A widely spread story is ADI (Animal Defenders International) sending 33 lions that were rescued from circuses in Peru to a big cat sanctuary in South Africa.
I had contact with an ADI worker. Through different sites and Facebook pages, I have learned about a year ago about Peru and other Latin American countries outlawing circuses. In those posts it always mentioned ADI helping to rescue the animals owned by private touring people.
Excited to volunteer I have done some research and contacted an ADI representative through their website. A few months ago I had learned that ADI’s temporary compound for the confiscated animals accommodated more than 20 lions – and the end goal for their well being was transferring them back home – to Africa.
ADI is a pretty impressive organization that mostly focusses on the eradication of abusive animal circuses, zoos, and shelters. They have and are spending efforts in South America recently, as more and more countries there outlaw animal circuses. They help the local authorities enforce the new rules and confiscate the abused and tired animals that spent their entire lives sitting in the back of a pick-up truck, chained.
And since we’re already addressing the subject of animal circuses, another quite cheerful event has happened recently as the famous circus – Ringling Brothers, have retired their elephants earlier than the initial statement that was given by them in the past.
Copied from the Ringling Bros. website;
The elephants are now being transffered to “Feld Family’s Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation (CEC), a 200-acre facility in central Florida dedicated to the care and conservation of these critically endangered animals.”
Many activists are still not pleased, claiming the facilities which the elephants will remain in for the rest of their lives are not suitable for compensating the animals for losing their wildness and being reduced to human entertainment.
Copied from the Ringling Bros. website;
Ringling Bros. Commitment
- The display and care of elephants and other performing animals are subject to animal welfare laws and regulations at the federal, state and local levels. Ringling Bros. has an excellent record of care for all our animals.
- Under the federal Animal Welfare Act, all circuses are required to have a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) exhibitor’s license. The USDA conducts regular unannounced inspections of performing animals and their stable areas. The federal Animal Welfare Act regulates and sets guidelines for housing, transportation, and care for most of our performing animals. However, Ringling Bros. observes these guidelines for our entire animal family.
- Circuses and other animal exhibitors are also subject to state and local animal welfare laws and permit requirements. Such regulations provide protection to all performing animals and allow for the prosecution of those who neglect or mistreat the animals in their care.
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