God's creatures. I hate seeing anything put in a cage so people can make money off of them.
You are an angel *** thanks a lot