Rescued lions from Bolivia arrive in Colorado

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Rescued lions from Bolivia arrive in Colorado
Posted: Feb 16, 2011 8:51 PM CST
Updated: Feb 16, 2011 8:51 PM CST

DENVER (AP) - Twenty-five lions, most of them rescued from Bolivian circuses, arrived in Colorado on Wednesday to start their new lives at a wildlife sanctuary.

The 14 males and 11 females landed at Denver International Airport around 4:30 p.m. The jetliner pulled into a maintenance hangar and police officers armed with assault rifles stood by as a precaution.

The animals were rescued from deplorable conditions after a law was passed last year in Bolivia prohibiting all performances involving animals, Animal Defenders International said. Most of the lions were dehydrated and suffered from eye and foot infections when rescued, the group has said.

Television personality and animal advocate Bob Barker helped finance the $200,000 airlift. He was on hand to welcome Operation Lion Ark and said he was excited to see the animals headed to a sanctuary where they will have room to roam.

Read more: http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=14046046

[Omaha Steve]

1. Great news

K&R!

[rohitshingh143]

11. thinking about Colorado

LIVE IN COLORADO......




http://www.liveincolorado.com/

[Skip Intro]

2. Bob Barker Rocks!

[niyad]

3. k and r--thank you

[bluedigger]

4. My dog approves!

Of having Denver and the Rockies between us!:rofl:

[flvegan]

5. First, Bob Barker is tha MAN!

Secondly, glad to hear the lions are now in a better situation.

Thirdly, fuck the circus. Any circus that has animal "performers" like this (and yeah, Ringling, I'm looking at you) can go fuck themselves as can their patrons.

[Fokker Trip]

9. Totally agree flvegan.

There is no justification for using animals as performers, including "Sea World" type shows IMO.

[GardeningGal]

6. Some local coverage.

DENVER -- Twenty-five former circus lions from South America landed in Denver on Wednesday afternoon following a 4,500-mile flight from Bolivia.

The male and female lions were flown to Denver aboard a Transportes Aéreos Bolivianos cargo plane which taxied into a hangar on airport property. The airlift was called Operation Lion Ark.

After the animals were checked over, they were moved into special transport vehicles for the trip to the Wildlife Sanctuary in Keenesburg.

Link to the article which also has a slideshow option:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/26893170/detail.html

[DeSwiss]

7. K&R!!!

[Fokker Trip]

8. This is great. Those wonderful beasts will love Colorado.

Bob Barker is a great example of someone who is putting his money where it can do some real good. Way to go Bob.

What is it with the majority of wealthy Americans? They don't seem to have any empathy at all which continues to not bode well for the future.

[Judi Lynn]

10. Rescued Lions Relaxing In New Digs

Rescued Lions Relaxing In New Digs
February 17, 2011 5:58 PM

KEENESBURG, Colo. (CBS4)- Lions from Bolivia are settling into their new digs at a wild animal sanctuary in Keenesburg. 25 of the big cats arrived in Colorado on Wednesday thanks to an organization Animal Defenders International.

They had spent their lives crammed into small cages for 8 traveling circuses in Bolivia.

Many had never walked on grass. Now, they’re rolling around on the fresh sod, sometimes digging it up.

Their pens have lots of toys, including live trees and logs. The pens are temporary until they get acclimated to Colorado.

More:
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2011/02/17/rescued-lions-relaxing-in-new-digs/

See link for photos.

[Haole Girl]

12. Thank you for posting this. nt

[Judi Lynn]

13. Here's more recent information on the lions:

Lions rescued in Bolivia have new home on plains of Colorado
February 23, 2011|By the CNN Wire Staff

Two dozen lions rescued from harrowing conditions at circuses in Bolivia have a new home in Colorado, where they will live outside of cages and roar at the distant Rocky Mountains.

Animal Defenders International (ADI) brought them last week to Denver, where they were transported to the Wild Animal Sanctuary, to conclude its "Operation Lion Ark."

The flight followed the passage of a 2009 law in Bolivia that bans the use of any animals in circuses.

The 25 felines are currently housed in a 15,000-square-foot temporary biosphere, complete with grass, trees and other natural features, at the sanctuary in Keenesburg, about 30 miles northeast of Denver.

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-02-23/us/colorado.rescued.lions_1_wild-animal-sanctuary-circuses-animal-rights-activists?_s=PM:US

~~~~~

http://images.theage.com.au.nyud.net:8090/2011/02/18/2192167/Lion-420x0.jpg

One of the caged lions in Bolivia before heading for the good life in Colorado.
Photo: AFP

February 20, 2011
Rescued lions from Bolivia arrive in Colorado
By Associated Press

DENVER (AP) — Twenty–five lions, most of them rescued from Bolivian circuses, began their new lives at a Colorado wildlife sanctuary on Thursday, pouncing in large, fenced areas and enjoying the feel of grass on their backs.

The 14 males and 11 females were flown into Denver International Airport on Wednesday afternoon and trucked to the Wildlife Sanctuary in Keenesburg, about 35 miles northeast of Denver.

On Thursday, Denver's KUSA–TV showed lion cubs roughhousing in the background as their mother looked toward the camera, relaxing behind the fence. Other lions, accustomed to being confined to small cages, sprawled on their backs, with their arms and legs in the air like the family dog.

More:
http://topnews360.tmcnet.com/topics/associated-press/articles/2011/02/20/146727-rescued-lions-from-bolivia-arrive-colorado.htm

http://images.tmcnet.com.nyud.net:8090/featurestory/ap/2011M2d20/Bolivia-Circus-Lions-JPEG-1.jpg

Nellie keeps the cubs in line at Keenesburg's Wild Animal Sanctuary
Sunday, February 20, 2011
By Mike Peters
[e-mail]

KEENESBURG — You may not know it, but Nellie actually runs this place.

It's the Wild Animal Sanctuary, about five miles southwest of Keenesburg, where almost 300 animals live, including lions and tigers and bears and wolves.

And Nellie.

The sanctuary got nationwide attention last week, when owner Pat Craig accepted 25 lions that had been rescued from traveling circuses in Bolivia. Workers built a new structure for the lions to keep them out of Colorado's cold temperatures until they adapt.

And there, right in the middle of the new building, making herself at home on the new grass, was Nellie.

She's a Komondor breed of dog, large and woolly and friendly. But when lion or tiger cubs are acting up and have no mom to take care of them, Nellie steps in.

More:
http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20110220/NEWS/702209981/1002&parentprofile=1001