Brad Louwrens for Born Free
Four adult lions sold as young cubs to a French circus have finally been relocated to South Africa's Shamwari Big Cat Sanctuary, in the Eastern Cape.
The lions were all removed from the French circus back in 2018.
The Born Free Foundation says the lions were born in captivity and housed in cramped, rusty trailers when they were part of the circus.
They were also compelled to perform in a travelling circus for most of their lives.
While the Foundation had raised enough funds and was ready to send the lions back to their ancestral home at Shamwari, the Covid-19 pandemic put an indefinite halt to their travel plans.
Angela, Bellone, Saïda and Louga have now joined nearly 50 other big cats given new lives in the sanctuary of Shamwari by the Born Free Foundation.
The Foundation says all four lions were remarkably calm and relaxed during the 4-day journey by land and air and all emerged confidently from their travelling pens when they were released into the 3 hectare Big Cat Sanctuary on Friday morning.
Born Free Co-Founder, Virginia McKenna, says she is overjoyed that the "Lions of Lockdown" are now at Shamwari.
"It is hard to imagine what the lions feel as they explore their new home. Born in captivity, throughout their lives they have lived in various circuses until they were relinquished by their owner and taken to safety in Tonga Terre, Lyon," she said.
Born Free says the logistical feat of re-locating four adult lions took hundreds of hours of planning, evaluation and care undertaken by the Foundation's experts and specialists.
Shamwari Private Game Reverse Born Free Manager, Catherine Gillson, says these lions' re-homing to the sanctuary will allow them to get close to experiencing the life they were denied for so many years.
"The journey of our Lions of Lockdown has been long, but hopefully with each day spent with us in the peace of our sanctuary, they will continue to grow from strength to strength," said Gillson.
"The sights, sounds and scents of their fellow rescued big cats will heighten their senses immediately as they begin to acclimatize to their new lives. They are now in their forever home in Africa."
