Rescued lions return home to South Africa via an air cargo charter flight

Air Freight services play a critical role in shipping supplies and equipment around the world to help keep industry and businesses ticking over but sometimes you learn about an air cargo charter being arranged for a less conventional but incredibly worthwhile cause.

An MD11F air freighter has been chartered by Animal Defenders International to return a very special cargo to their rightful home. The nonprofit organization has flown 33 lions from South America back home to Africa, specifically, they are being shipped to the Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa.

These lions have a unique story as each of them has been recovered from various circuses in both Columbia and Peru. The costs of the air charter were partially covered by an online fundraising campaign run in tandem by GreaterGood.com and the ADI. The flight took place on April 29th from Lima, Peru to Johannesburg, South Africa and from there the animals will be transported to the Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary in Limpopo province.

In their new surroundings, the lions will now be able to experience huge protected natural surroundings in the African bush, a far cry from their sad existence in a circus. Jan Creamer ADI President explained:

"These lions have endured hell on earth and now they are heading home to paradise. This is the world that nature intended these animals for. It is the perfect ending to ADI's operation which has eliminated circus suffering in another country.”