More than 30 animals, including a tiger named Hoover, will be flown in June to The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado after being rescued from Peruvian circuses, officials said.
Animal Defenders International has been conducting raids to enforce Peru’s ban on the use of wild animals in circuses, according to an Animal Defenders International news release.
Almost 80 animals have been rescued from circuses and the illegal wildlife trade during these raids, the release said, including 33 lions, a bear and Hoover the tiger, who are destined for The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg.
“That’s a lot of animals, but we’re not a stranger to doing large rescues,” said Pat Craig, executive director of the sanctuary. “We’ve been working on their habitats for months on end, and we’re ready and looking forward to getting them.”
Hoover the tiger was removed from Circo Africano, where he was the sole survivor of up to six tigers the circus kept, the release said.
Hoover is thin and will be monitored closely by veterinarians, ADI said.
The Wild Animal Sanctuary has more than 350 rescued lions, tigers, bears, wolves and other large carnivores on its 720 acres, the release said.
The sanctuary is preparing large-acreage habitats for the rescued circus animals.
“We never gave up hope that we would find the illegal circuses and give each and every animal the chance of a better life, free from their circus cages and chains,” Animal Defenders International president Jan Creamer said.
“Now we are looking forward to the next stage: getting all of the animals ADI has rescued to their new homes.”
Elizabeth Hernandez: 303-954-1223, ehernandez@ denverpost.com or twitter.com/ehernandez
