Everyone is going home this month! First up is Hoover the tiger’s flight from Peru to his wonderful forever home at Big Cat Rescue in Florida and then towards the end of the month we hope to lock the flights for our 33 African lions from Peru and Colombia, to take them to their forever home in their native land – the amazing Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary.

The lion flight has been logistically complex, we must fly the 9 lions in northern Colombia to Bogota – Barbie, Bollilo, Bumba, Junior, Easy, Shakira, Iron, Ojiclaro and Zeus will be the first to board the Spirit of Freedom flight at Bogota. We then depart for our first stop – Lima, Peru.

In Lima, we load the 24 lions – the Cusco pride, Rey, Kiara, Scarc, Mahla, Amazonas and Smith, plus Kala; the Huarrals – Leo, Muñeca, Coco, Chino, Rolex, Africa and Kiara2; the Ayachucho brothers, Rey and Simba; the Arequipas, Rapunzel and David; the Huancayo boys – buddies King and Junior and solitary one-eyed Ricardo; the Lima boys – buddies Liso and José and partially sighted darling Joseph. They will travel in their own crates but importantly, families will be together, friends must be next to each other – our loading is complicated!

In their new homes in Africa the families will be bonding together again and the special needs boys, Joseph and Ricardo, will have enclosures with potential hazards removed and maybe some signage assistance!

We cannot thank enough the fantastic people at The Greater Good, who are working so very hard to ensure that all of our lions get sponsored on their flight to freedom – this magnificent group has already got 53,000 miles of the journey sponsored! Already funded for their ticket to freedom are Leo, Rapunzel, Liso, Kiara, David, Simba and Scarc.

Getting each lion sponsored is a huge help for a small group like ADI, as Emoya continues to build the extensive enclosures in Africa – we still have another $150,000 to pay for the final phase, but when finished, these (non-breeding) family prides and groups of friends will be together again and in more space than they have ever known. Just where they should be.

Thank you so much, Greater Good team, and all the remarkable people who have donated to help save these lions!

https://theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/store/ars/item/76636/fly-lions-to-freedom-?source=4-2830-3

After a lifetime of pain and suffering, we have the chance to take 33 ex-circus lions back to their native Africa. They can live as close to freedom as we can get, in natural bush enclosures at the wonderful Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa – spending their days under the Africa sun, as intended. This is a chance to make things right, for these lions at least.

The brilliant team at Greater Good The Animal Rescue Site – are making sure these lions get their ticket home. Everyone can help:
https://theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/store/ars/item/76636/fly-lions-to-freedom-?source=10-3322009-1

Huge thanks to Christian at The Dodo for his feature on the Spirit of Freedom circus animal rescue and our massive airlift to get the 33 ex-circus lions from Peru and Colombia, back to their native Africa!

The seizures, rescues, animal care at the temporary rescue facilities and finding homes for over 100 animals has been tough, but the outcome has been so rewarding. Who would have ever imagined seeing Cholita the spectacled bear back in the forest – and now with bears next door! And lonely spider monkey Pepe, who found happiness with Valerie; they were then joined by Samantha, Annie, Mateo and Cindy – all swinging through the trees in their own piece of rainforest. James the Military macaw has flown free, and others have moved on. Some are now in wild release projects, learning to live free.

Now it is the turn of the lions – Rey and Kiara and their family, Leo and his family, David and Rapunzel, Ricardo, Joseph, and all the others. Time for Africa.

Thanks Christian, and The Dodo, for helping!
See the article here:
https://www.thedodo.com/circus-animals-peru-lions-1664361968.html

Great article on One Green Planet about the background of the circus campaigns, the investigations, the prosecutions and the laws protecting animals – 31 countries now ban animal circuses:

This Amazing Animal Rights Group is Fighting Cruel Animal Circuses Around the World

The new home in Africa for 33 Spirit of Freedom lions:

Every ban on animal circuses is special, but there’s no doubt that the passing of the ban in Mexico is a thrill; so many animals will be saved and another country joins the bans across Central and South America. The world is changing for animals. Well done, Mexico!

And what a wonderful birthday present for the remarkable and legendary Bob Barker, who has funded so many of ADI’s campaigns and of course has funded a huge share of the costs of our current rescue of the wild animals from circuses in Peru – a true animal hero.

I write from our Spirit of Freedom temporary rescue centre in Peru, as we gather together the animals to be relocated to their wonderful new homes, so it seems appropriate to include a picture of one of our residents, dozing on a sunny afternoon as her new life starts to unfold before her. Thanks to the generosity of Bob Barker and thousands of our supporters who continue to give, a wonderful new home in the Amazon jungle awaits the monkeys and freedom to roam in huge enclosures in Colorado awaits our 30 lions.

We’re continuing to raise funds for the monkey enclosure in the Amazon and we’re looking for volunteer construction workers for January. Please keep donating and get us to the finish line!

Shameful scene in the UK Parliament yesterday as it became clear that the Government appears content to see the Wild Animals in Circuses Bill continue to be blocked by their MPs. Again, Chris Chope blocked Jim Fitzpatrick’s Private Members Bill. Between them, MPs Chris Chope and Andrew Rosindell have now blocked the Bill five times. This is a measure supported by 95% of the public and our last survey found 63% support in Parliament. Such continued opposition appears contemptuous. Observers might feel the Prime Minister’s words of support over the past few years look like a sham.

Pictured are Percy and Bob, rescued as cubs from a Bolivian circus, enjoying their new life. How can anyone oppose that?  #CIRCUSBAN

LION ARK – see how it’s done….

Perhaps ministers and MPs need to come to the Prince Charles Leicester Square on 6 December to see how a government with real respect for public opinion dealt with this issue – LION ARK is playing for one night – the story of Bolivia’s ban on animal circuses, the investigations, the protests, the campaign for the law and how the Bolivian Government enforced the law by removing animals from illegal circuses. TICKETS  http://bit.ly/1opCVX6

Tomorrow (Friday 21st) is the 4th attempt at the essential ‘Second Reading’ stage of the British Wild Animal Circus Bill, introduced by MP Jim Fitzpatrick following constant stalling by the Government about moving its own Bill forward (the two Bills are the same).

Each time the Fitzpatrick Bill has been presented, MPs from the Government’s own party have blocked it in the most undemocratic fashion, flying in the face of strong public and parliamentary support, as well as the Government’s own promises for the past two years! Shame on the Government for the political shenanigans and shame on the Conservative MPs who have chosen to snub public opinion. The Government could easily put their own Bill through, or support the Fitzpatrick Bill. They have chosen not to do it. The Prime Minister claims he will do it, and takes no action.

Over 15,000 members of the public have urged the Prime Minister to back the Bill. Please keep sharing the petition and following the messages on the ADI facebook page: http://bit.ly/1zwRPKr

In stark contrast to these displays of feebleness in the UK, the film LION ARK is coming to London on 6 December, to the Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Square. LION ARK tells the story of the ban on ALL animals in circuses in Bolivia and follows the journey of 25 lions from suffering to peace and freedom. A good example of decisive government, and how the lives of circus animals can be changed with the right laws. A live action documentary, up close and personal with the rescuers and the animals they fight to save. BOOK YOUR TICKETS TODAY for our London Gala Screening of Lion Ark on Saturday 6 December. Join me and LION ARK director Tim Phillips together with celebrity guests and MPs – http://bit.ly/1opCVX6

Utterly disgraceful display of contempt for democracy in the UK Parliament yesterday, when one single pro-animal circus MP, Conservative Andrew Rosindell, blocked the second reading of the Wild Animals in Circuses Bill 2014-15 (a Private Members’ Bill) to end the use of wild animals in circuses. The Romford MP’s objection to the Bill flies in the face of the will of 95% of the British public, of 63% of Members of Parliament, and the Government’s own promise that it wants to see an end to the suffering of wild animals in circuses in the UK.

Mr Rosindell has been a champion of the now defunct Great British Circus, where ADI exposed shocking abuse of performing elephants by their trainers and keepers and used the rules of Parliament to block the progress of the Bill to the next stage, with his single objection.

The Bill, sponsored by former minister Jim Fitzpatrick MP, follows the exact language of the Government’s own Wild Animals in Circuses Bill, which, although ready to place before Parliament, the Government has failed to progress.

Mr Ronsidell was able to use the rules on Private Members’ Bills to impose his minority viewpoint over the majority because just one objection can block progress, as such Bills are not official Government business.

However, we must redouble our efforts – this Bill is still our best chance to secure protection for these animals ahead of the General Election in 2015 – ACT TODAY –

Go back to your Member of Parliament and ask them to speak with Mr Rosindell and then also to:

Speak with Liz Truss MP, Secretary of State for Environment Food & Rural Affairs and the minister, Lord de Mauley – urge the Government to support this Bill or schedule time for its own Bill to ensure it passes before the General Election in 2015, fulfilling the Government’s promise to the public.

Sign and share our petition calling on the Prime Minister to back to the bill http://bit.ly/1zwRPKr

Find out more http://bit.ly/1waKl0l

Interviewed with Antonio Mora on Al Jazeera’s ‘Consider This’ show tonight – showing our video of Carson & Barnes elephants at Jordan World Circus being beaten, electric shocked and abused. One elephant cries out in pain. Later, the video shows them giving rides to children.

Consider This also showed the behind-the-scenes abuse of elephants at Have Trunk Will Travel of California, again using stun guns giving painful electric shocks to elephants to force them to obey.

This is the third time in the United States that we have shown stun guns being used on elephants – the other culprit was Mike Swain performing with a Trunks & Humps elephant.

See:
Loghan Call ‏@LoghanCall 37m
@AJConsiderThis @AnimalDefenders @jancreamer @AMoraTV

In a shameful failure to show leadership and support the will of Parliament and public, the British Government has failed – again – to end the suffering of wild animals in travelling circuses. This weakness leaves the UK open to animals arriving with circuses from abroad.

For the second year, the promised wild animal circus ban has not been included in the Government’s legislative schedule.

This embarrassing debacle over a widely-supported measure looks set to continue unless the Coalition Government can show that it has the strength and leadership to follow its own recommendations, as set out in the draft legislation – recommendations which are the result of years of consultations, examinations, committees and working parties.

In a survey conducted by the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 94.5% of the public supported a wild animal ban; the majority of Members of Parliament support a ban; the British Veterinary Association has announced its support for a ban.

If it is to retain any credibility, the Government needs to stop running away from this issue and ensure the promised ban does not run out of time before the next General Election.

Since the UK was promised a ban in 2012, seven countries have passed similar legislation. Shameful.

Further delay just looks weak and is an embarrassment for the UK, when compared to the leadership shown by 27 countries across Europe, Asia, and Latin America – see: http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=281

If you’re in the UK – tell your MP today, that you want to see this ban pushed through. The animals have waited long enough.