Latest news with #AnimalDefendersInternational
IOL News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Goliath and Coralie: Rescued circus lions find sanctuary in South Africa
Circus lions Goliath and Coralie have been released at the Animal Defenders International (ADI) Wildlife Sanctuary in the Free State after spending a decade in a small cage in France. Image: Supplied After a decade of being confined to a tiny, bare circus cage in France, lions Goliath and Coralie are free to roam a huge 2.5-acre enclosure at the Animal Defenders International (ADI) Wildlife Sanctuary in the Free State. The lions were transported from France to South Africa via Doha, on a flight donated by Qatar Airways Cargo as part of their WeQare programme. They will live the rest of their lives with dozens of rescued lions, tigers, and other animals at the sanctuary. ADI president Jan Creamer, who accompanied the animals on their journey to what the organisation described as 'the land of their ancestors', said Goliath and Coralie lived the first half of their lives in a cage on a truck; now they get to live as lions should. 'When you see these two magnificent lions living so close to what nature intended, it shows how wrong it is to keep them in circus cages, just for entertainment,' said Creamer. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Creamer said these lions suffered a lifetime of deprivation and abuse, living in a tiny cage, bare floorboards, behind bars, with no regard given to their well-being or physical needs. They had no freedom of movement and no space to roam. She said these lions will now enjoy life under the African sunshine, in their native homeland, where they can run, play, chase the local wildlife, or snooze in the grass. The organisation highlights that this rescue marks another important step in the global Stop Circus Suffering campaign, which has seen more than 50 countries (and seven US states) ban wild animals in circuses. The ADI Wildlife Sanctuary specialises in helping to enforce these bans. ADI, based in London, has conducted extensive rescue missions to implement circus bans in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Guatemala. These efforts included the airlift of significant numbers of animals, specifically 75 lions as well as 40 monkeys in various operations. According to the organisation, due to the abuse these lions have suffered, their years of confinement, deprivation, and inbreeding, it is not possible to return them to the wild. 'Goliath and Coralie's flight to freedom marks the beginning of the end for wild animal acts in France. In 2021, France passed a law phasing out wild animals in circuses, prohibiting further breeding and setting minimum welfare standards, with a full ban coming into force in 2028,' it said. ADI said the new regulations enabled Goliath and Coralie to be seized from the circus following an investigation by France's Free Life Association. The lions were taken into Tonga Terre d'Accueil, a temporary holding facility for confiscated wildlife near Lyon, and ADI offered to provide a forever home in South Africa. 'Goliath and Coralie are currently in a 2.5-acre quarantine unit at ADIWS where they have received a full medical examination, vaccinations, and a battery of health checks. After the quarantine period, they will move to a huge 7.5-acre habitat,' said ADI. Mark Drusch, chief cargo officer at Qatar Airways Cargo, said he is proud to once again support ADI by bringing these two beautiful lions home to Africa. Drusch said the airline's WeQare Rewild the Planet initiative is a commitment to returning wildlife and endangered species to their natural habitat, free of charge. 'It takes a lot of effort and logistics for our team to organise moving such large animals; from the logistics at the airports, loading and unloading the animals from the aircraft, to ensuring the correct cages and wellbeing of the animals are in place, but it is something we are all collectively very proud and passionate to be a part of.' Circus lion Goliath had spent a decade in a small cage in France. Image: Supplied Circus lion Goliath. Image: Supplied Circus lions Goliath and Coralie were transported to the Animal Defenders International (ADI) Wildlife Sanctuary in the Free State. Image: Supplied Circus lions Goliath and Coralie were released at the Animal Defenders International (ADI) Wildlife Sanctuary. Image: Supplied Circus lion Coralie. Image: Supplied Circus lion Goliath. Image: Supplied
IOL News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Lions Goliath and Coralie escape circus life to find freedom in South Africa
Coralie and Goliath Image: Supplied In a heartwarming turn of events, two lions, Goliath and Coralie, have stepped into a new chapter of their lives after spending over a decade confined in a cramped circus cage in France. Today, they bask in the African sunshine, roaming freely in a sprawling 2.5-acre enclosure at the Animal Defenders International (ADI) Wildlife Sanctuary, located in South Africa. Their remarkable journey began with a generous airlift funded by Qatar Airways Cargo as part of their WeQare programme, which emphasises the importance of animal welfare. Accompanied by ADI President Jan Creamer, Goliath and Coralie have traded their truck-bound cage for the vast, open plains that echo the lands of their ancestors. 'When you see these two magnificent lions living so close to what nature intended, it shows how wrong it is to keep them in circus cages, just for entertainment,' Creamer stated. 'Goliath and Coralie lived the first half of their lives in a cage on a truck; now they get to live as lions should.' Jan Creamer and D. Peter Caldwell giving the giant cats water at the Paris CDG airport Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The rescue of these lions is part of a significant movement against the use of wild animals in circuses, aptly named the Stop Circus Suffering campaign. This initiative has resulted in more than 50 countries, including seven US states, implementing bans on the exploitation of wild animals for entertainment purposes. The ADI Wildlife Sanctuary is dedicated to enforcing these protective bans. Based in London, ADI has proactively engaged in numerous rescue operations across Latin America, helping to liberate wild animals from circuses in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Guatemala. These efforts have included impressive airlifts that have seen 33, 25, and 17 lions, along with 40 monkeys rescued at a time. Due to the extended abuse, confinement, and in-breeding that Goliath and Coralie have endured, returning them to the wild is not a viable option. The ADI Wildlife Sanctuary stands as a crucial refuge for animals like them, ensuring they live out their days in a safe and natural environment.
