A new lease of life for 25 Bolivian lions

Denver: Twenty-five lions, most of them rescued from Bolivian circuses, have arrived in the US State of Colorado to start their new lives at a wildlife sanctuary.

The 13 males and 12females were rescued from deplorable conditions after a law was passed last year in Bolivia prohibiting all performances involving animals, Animal Defenders International said.

Most of the lions who arrived to Colorado on Wednesday, were dehydrated and suffered from eye and foot infections when rescued, the group said.

Officials said 24 lions were rescued from circuses, while another former circus lion was rescued from a zoo that was being closed down.

Jan Creamer, President of the Animal Defenders International looked extremely happy about the rescue.

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"Certainly this animal rescue gives the message to the world that it's completely wrong to use animals in travelling circuses. It tells the world that these animals do suffer in circuses and we are hoping that the firm stand that Bolivia has taken on this issue will be reflected around the world," said Jan before the lions took off from Bolivia.

The rescue leaves Bolivia with three lions, which are in accredited zoos.

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Television personality and animal advocate Bob Barker helped finance the 200-thousand US dollars airlift.

Barker said he was excited to see the animals headed to a sanctuary where they will have room to roam.

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"They can't even have a dog or a cat in a circus that plays Bolivia," he said.

"Now from that we can only hope that every country in the world passes similar legislation and we're the first steps of a campaign to accomplish that," said Barker.

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While three cubs were in one cage with their mother, the rest travelled in their own cages, accompanied by a veterinarian.


The lions will now be trucked to their new home at the Wildlife Sanctuary in Keenesburg, about 35 miles northeast of Denver.

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A 15-thousand-square-foot biosphere was built to help them adjust to the chillier climate.


It will cost about 8,000 US dollars a year to maintain each lion.