lions rescue
After 18 months in ADI's care, "Bumba and Junior and the rest of the Colombian Nine don't realize their lives will transform on Saturday," says ADI.

Home » At Last! 33 Rescued Lions Bound for Forever Home in SA

At Last! 33 Rescued Lions Bound for Forever Home in SA

Almost three dozen lions that were rescued from circuses in Peru and Colombia since 2014 are finally going to make the last stage of their journey back to a better place, and will fly to South Africa on Friday. The organisation of the massive airlift by Animal Defenders International is going through its final phases before the aptly named […]

lions rescue
After 18 months in ADI's care, "Bumba and Junior and the rest of the Colombian Nine don't realize their lives will transform on Saturday," says ADI.

Almost three dozen lions that were rescued from circuses in Peru and Colombia since 2014 are finally going to make the last stage of their journey back to a better place, and will fly to South Africa on Friday.

The organisation of the massive airlift by Animal Defenders International is going through its final phases before the aptly named Spirt of Freedom flight of the 33 cats takes off.

lions rescue
After 18 months in ADI’s care, “Bumba and Junior and the rest of the Colombian Nine don’t realize their lives will transform on Saturday,” says ADI.

SAPeople reported in September last year already on the massive airlift that would take place, but it has taken time for ADI to gather funds and logistical support. The rescue had already started in 2014, and a hugely successful drive for funds was launched in the UK’s Daily Mail newspaper.

Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary in Limpopo, which will be the “forever home” of the lions, is receiving the arrivals at OR Tambo International on Saturday morning, it said on its 33 Lions Facebook page.

lions rescue

ADI, which helped coordinate the rescue, said in a statement on its site this week, “33 lions, 24 from circuses in Peru and nine from Colombia, rescued by Animal Defenders International are heading back to their homeland after both countries banned the use of wild animals in circuses. Their destination the natural African bush at Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary, South Africa.”

ADI launched an online campaign to gather funds for the transport of the lions back home:

The lions were among 100 saved by ADI and Peruvian officials enforcing the prohibition on wild animals and a crackdown on illegal wildlife trafficking.

A recent news report on the attempts by locals to hide the circus animals from being found and confiscated: