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33 circus lions fly to a new home in Africa
Thirty-three lions are starting over. Until a rescue team stepped in, they lived in cages in illegal circuses in South America. more
Rescuers say the lions came from a life of abuse at the hands of their trainers. Most were in poor health when they were found. Some had broken or missing teeth. Others had no claws, and many were underfed.
Getting them out took a long time. The rescue was an 18-month operation to help enforce bans on wild animal acts in South America. The team raided circus after circus and freed more than 100 animals in all, the 33 lions among them.
The next leg was a long one, a flight across the Atlantic. The big cats were flown to South Africa and taken to a protected sanctuary.
Their bodies are in no shape to hunt. They will not need to. The sanctuary will give them food and water for the rest of their lives.
SaveSettling in happens in steps. First the lions live in bonding camps, where they're introduced to the lions who will become their families. After that they move out into huge habitats.
For lions that came out of circus cages, that's a lot of room. As the reporter puts it, they're going back to "the homes where they belong," and the lions "can sleep tonight with freedom."
