After being rescued from circuses in Peru and Colombia, South America, dozens of lions will be able to wander freely for the first time in their lives. After a massive effort by volunteers from Animal Defenders International, the giant wild cats were transported to the Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa (ADI).
All of the initiatives were part of the ADI charity group’s Operation Spirit of Freedom rescue campaign. As a consequence, at least 100 animals, including these lions, have been spared from a dreadful fate.
It took over a year until the volunteers were able to track and rescue all these animals. They worked with both Peruvian and Colombian governments, and other authorities, to make things happen. After being rescued, the 33 lions were taken to a sanctuary in Peru, before airlifted to South Africa, their homeland.
The majority of the lions were discovered “living in horrible circumstances in cages on the backs of vehicles,” according to the report. These hapless creatures were forced to perform acts for the rest of their lives, and many suffered horrific wounds along the way, many of which were caused by their owners. But, thankfully, they all came to an end!
“These lions have been through hell on earth, and now they are on their way home to paradise,” ADI president Jan Creamer said. “We are ecstatic that these lions will be returning to Africa, where they belong,” said the group. Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary is ADI’s and, more significantly, the lions’ dream come reality. Isn’t this their birthright?”
Because all 33 lions were born and nurtured in captivity, it is impossible for them to ever be released into the wild. They will, however, be in the same conditions as they were in the woods at the Emoya refuge.
Savannah Heuser, founder of Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary, stated, “The transformation that is being provided to these 33 lions will change their whole universe.” “They’ll spend the remainder of their lives in a natural environment, which is the closest they’ll ever get to freedom.” I’m overjoyed to finally have them here; it’s a dream come true. They’ve traveled a considerable distance, but they appear to be in good spirits.”
It’s breathtaking to witness these magnificent creatures return to their birthplace after such hardship!
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