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.
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.
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.”
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.
“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.
“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?”
Original content plus photos: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/abused-circus-lions-flown-back-6360516#ICID=sharebar_twitter
