Rescued Bolivian circus lions welcomed in U.S.

17 February 2011, Reuters

Feb 17 (Reuters Life!) - Twenty-five Bolivian circus lions rescued from poor conditions arrived safely in the United States, bound for a Colorado wildlife refuge.

Dubbed "Operation Lion Ark," the 14 males and 11 female cats arrived at Denver International Airport on Wednesday on a jet chartered by Animal Defenders International (ADI), a British-American venture that advocates circus animal rights.

"This has been a dream for so long, to empty a whole country of its circus animals," ADI president Jan Creamer told a crowd of about 100 who assembled at a United Airlines hangar to watch the event.

Former game show host Bob Barker, a longtime animal-rights activist who funded the relocation, was on hand to welcome the cats alongside actress Jorja Fox of TV's CSI franchise.

Workers unloaded the animals in individual crates amid applause from animal-rights advocates in attendance.

Veterinarian Mel Richardson, who accompanied the animals on the 11-hour flight from Bolivia, pronounced them in relatively good health ahead of their move to The Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado, about 40 miles northeast of Denver.

The sanctuary is constructing a biosphere on the 80-acre site so the lions can weather the cold Colorado winters. Their long-term care will be paid for by ADI.

The cats were taken from eight circuses after Bolivia after passed a law in 2009 outlawing use of animals in circuses. Many were found emaciated and in poor health, and the animals underwent rehabilitation in Bolivia before the trip.

After passing the law, Bolivian government officials gave circus owners one year to cease using animals, even domesticated ones, in their acts or face criminal penalties.

ADI rounded up the animals from the circuses, effectively shutting down the industry in South America's poorest nation.

The cats will be kept in four prides to keep them close to family members as they adjust to the new climate and altitude.

(Additional reporting by David Mercado in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, editing by Dan Whitcomb)

Source:http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/17/bolivia-lions-idUSN1625475120110217

Marine Conservation
Volunteer Compass is a professional organization specializing in the field of Marine Conservation. Through our contacts we are invited and offered to participate in projects around the world that need help. Projects that involve animals such as dolphons, whales, seals, sealions, porpoise and projects centred around coral protection and conservation.

Wildlife Conservation
Volunteer Compass work with numerous grass-roots NGOs, voluntary sector groups, conservation parks, institutes and professional bodies placing volunteers within conservation projects; supporting and protecting animals such as pandas, lions, tigers, birds, elephants and big game.

Where do our volunteers come from?
Volunteer Compass' volunteers come from all walks of life and from all over the globe - just to volunteer on worthwhile and ethical projects. Volunteers come from countries such as England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Southern Ireland (Eire), USA, Canada, France, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and all over Europe.

What do our volunteers do as a 'day job'?
Our volunteers have one passion - and that is to volunteer their time, expertise and efforts in helping Marine or Wildlife projects. We have Managers, gap year students, Professionals, bankers, school teachers, scuba divers, retired people, lawyers, factory workers, university students, housewives, social workers, archaeologists, builders, electricians, computer experts and many more people from diverse backgrounds joining our projects. Whatever your background, it will be easy to place you on a project that you will be proud of.