Two Bulgarian circus lions felt the African earth under their massive paws for the first time this morning when they were released into their new home at the Born Free Big Cats Rescue Centre at Shamwari Game Reserve.
The 7-year-old male lions Black and Jora have been circus lions in the East Europen Country their entire lives.
Their new-found freedom follows the decision by the Bulgarian government last year to ban the use of lions as circus acts.
The Centre Manager of the Born Free Centre at Shamwari in the Eastern Cape - Catherine Gillson - says Black and Jora were clearly comfortable in their new surroundings after being cooped up in 3 by 2 metre truck cages in Bulgaria for the past six months.
"It was really exciting to see. They are in such a good condition. They are a bit stiff and wobbly on an uneven surface, after being in a circus for so many years"
Gillson says Black and Jora will never survive in the wild but can now call a natural boma the size of two football fields at Shamwari their new home.
"They will unfortunately never be re-introduced into the wild, because they will probably be taken out by wild lions. They have been fed by humans their whole life and even though they have an instinct they will not be able to hunt for themselves" she added.
picture: "Born Free"
