Two rescued circus lions Goliath and Croalie donated by Qatar Airways, for a new life in Africa after10 years in a French circus cage (emotional video)

Rescued circus lions take first steps in Africa

After an epic journey, this is the moment Goliath and Coralie, rescued from a tiny circus cage in France, stepped onto African soil this morning at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS), South Africa. 

There’s no place like home

 / animaldefendersinternational

They may not realise it yet, but their lives have been transformed forever, back in the land of their ancestors. They spent a decade in a circus cage but will enjoy the next decade with acres of space at ADIWS.

The lions were loaded into their travel crates on Monday night at Tonga Terre D’Accueil, near Lyon, where they had been cared for after removal from a circus following an investigation by Free Life Association. They were driven to Paris, and in the late afternoon on Tuesday, accompanied by the ADI team, they were flown on a cargo aircraft to Doha, where they changed aircraft and flew on to Johannesburg. Qatar Airways Cargo generously donated the flights as part of their WeQare program to help wildlife. The lions arrived at ADIWS at 7pm on Wednesday and released from their travel crates into their house. This morning they took their first momentous steps on African soil, in the blazing winter sunshine.

Special thanks for their roles in Coralie and Goliath’s rescue to Qatar Airways Cargo for donating the flight, to Tonga Terre d’Accueil for caring for them in France while waiting for their forever home, and to Free Life for their investigation to get them out of the circus.

To help support their care: Donate UK, Euros, Rand

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About the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary