33 Lions Who Spent Their Lives In The Circus Just Went Home To Africa

A plane ride form Lima, Peru to Johannesburg, South Africa was definitely one of the most interesting flights in the history of air travel. It was a cargo plane that traveled between two continents, and do you know what was loaded into the plane? 33 lions!

Rescuers are saying that it was the largest lion transport in history, and that’s not hard to believe. Each of the lions were rescued from illegal circuses in Peru and Colombia.

Image Credit: Animal Defenders International

The group responsible for securing the freedom of these creatures is called Animal Defenders International (ADI).

Image Credit: Animal Defenders International

This operation went by the name Operation Spirit of Freedom, and it’s definitely lived up to that. On Sunday the lions arrived at Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary which is located in Vaalwater, South Africa.

Image Credit: Animal Defenders International

The project took over a year to complete, but it’s effects are huge. These lions have never before felt grass on their feet or roamed freely through the land.

Image Credit: Animal Defenders International

Now they get to do both those things, but more importantly, so will all the future generations of these lions.

Image Credit: Animal Defenders International

In effect, hundreds of lions were saved,m for decades to come, by this one mission.

Image Credit: Animal Defenders International

After the lions were originally freed from the circuses it took months for ADI to raise the funds to get them into the sanctuary in Vaalwater.

Image Credit: Animal Defenders International

It cost $10,000 per lion to get these guys to safety.

Image Credit: Animal Defenders International

It was mostly donation money that ultimately gave these lions their freedom, and it’s incredible to see so many people coming together for such a good cause.

Image Credit: Animal Defenders International

Now these lions can really begin to enjoy their lives.

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