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…And the Last Lion is Rescued!
LION NUMBER 25 SAVED.
ANIMAL DEFENDERS INTERNATIONAL’S RECORD BREAKING LION RESCUE SET TO REACH ROARING CRESCENDO
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 8, 2011 – The number of lions being airlifted on the record-breaking Animal Defenders International (ADI) airlift, known as Operation Lion Ark, rose this weekend to 25. A specialist ADI team flew down to Tarija in southern Bolivia and returned with an elderly lion called Kimba.
Kimba had been living in a small concrete zoo enclosure for the past 11 years after being dumped there by a travelling circus. In recent weeks, ADI and the Bolivian authorities have swooped on circuses all over Bolivia and confiscated all of their animals. Indigenous or domestic animals have been homed in Bolivia, and ADI is taking care of all the lions – now numbering 25. Bolivia’s DGB had requested ADI take the old lion.
On Friday, ADI flew down to Tarija in a C130 Hercules that had seen service in the Vietnam War. They took one of the crates that had already been prepared for the Operation Lion Ark airlift later this month.
At the zoo the ADI team had to break down a wall and cut through metal railings to get to Kimba, but he was soon lured into the travel crate by ADI President Jan Creamer. He was then driven to the airport, with members of the Tarija public applauding on the roadside, and loaded onto the TAB cargo aircraft. It was a smooth hour flight back to Santa Cruz, during which Kimba was very relaxed and showed no signs of stress, before a slow drive to the ADI Operation Lion Ark compound. The ADI team, including a vet, joined Kimba on the flight and were able to monitor him throughout.
In the ADI compound Kimba saw and heard other lions for the first time. He went straight into his new holding cage and had a meal before calling to the other lions.
Jan Creamer said: “Kimba seems a lovely, gentle old lion. He is very thin, blind in one eye, and has not seen or heard anther lion for eleven years. Once we lured him into the travel crate he settled quickly and remained relaxed throughout the flight and journey to the ADI Lion Ark compound in Santa Cruz. He’s had a sad lonely life and really deserved a break, so he is the perfect lion to be number 25 – the last lion to be saved during this huge seizure operation.
“We are now counting down to the Operation Lion Ark airlift next week when we will be taking Kimba and the other 24 lions to their wonderful new life in Colorado. ADI would like to thank TAB and the ON Group who helped us collect Kimba and who will be working with us on the main Lion Ark airlift when we will have 25 lions on one flight!”
The lions which have been rescued from circuses after Bolivia banned the use of animals in circuses will be heading for a new life at The Wild Animal Sanctuary near Denver Colorado where ADI is funding the construction of new facilities on 80 acres (over 32 hectares) of land supplied by the sanctuary.
Jan Creamer said: “Kimba’s rescue concludes part one of this amazing rescue. We now have all the lions. Now ADI must work at full speed to get them to paradise at The Wild Animal Sanctuary. These lions who have suffered so much will be able to run and play at last. Metal workers all over Santa Cruz are working flat out to prepare all the crates we need and our veterinary team are ensuring the animals are in optimum condition to fly. We have our biggest challenge next week, flying 25 lions on one aircraft to the USA!”
This dramatic lion rescue began last November when, in a series of seizures all over Bolivia, ADI working with the Bolivian authorities including the DGB and Santa Cruz Governor’s Office, started to remove the animals from different circuses spread across the country.
The moves were to enforce Bolivia’s Law 4040 which bans the use of animals in circuses, which came into force after ADI officers went undercover to expose the horrific abuse in circuses across South America. The legislation effectively shut down the country’s animal circus industry at a stroke – the first time such a thing has happened in the world.
The huge rescue operation – the first time a country’s animal circus industry has been shut down in this way – last week attracted the backing of a number of celebrities including Bob Barker, Jorja Fox, Brian Blessed, Twiggy, Joanna Lumley, Julia McKenzie, and Benjamin Zephaniah, along with Meg Mathews, Wendy Turner Webster and Prunella Scales, who have called on the public to send donations to help the rescue. For more information visit: www.savethelionsappeal.com, or call (323) 804-9920.
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-internationalorg/adi_world/ -
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/ -
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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