WATCH: From ‘queen size bed’ to open grasslands for circus animals

Wednesday marked the beginning of a wonderful new life for 12 tigers and five lions at the Animal Defenders International (ADI) Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS) in the Free State.

The big cats were relocated to their forever home after being rescued from a life of circus suffering in Guatemala by ADI.

Also read:

• Rescued circus tigers and lions to arrive at OR Tambo Airport

The animals’ journey to freedom marks the successful conclusion of the organisation’s 18-month Operation Liberty mission, during which ADI assisted authorities with enforcement of Guatemala’s animal circus ban, ending circus suffering in yet another country.

Jan Creamer, president of ADI, said: “These animals have experienced a lifetime of suffering and abuse in circuses in Guatemala but those days are over. At the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, our place of loving kindness, the tigers and lions can run, play and explore their wonderful, natural surroundings under the African sun.”

The epic journey to freedom began on January 18 at the ADI Temporary Rescue Centre in Guatemala, where the animals have been cared for since their rescue. One by one, the 17 big cats were coaxed into their individual travel crates.

Once secured and given time to settle, their journey of a lifetime got underway. The travel crates were lifted onto the trucks to take the animals to board the Operation Liberty Flight from La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City.

During the flight, which made stops in Mexico, Belgium and Qatar to load and unload cargo before reaching its final destination in South Africa, the big cats were monitored by veterinarian Dr Howard Rosner and provided with in-flight meals and water by ADI founders and rescue team leaders Jan Creamer and Tim Phillips.

After more than 34 hours flying, on the morning of January 21, the animals touched down at OR Tambo International Airport.

“OR Tambo International Airport was delighted to be able to play a part in the final stages of this successful rescue of the tigers and lions,” said Bongiwe Pityi-Vokwana, general manager for the airport.

“The hard work of Animal Defenders International is a wonderful example of what can be achieved with such dedication and commitment.”

The Operation Liberty Flight was largely funded by non-profit leader GreaterGood.org, whose fundraising efforts included a competition for supporters to name two male tiger cubs (Max and Stripes) who were rescued by ADI with their family from a junkyard where the circus had been keeping them.

For the final leg of their journey home, the animals travelled once again by truck to the 455-acre ADIWS in the Free State. After arriving at the sanctuary, during the late afternoon of January 21, a fierce storm blew in as ADI began unloading the big cats.

Although it was possible to release young tigers Max and Stripes, and their father Itza, the release of the other animals had to be abandoned until Wednesday morning due to the worsening weather.

Lions Kimba, Sasha and Tomás were the first to be released on January 22, followed by Tanya and her doting partner Tarzan, and then the remaining tigers Sasha and Kumal, Sun and Moon, Luna and Jade, and Sombra, Bimbi and Lupe.

The animals, once confined to bare cages about the size of a queen size bed, now enjoy natural grassland enclosures with native trees and bushes, platforms, dens and night houses.

The five lions have acres to enjoy in the natural homeland of their ancestors, while the 12 tigers have a huge 650 000sqft tiger territory complete with a series of spring-fed pools for the tigers to play in.

The ADIWS is now home to 43 big cats, all but one rescued from circuses in Latin America. Due to the abuse these animals have suffered and their years of confinement, it is not possible to release them in the wild. Most of the animals were declawed in the circus, a cruel mutilation to remove the claws.