33 rescued lions arrive in South Africa in airlift

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

33 rescued lions arrive in South Africa in airlift

Stuart Graham, Associated Press

Updated 5:13 pm, Saturday, April 30, 2016





JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The roars of lions filled the cargo section of Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport Saturday evening as 33 lions rescued from South American circuses landed in South Africa where they will be released into a bush sanctuary for big cats.

It was the largest airlift of lions in history, said Jan Creamer, president of Animal Defenders International, which carried out the operation.Animal Defenders International

"These lion have suffered tremendously," Creamer said as the lions were loaded in crates onto trucks.

"They lived in small cages on the backs of trucks for their entire lives. Some of them had their teeth bashed in with steel pipes in circuses in Colombia and Peru. Some of them had their claws removed. ... It is a wonderful feeling to bring them back to their home."

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/33-rescued-lions-arrive-in-South-Africa-in-airlift-7385729.php#photo-9924152

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[Calista241]

1. Awesome story.

I love lions and hope we can save them from extinction.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Facebook page, Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary, destination of the Spirit of Freedom Flight:

https://www.facebook.com/EmoyaBigCats/

[840high]

8. Thanks.

[1monster]

3. I sincerely hope that these lions will be fed and cared for, rather than just

being released into a "bush sanctuary."

These animals have not been in the wild before; they need special care. With their teeth bashed in and some with their claws removed, they will be unable to hunt for themselves and unable to defend themselves.

on edit: Okay, I read the whole article. They will be cared for.

[Coventina]

4. That's been my worry with this story as well.

I'm all for rescuing these poor creatures, but they can't just be released into an environment in which they cannot cope.

They will need to have food provided for them, medical care, and will need to be kept away from each other to prevent fights, etc. etc.

If the description of their current states and history is correct, they will need a LOT of hands-on care for the rest of their lives.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. Here's the link for the rescue site, they're still accepting donations for care and feeding: :)

We did it! Thanks to you, TODAY all 33 lions will fly to freedom. Your support has given them the retirement they deserve. If you would still like to make a donation, 100% will go to ongoing care and feeding of these lions.

Thanks to you, we have been able to fund this life-changing journey, one lion at a time. If you would still like to donate, 100% will go toward ongoing care and feeding of these lions as they enjoy their retirement at the Emoya Cat Sanctuary in South Africa.

https://theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/store/ars/item/76636/?utm_source=ars-ars_ths_trs_pets_disaster&utm_medium=ggo-email&utm-term=4262016&utm_content=main-html&utm_campaign=fly-lions-to-freedom&origin=ars_email_ggo_gtgm_flylionstofreedom_76636_042616

[Judi Lynn]

5. Right. Same here. It's a relief knowing these people believe and feel the same concerns. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

6. Mane event: 33 lions flown home after rescue from life in the circus

Mane event: 33 lions flown home after rescue from life in the circus

Big cats arrive in South Africa, where sanctuary beckons, after having suffered cruel treatment in Colombia and Peru

AFP in Johannesburg
Saturday 30 April 2016 19.25 EDT

The roars of lions filled the cargo section of Johannesburg’s main international airport on Saturday evening as 33 lions rescued from South American circuses landed in South Africa. The animals will now be released into a bush sanctuary for big cats. It was the largest airlift of lions in history, said Jan Creamer, president of Animal Defenders International, which carried out the operation.
. . .

The lions will be placed in quarantine in enclosures at the 5,000-hectare (12,355-acre) Emoya big cat sanctuary in Vaalwater in northern South Africa, started three years ago by Savannah Heuser and her mother Minunette.

The 33 lions will be monitored by a vet for their first weeks in Africa. They will then be introduced to each other in a 1-hectare bonding enclosure. Many of the lions were never allowed to have direct physical contact with other lions and have never been together without a fence or a cage separating them.

Their poor physical state means the lions will never be able to hunt again and will have to be cared for with food and water for the rest of their lives. The Emoya sanctuary will feed the cats with game meat which it buys in bulk. The enclosures will be fitted with drinking pools, platforms and toys to ensure the lions do not become bored and will be steadily expanded as they become familiar with their new life, said Savannah Heuser. Emoya, in an area with a mix of habitats including mountainous regions, rolling grasslands, forests, cliff caves and river gorges, has a strict non-breeding policy, Heuser said.

More:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/01/mane-event-33-lions-flown-home-after-rescue-from-life-in-the-circus

[Coventina]

7. Thanks! This is very reassuring!!

Hooray for loving, generous people who made this happen!!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

10. Thank you!

❤️❤️❤️

[Judi Lynn]

9. Rescued lions roar into South Africa after flight from Peru

Rescued lions roar into South Africa after flight from Peru
By AFP 4 hours ago .

The roaring of 33 lions rescued from circuses in Peru and Colombia echoed through Johannesburg's international airport Saturday after they arrived in their ancestral homeland for the first time.

The lions appeared healthy but a little distressed by the long journey, Jan Creamer, the president of Animal Defenders International (ADI), an animal rights charity that organised the flight, told reporters.

"They have lived a life of absolute hell. They've been beaten and they've been starved. They've been deprived of everything that makes life worth living for a lion. "I believe we have brought them back to paradise, where they belong," she said.

After flying for more than 15 hours the lions were loaded onto two huge trucks which were due to drive through the night to their new home at the 5,000 hectare Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary in the north of the country. At around dawn they will be freed into large natural enclosures in the African bush.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/rescued-lions-roar-into-south-africa-after-flight-from-peru/article/464263#ixzz47MUxnowh

[ailsagirl]

11. Poor things-- they've been through so much...

Last edited Sun May 1, 2016, 04:56 PM - Edit history (1)

I hope they are able to live out the rest of their days peacefully & safely

[Rhiannon12866]

12. K&R!!! And DUers helped make this happen! More on the effort to save the lions at the link:

**25 retired circus lions have their "tickets" to freedom-8 more needed before April 29 (Friday)**
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018861373


We did it! Thanks to you, TODAY all 33 lions will fly to freedom. Your support has given them the retirement they deserve. If you would still like to make a donation, 100% will go to ongoing care and feeding of these lions.
https://theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/store/ars/item/76636/?utm_source=ars-ars_ths_trs_pets_disaster&utm_medium=ggo-email&utm-term=4262016&utm_content=main-html&utm_campaign=fly-lions-to-freedom&origin=ars_email_ggo_gtgm_flylionstofreedom_76636_042616

[CountAllVotes]

14. India's Wandering Lions

Just watched this online (pbs.org) last night! It is a great documentary and tells how a mere 20 of these particular lions were left in 1920.

>>As India’s population booms, her legendary wildlife has been squeezed almost out of existence. But the commitment of the Indian people to preserve their wildlife is surprising – leading even to bringing back what has been lost. Against a backdrop of teak forest, farmland and villages, this film explores the extraordinary story of Asia’s last lions and their recovery from near extinction.

The people in India go to great lengths to be certain that these precious lions will continue to thrive and not go extinct. Lets hope that South Africa does the same!



**********

Great program to watch when/if you have the time!

www.pbs.org .. India's Wandering Lions it is called



& recommend!!

[yortsed snacilbuper]

15. How do they like their new home,

a video would be nice?

[Judi Lynn]

16. Excellent ABC news clip, 8:30 minutes on this lion airlift:

33 Rescued Circus Lions Get a Chance at a New Life

ABC News VideosPublished May 4th, 6:20 pm

Lions were airlifted to a South African sanctuary as part of Animal Defense International's operation to rescue circus animals throughout Peru and Colombia.

https://nz.news.yahoo.com/video/watch/31520004/33-rescued-circus-lions-get-a-chance-at-a-new-life/#page1

Video at link.

[Judi Lynn]

17. Rescued circus lions make new home in South Africa

Rescued circus lions make new home in South Africa


CBS Evening News