IN PICS: From circus cages to veld – big cats finally taste freedom

Tigers and lions that have spent years in cages, and have never felt grass beneath their feet, are taking their first steps of freedom this week.

An 18-month long rescue mission, dubbed Operation Liberty, finally came to fruition yesterday, when a cargo plane transporting 12 tigers and five lions landed at OR Tambo International Airport.

One of 12 Tigers and 5 lions that have been transported from Guatemala after spending their lives in circuses arrives at OR Tambo Cargo Depot, 21 January 2020. Picture: Neil McCartney

Despite travelling all the way from Guatemala City, surprisingly the journey wasn’t too bad, said Animal Defenders International president and co-founder Jan Creamer.The animals were not sedated but flew very well, a sombre reminder of just how used to cages they are.

“The lions like to do their morning roar when the sun starts to come up, and the tigers do their chuffing noises.”

One of 12 Tigers and 5 lions that have been transported from Guatemala after spending their lives in circuses arrives at OR Tambo Cargo Depot, 21 January 2020. Picture: Neil McCartney

Animal Defenders International has spent the past 16 months building a safe haven in the Free State for these rescues and 26 other lions. Twenty-five of them were saved from circuses in Peru and Colombia.

“We built a whole territory for the tigers. We built it in three groups, but most of them are one family, and we’re going to bring them back together again,” Creamer explained. “By the time we finish building [the territory], it will be 60,387m2.”

The tigers and lions, all in individual cages with their names written on, waited patiently for the most part while they were hoisted onto trucks, one by one.

Tarzan, one of 5 lions and 12 Tigers that have been transported from Guatemala after spending their lives in circuses arrives at OR Tambo Cargo Depot, 21 January 2020. Picture: Neil McCartney

On more than one occasion, one would hear an ominous roar, with Creamer’s husband and Animal Defenders International co-founder Tim explaining that some of the tigers are young and confused, so they retreated into a corner while humans ogled them from a safe distance.

Others chuffed and launched themselves at airport staff from inside their cages.

One particular tiger, aptly named Stripes, was especially vocal, but as soon as his cage lined up with his parents’, he was instantly calm.

Lupe, one of 12 Tigers and 5 lions that have been transported from Guatemala after spending their lives in circuses arrives at OR Tambo Cargo Depot, 21 January 2020. Picture: Neil McCartney

The airport transfer was the second leg of their three-part journey. From Johannesburg, they were flown to the Free State, where they were put into their feeding camps.

Creamer explained that the design of the enclosures includes pools for the tigers and the feeding pens are a smaller, communal space. The pens are an easy way to check on the animals, to ensure they’re doing well.

“Then, probably what we’ll do [later yesterday] is give them most of the day in their feeding camps and see how they are. If they’re looking confident, we’ll open the gate and let them out into the main enclosure. If we think they need more time to rest and settle down, then we’ll keep them there and let them out tomorrow.”

The toll of living in captivity for human gain at a circus in Guatemala is already apparent.

One of 12 Tigers and 5 lions that have been transported from Guatemala after spending their lives in circuses arrives at OR Tambo Cargo Depot, 21 January 2020. Picture: Neil McCartney

Creamer said three tigresses were suspected to have been so inbred that they suffer from seizures. Luckily, Animal Defenders International’s veterinarian Peter Caldwell was optimistic they could be helped, that the seizures may be due to pressure on the spine, which he could improve.

Creamer said they were hoping to make them healthier and more muscular within six months.

“At the moment, they’re big but they’re kind of rangey and slender; there’s not a lot of muscle. But in six months’ time, they’ll be huge, really built up, with big shoulder muscles and they can run.”

One of 12 Tigers and 5 lions that have been transported from Guatemala after spending their lives in circuses arrives at OR Tambo Cargo Depot, 21 January 2020. Picture: Neil McCartney

The Animal Defenders International team has been working with Guatemalan government officials from the departments of Unidad de Bienestar Animal and Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas to enforce a ban on circus animals. The ban became law last year.

Twenty-one lions and tigers have already been removed, and are being cared for in a temporary rescue centre until they can be relocated to sanctuaries.

– nicas@citizen.co.za

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