Saved circus lions head to SA sanctuary

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Reuters

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Many of the lions have been mutilated in captivity: some are declawed and have broken teeth

More than 30 lions rescued from circuses in Colombia and Peru are to be flown to a sanctuary in South Africa.

The group organising the return, Animal Defenders International (ADI), says it will be the largest airlift of lions.

The US-based group says almost all of the animals have been mutilated in captivity: some are declawed and have broken teeth, and one has lost an eye.

In South Africa, the lions will be released at the Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary, the organisers say.

“This is a hugely important rescue mission because it does make a statement around the world about the way people treat animals,” ADI spokeswoman Jan Creamer said.

ADI says the first group of nine lions will be collected in Colombia’s capital Bogota on a cargo plane, which will then fly to Peru’s capital Lima to pick up 24 more animals.

The plane will then head to Johannesburg in South Africa, arriving on Saturday.

“It will be hugely satisfying to see these lions walking into the African Bush,” ADI Vice-President Tom Phillips was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.

The lions were freed after the use of wild animals was banned in Peru in 2011 and Colombia in 2013.

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