PHOTOS: 33 Rescued Circus Lions Airlifted From Peru To South Africa Sanctuary [View all]

[joeybee12]

33 lions have been rescued from circuses in South America and airlifted to a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa.

The group that organized the operation, Animal Defenders International, is calling it the "largest airlift of lions in history," The Associated Press reports.

The animals were rescued from circuses in Colombia and Peru after both countries passed new laws to ban the use of wild animals in circuses, according to ADI.

The US-based group says 24 of the lions were rescued during surprise raids on Peruvian circuses, while nine were "voluntarily surrendered" by a Colombian circus. They were in bad shape: "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 so would not survive in the wild."





http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/05/01/476346427/photos-33-rescued-circus-lions-airlifted-from-peru-to-south-africa