Animal Defenders International RaisesFunds To Transport Circus Lions To South Africa

A former circus lion peers from inside a cage transporting it to South Africa, at the port of Callao, Peru, Friday, April 29, 2016. Thirty-three lions rescued from circuses in Peru and Colombia are heading back to their homeland to live out the rest of their lives in a private sanctuary in South Africa. The operation is the largest ever airlift of lions, organized and paid for by Animal Defenders International.

Thirty-three lions rescued from circuses in Peru and Colombia headed back to their homeland Friday to live out the rest of their lives in a private sanctuary in South Africa.

The largest-ever airlift of lions was organized by Animal Defenders International. The Los Angeles-based group has for years worked with lawmakers in the two countries to ban the use of wild animals in circuses, where they often are held in appalling conditions.

The long journey began Thursday in Colombia where a caravan carrying the first nine lions departed the city of Bucaramanga for a 14-hour drive to Bogota’s international airport. From there, they were loaded onto a cargo plane and flown to Peru’s capital to pick up the remaining 24.

Their flight to Johannesburg departed from Lima’s airport Friday evening.