Colorado Sanctuary Ready to Receive Record-Breaking Lion Airlift

[Judi Lynn]

February 12, 2011 12:25 PM Eastern Time
Colorado Sanctuary Ready to Receive Record-Breaking Lion Airlift

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On February 16th, the Animal Defenders International (ADI) Lion Ark will touch down at Denver International Airport with 25 lions rescued from circuses in Bolivia en route to a fabulous new life for the lions at The Wild Animal Sanctuary (TWAS), Keenesberg, Colorado.

A huge indoor facility has been constructed at TWAS on almost 10 acres to acclimatize the lions before they are released into huge outdoor enclosures covering 80 acres (32 hectares).

The lion rescue began with a series of dramatic seizures the length and breadth of Bolivia by ADI, who worked with the authorities to enforce Bolivia’s Law 4040 which bans the use of animals in circuses, after uncovering the systematic abuse and neglect of circus animals across the country. And now these extremely lucky lions will at last find sanctuary and have hope for the future.

Jan Creamer, ADI’s President said: “These lions that have lived all their lives in tiny cages on the backs of trucks will have more space, freedom, care and respect given to them than they could ever have possibly wished for, and they absolutely deserve it.

“These animals, who have endured so much hardship and suffering for so long, can at last be lions, as they were intended to be, and they now have a future that they so richly deserve. One of the things that so excites us about TWAS was their ability to build large family groups of lions, so that they can live in prides as they would in the wild.”

More:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110212005031/en/Colorado-Sanctuary-Ready-Receive-Record-Breaking-Lion-Airlift

Please take time to click the photo pages to see two photos of their new temporary home, and their past homes:
http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20110212005031/en/2236784/Colorado-Sanctuary-Ready-Receive-Record-Breaking-Lion-Airlift
http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20110212005031/en/2236785/Colorado-Sanctuary-Ready-Receive-Record-Breaking-Lion-Airlift

[hlthe2b]

1. This is wonderful...

Really... wonderful. I hope they have the financing to keep it going for decades to come.

[InvisibleTouch]

2. I love it! Thanks for the post. n/t

[medeak]

3. was attacked at lion rescue in S. Africa in June

ack! missing chunk of arm pit. These are not nice pets...watched lions jumping in air taking down bird despite just being fed. Appreciate these people and what they are doing..I certainly couldn't! South Africa btw..lectured me over and over how cruel we are to have zoos.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Weld animal sanctuary to get 25 Bolivian lions this week

Weld animal sanctuary to get 25 Bolivian lions this week
Monday, February 14, 2011
Associated Press

LA PAZ, Bolivia — Twenty-five lions rescued in Bolivia from what animal welfare advocates say were miserable conditions, mostly in circuses, are bound for a wildlife refuge in Weld County, Colorado, in a $200,000 airlift.

A law took effect in Bolivia last year prohibiting all animal performances.

Animal Defenders International is underwriting Wednesday's planned airlift from the steamy lowlands city of Santa Cruz to Denver, where the 13 males and 12 females will move into the nearby Wild Animal Sanctuary in Weld County.

To acclimatize them, the sanctuary has built a 15,000-square-foot biosphere.

ADI president Jean Cramer says most of the lions were dehydrated and suffered from eye and foot infections when recovered.

It will cost about $8,000 a year to maintain each lion.

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20110214/NEWS/702149974/1001&parentprofile=1001

Photo from article, please click on link:
http://www.greeleytribune.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=GR&Date=20110214&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=702149974&Ref=AR&MaxW=550&title=1

Facing Freedom: Two of the male lions rescued by Animal Defenders International, now safe
at the holding compound, are awaiting a wonderful new start in Weld County, Colorado.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Lions Freed From Circuses Bound For a Better Life

Lions Freed From Circuses Bound For a Better Life
by Stephen Messenger, Porto Alegre, Brazil on 02.14.11
Travel & Nature

http://www.treehugger.com.nyud.net:8090/circus-lion-bolivia.jpg

After suffering for years under deplorable conditions as circus animals in Bolivian circuses, on Wednesday 25 lions will soon be starting a new life at a wildlife sanctuary in Colorado. Since Bolivia issued a ban on performing animals, officials have partnered with a team from Animal Defenders International (ADI) to round up the remaining big cats in the country and transport them to rehabilitation facilities in the U.S..

According to a report from The Denver Post, ADI played a pivotal role in liberating animals from Bolivia's traveling circuses, exposing the disturbing conditions many of them were subjected to in their lives as 'performers'. Jan Creamer, the group's president, hails the Bolivian government for its protection of animal rights; responding to ADI reports, lawmakers became the first in South America to ban the use of live animals in circuses and traveling shows.

"This is the first country that has been emptied of its performing animals," Creamer told The Post. "In a traveling circus, you keep large animals on the back of a truck, and they will always suffer."

Since then, ADI and Bolivian officials have systematically seized the nation's at-risk animal performers, a process which Creamer has documented on her Web site. Now that the last of the big cats have been collected, in an effort known as Operation Lion Ark, they'll soon be heading to join some 270 other rescued animals at their new home, The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado.

More:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/02/lions-freed-from-circuses-bound-for-a-better-life.php?campaign=th_rss_travel

[Judi Lynn]

6. 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.

[Politicalboi]

7. Such a great story with a happy ending

Here is a link to see news clippings of the arrival of the lions.

http://www.9news.com/news/local/article/181955/346/Bolivian-lions-getting-comfortable-in-new-home-?odyssey=mod

[MasonJar]

8. There are many good, caring people still out there in the world. Thank God!