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OPERATION LION ARK: 24 Circus Lions-their new lease on life!
OPERATION LION ARK: ANIMAL DEFENDERS INTERNATIONAL PLANS MASSIVE AIRLIFT OF RESCUED CIRCUS LIONS FROM BOLIVIA TO COLORADO
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18, 2011 — Preparations are underway for what will be a historic and record-breaking animal rescue when 25 circus lions rescued by Animal Defenders International (ADI) are relocated from Bolivia to a new home in the U.S.
The lions that lived their lives in tiny cages on the backs of trucks will be moving to a huge new habitat of 80 acres at The Wild Animal Sanctuary near Denver, Colorado, where construction is rapidly progressing on the new facilities which are being built by The Wild Animal Sanctuary and ADI.
After observation, the animals will be released into huge enclosures with lakes and rolling grassland – not unlike their natural habitat.
Jan Creamer, ADI President who is in Bolivia overseeing the rescue operation: “In the temporary ADI compound in Bolivia, the lions have more space than they ever had with the circus, and they have toys and bedding. But the facilities are still small and basic, so we have to be focused on keeping them safe and secure, whilst building up their strength and health to be ready for the move to the U.S.
“Their new lives will really begin there, so we just need to get them there and that is the real challenge. These animals who for years knew only a small, cramped cage will have freedom to roam, run and play.”
Pat Craig, Executive Director of The Wild Animal Sanctuary: “These Lions have endured incredible pain and hardship, but their new home will be a natural oasis where they can live freely in family prides the way nature intended.”
Every day progress is being made on the state of the art facilities at Colorado in readiness for the arrival of the lions.
Meanwhile, ADI are in contact with a number of airlines, freight companies and even the U.S. military, to secure an aircraft large enough to take all of the animals to America. It will be the biggest airlift of its kind ever.
Jan Creamer: “We’ve called this ‘Operation Lion Ark’ because we plan to move all 25 lions in one go. This means that although they will be crated separately, we can move the entire families of lions together and minimize their time apart. It means that our veterinary team can oversee the lions throughout the flight. We also believe that this will be the safest and most efficient way to move the lions, but it is a huge undertaking.”
ADI are completing paperwork necessary to move the lions, the animals have had all the vaccinations required, and workshops all over Santa Cruz are busy building the travel crates that will be used to move them.
The lions were removed from circuses all over Bolivia in late 2010 by ADI working with the Bolivian authorities enforcing the ban on animal circuses in the country. ADI has launched a Save the Lions Appeal to raise funds for the incredible rescue mission and to help care for the animals for the rest of their lives. To learn more about helping to bring them home and to make a donation, please visit: www.savethelionsappeal.com or call (323) 935-2234.
About The Wild Animal Sanctuary:
Located near Keenesburg, Colorado, The Wild Animal Sanctuary is the oldest and largest nonprofit sanctuary in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to rescuing captive exotic and endangered large carnivores, providing them with a wonderful life for as long as they live, and educating about the tragic plight faced by an estimated 30,000 such animals in America today. Established by Executive Director Pat Craig the site comprises 320 acres northeast of the Denver Metro area, sheltering more than 200 lions, tigers, bears, leopards, mountain lions, wolves and other large carnivores. More information is available at www.wildanimalsanctuary.org.
About Animal Defenders International:
With offices in Los Angeles, London and Bogotá, Animal Defenders International campaigns to protect animals in entertainment; replacement of animals in experiments; worldwide traffic in endangered species; vegetarianism; factory farming; pollution and conservation. ADI also rescues animals in distress worldwide. ADI-gathered evidence has led to campaigns and legislative action all over the world to protect them.
ADI’s Mission: To educate, create awareness, and promote the interest of humanity in the cause of justice, and the suppression of all forms of cruelty to animals wherever possible to alleviate suffering, and to conserve and protect animals and the environment.
http://www.adiusa.org
http://www.ad-international..org/adi_world/ - Ant Moats, Bird Book, Bird Feeder Pole, Bird Field Guides, Bird Nesting Materials, Bird Seed Trays, Birding Accessories, Misters and Birdbath Drippers, Nesting Material, Squirrel Baffle, Water Wiggler, Weather Guards
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BOLIVIAN CIRCUS LIONS SEIZED From a Life of Misery
ANIMAL DEFENDERS INTERNATIONAL SEIZES ALL BOLIVIAN CIRCUS LIONS AS COUNTRY SHUTS DOWN ANIMAL CIRCUS INDUSTRY FOR GOOD
Seven-week old lion cubs born into misery will grow up free in the U.S.
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 12, 2011 — In a series of dramatic seizures all over Bolivia, Animal Defenders International (ADI), a leading animal protection group headquartered in Los Angeles, worked with the Bolivian authorities including the DGB and Santa Cruz Governor’s Office, to remove the animals from eight different circuses spread across Bolivia. The moves were to enforce Bolivia’s Law 4040, which bans the use of animals in circuses and has effectively shut down the country’s animal circus industry – the first time a full ban and evacuation has happened anywhere in the world.
With 24 lions now in their care, including three cubs and some that were extremely malnourished, ADI are nursing the animals back to full health before they can be airlifted and permanently re-homed in the U.S. later this month. Following what the ADI team calls ‘Operation Lion Ark,’ the group will carry out its pledge to continue supporting the lions’ care for the duration of their lives. In addition to the lion seizures, the team rescued six monkeys, a coati mundi, a deer and horse. After being seized, these animals were relocated in Bolivia or returned to the wild by the authorities.
One of three circus lion cubs born into a life of misery in a Bolivian traveling circus is rescued by Animal Defenders International. Most recently, 24 lions have been seized from traveling circuses, effectively shutting down animal circus in that country. The wide-eyed cub waits patiently along with the rest of the lions as funds are raised for ‘Operation Lion Ark,’ the largest airlift ever undertaken that will fly the lions to a U.S. Sanctuary next month. Donations are accepted at www.savethelionsappeal.com.
The lions are currently being held in a temporary ADI compound near Santa Cruz on land generously donated to the project by Santa Cruz Mayor Percy Fernández, and are being cared for by an ADI team, including a full time veterinarian.
ADI President Jan Creamer, who is overseeing the rescue operation in Bolivia said, “We must commend the Bolivian authorities for the decisive way that they enforced the ban on animal circuses. Too often, worthy animal protection and conservation measures are passed but simply not enforced. That is not the case here. Bolivia has set a shining example to the world.
“ADI fought long and hard to secure the ban on animal circuses and we said we would be there to help enforce it. We are grateful for the work of the DGB, police, Mayor’s office, Governor’s office, and of course Congress, which passed this unique and ground-breaking law,” she added.
The ADI and DGB team traveled thousands of miles across Bolivia to the different circuses and despite being met by a hostile reception and attempts to conceal animals at some circuses, all of the animals were safely removed.
In the final operation in December, seven lions including three tiny seven-week-old cubs were removed from a circus in Monteagudo. A week prior to the rescue, ADI filmed the cubs being used in the circus show and taken to local parks to be on display for crowds of photograph seekers.
Creamer said, “They were born into misery, but they will grow up free. They will be the last animals to appear in a Bolivian circus show.”
In the summer of 2010, ADI relocated the first Bolivian circus animals which were voluntarily handed over, including four lions and a baboon. The operation was a resounding success, but now the group faces the unprecedented and enormous task of caring for the 24 lions and relocating them from the Santa Cruz, Bolivia compound to a U.S. sanctuary. In the coming weeks, it is expected that one more lion will be collected, bringing the total for the ‘Operation Lion Ark’ airlift to 25.
‘Operation Lion Ark’ will be the biggest rescue and airlift of lions ever seen in the world. ADI has launched a special ‘Save the Lions Appeal’ to raise funds for the rescue mission and to help care for the animals.
To make a donation to help with the rescue effort, visit www.savethelionsappeal.com, or call (323) 935-2234.
About Animal Defenders International:
With offices in Los Angeles, London and Bogotá, Animal Defenders International campaigns to protect animals in entertainment; replacement of animals in experiments; worldwide traffic in endangered species; vegetarianism; factory farming; pollution and conservation. ADI also rescues animals in distress worldwide. ADI-gathered evidence has led to campaigns and legislative action all over the world to protect them.ADI’s Mission: To educate, create awareness, and promote the interest of humanity in the cause of justice, and the suppression of all forms of cruelty to animals wherever possible to alleviate suffering, and to conserve and protect animals and the environment.
http://www.adiusa.org
http://www.ad-international.org/adi_world/
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