Abused circus lions set to go back to Africa

A TRAGIC pride of 33 circus lions is being airlifted to Africa so the big cats can live out their days in the land of their forefathers.

By STUART WINTER

PUBLISHED: 00:00, Fri, Dec 11, 2015 | UPDATED: 14:51, Fri, Dec 11, 2015

The rescued big top performers have suffered unbelievable cruelty but are being flown home in jumbo jet luxury next month - at the price of a first class ticket per animal.

It will cost a British charity almost £500,000 to fly the 33 lions across the Atlantic and settle them in a natural sanctuary where they can feel Africa's soft red soil under their feet and sense the smells and sounds of the bush.

The airlift is being staged by the British-based Animal Defenders International (ADI) and is the climax of Operation Spirit of Freedom, a year-long mission helping the governments of Peru and Colombia enforce laws that prohibit wild animals in circuses.

For the lions it will be a timely end to years of misery. The litany of injuries and suffering they have endured in their lives as big top performers is appalling.

Almost all have been mutilated to remove their claws. One has lost an eye, another is almost blind and many have smashed and broken teeth because of their lives working in the circus.

"This is an animal rescue on a very large scale, because it is effectively multiple animal rescues all at once," says Animal Defenders International President Jan Creamer.

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Two ex-circus lions from Bulgaria have been released into Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa, the Born Free Foundation has reported.

Jora and Black’s started their 10,500 mile journey ‘home’ ,from a halfway house in central Bulgaria to Bourgas Airport on the Black Sea coast, late on Friday, 25th September. From there they were flown by Thomson Airways to London’s Gatwick Airport where legendary actress and Born Free co-founder, Virginia McKenna OBE, was waiting to give them a warm welcome.

Virginia said: “Born Free has successfully moved many captive animals but each occasion is unique in its own way. I am really happy to have seen these two lions at Gatwick before they head to their African homeland. I hope their story will inspire people to treat wild animals with respect and understanding, and never subject them to totally inappropriate existences in captivity. Jora and Black are flagship animals for the ending of all wild animals in circuses. Let all countries follow Bulgaria’s example.”

Jora and Black then travelled by road, in approved quarantine vehicles operated by JCS Livestock, to London’s Heathrow Airport where they were carefully prepared for the longest leg of their journey - a flight to Johannesburg International Airport. Much-loved Coronation Street actress Helen Worth, who launched the successful appeal for Jora and Black’s rescue in July and has been closely following their progress, took the opportunity to wish the brothers a fond farewell as they left the UK.

Helen said: “It is so exciting to see Jora and Black on the move to their wonderful new home. They are absolutely stunning animals and I feel really privileged to have had a chance to see them close up and on their way. I love Shamwari Game Reserve and I know they will have a lovely home there.”

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