Abused circus lions to be flown back to Africa on Boeing 747
By
Andy Lines
The 33 big cats, which have been rescued from horrific
conditions by a UK animal rights organisation, after their smashed teeth
and their claws removed
Animal Defenders International / Daily Mirror
Liberated: Lions who faced death in a circus will get a new lease of life
An extraordinary “Lion-Air” rescue mission by a team from the UK is to fly 33 abused circus big cats - back to Africa.
The airlift – which will fly the 33 lions on a specially chartered Boeing 747 - is the biggest in history.
Almost all of the rescued lions have been mutilated to remove their claws.
One has lost an eye, another is almost blind, and many have smashed and broken teeth.
CEN
Abused: Most of the lions had no teeth and had been mutilated to remove their claws
The big cats were saved by Animal Defenders International from 10 circuses in Peru and Colombia.
Now
the animals, which have been rescued from horrific conditions by a UK
animal rights organisation, will live the rest of their lives under the
African sun.
The lions, which endured years confined in cages in
trucks and a brutal life in circuses, are heading to huge natural
enclosures at Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa.
ADI is chartering a Boeing 747 to transport all 33 lions with a veterinary team.
President
Jan Creamer, who is leading the rescue mission, said: “We are delighted
that these lions who have suffered so much will be going home to Africa
where they belong. “The climate and environment are perfect for them.”
Animal Defenders International
Change: Jan's foundation has managed to change the law in 30 countries
Nine ex-circus lions from Colombia will join 24 from Peru on the flight.
The Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary is set in 5,000 hectares on a private estate in Limpopo Province.
The sanctuary is already home to eight rescued lions and tigers in large acreage habitats of pristine African bush.
Sanctuary founder Savannah Heuser said: “We are deeply honoured and privileged to be part of such a massive operation.
YouTube
Relaxed: The lions will be able to live out the rest of their days in the African sun
“We salute ADI for saving animals and ending suffering.
“Let's bring these 33 to Africa. Let's bring them home.”
“Their
lives were forcibly wasted away in horrific tiny cages, the doing of
mindless circus acts, I cannot start to comprehend the endless days
suffering that these animals had to endure.
Ron Thompson
Happy: The lions will live the rest of their lives in freedom
“They have a lot of lost time to make up for. They will live
out the rest of their lives in a natural habitat, the closest they can
ever come to freedom.”
ADI has launched an appeal to meet the increased flight costs as well as the enclosures for the lions.
Ms
Creamer said: “We really need financial support for this move. It is
more expensive to relocate these animals to Africa, but what price
taking them home to where they belong?”
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