Lima, Apr 30 (EFE).– A group of more than 30 lions rescued from circuses in Peru and Colombia have departed this capital for a natural sanctuary in South Africa, an operation known as “Spirit of Freedom” that was organized by the British-based non-governmental organization Animal Defenders International.

“Simba is sleeping. The ‘Spirit of Freedom’ has permission for takeoff. We’re on our way,” ADI announced on Facebook with a photo of one of the lions sleeping peacefully in a cage on board the cargo plane.

The NGO also said the company Ibubesi Transport Logistics would transfer the lions free of charge from the Johannesburg airport, where they will arrive on Saturday, to their new home in the Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary.

ADI President Jan Creamer told EFE the operation was the largest-ever air transport of animals, involving three different countries and 33 lions rescued from different circuses: 24 in Peru and nine in Colombia.

Creamer said her NGO launched the operation two years ago in collaboration with local authorities, which had begun enforcing laws in Peru and Colombia barring the use of animals in circuses.

“We want people to understand that it’s not right to use animals for entertainment because they suffer, and they have a life that is terrible and desperate,” she said.

ADI’s regional manager for Latin America, Alexis Diaz, told EFE that the NGO had prior experience transporting animals, having previously carried out an operation to relocate 29 lions rescued in Bolivia. EFE