VAALWATER, South Africa – Lions rescued from circuses in Colombia and Peru and airlifted to South Africa are exploring their new territory of bush grasses and trees after being released into a sanctuary north of Johannesburg.
One of the 33 lions, a male known as Zeus, let out a mighty roar before stepping out of his cage into an enclosure where he will spend the coming months being monitored by a vet.
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The lions arrived at the Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary shortly after dawn on Sunday to end a two-day journey from South America.
It will be impossible for the lions to survive in the wild as they were bred in captivity and their circus owners mutilated many by breaking their teeth and removing their claws.