Freed from the abuse. The torment. The arenas filled with crowds of on-lookers, bright lights, loud music, and trainers with whips. Freed from countless days of performing for human amusement. For rescued circus animals, the life meant by nature can be lived at an animal sanctuary.
But for ex-circus lions José and Liso, a life of rest and peace was short lived, stolen by poachers who broke into the Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary (EBCS) in South Africa last week, killing both lions before severing their bodies, most likely to sell the parts.
According to nonprofit animal advocacy organization Animal Defenders International (ADI), the lions seem to have been poisoned. The incident is still under investigation by South Africa’s police and anti-poaching units.
“José and Liso had suffered a terrible life of abuse, but their new life in Africa had given them a new lease of life,” Jan Creamer, president of ADI, said in a statement, “We are heartbroken that these gentle souls have had their well-deserved freedom so cruelly taken from them and will do all that we can to ensure this cowardly killing does not go unpunished.”
In response to the horrible crime, “armed guards are in place and a range of additional security measures are being evaluated,” said ADI in an article.
Jose and Liso are two of over 30 lions rescued last year by ADI from circuses in Columbia and Peru that were flown to EBCS to live the rest of their lives peacefully. The rescue followed a 10-year effort by the organization, including continuous campaigning that resulted in the release and rescue of these animals from harsh circus life.
ADI referred to the pair as their “family members,” and vowed to take all necessary steps to protect the remaining rescued animals.
What’s New…
capture the poachers and throw them into a den of very hungry lions! justice Served! They showed no mercy or compassion, show them none too>
Effective, sorry about the darn typo. Phone has a mind of its own.
Thank you to those who read and agreed with my approach. I do not and will never condone taking a life but these idiots don’t care about the law and where did this senseless killing get them?
It’s sad but quite often, the only way to get through to people is by example. Not doing anything will only send a message that it’s okay to continue to slaughter protected wildlife so, create a clear and harsh message which shows that it is not okay, and the risk that comes with attempting to do so could be death.
I would enjoy and be honored taking the job of defending these animals, even if it meant placing myself in harms way. I only wish I knew how.
Fear is quite useful and affective.
If I lived over their…I would be on a mission to track these dirt bags down and bring them back dead or alive. Hope they put out a reward to catch these scumbags
South Africa advertises itself as a dream tourist destination with Safaris and vineyards etc. Yet poaching is rife and it is the home of canned trophy hunting. It’s not on my list of tourist destinations and I urge other to do the same.
WE MUST INSTALL ANOTHER BRANCH OF DOD AND NATO ARMED FORCES; THAT’S RIGHT; A GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL ARMY WITH FULL MARTIAL LAW AUTHORITY !!! POACHERS KILL : POACHERS DIE !!! CORPORATE MACHINE POLLUTES : CORPORATE MACHINE IS INSTANTLY OUT OF BUSINESS AND ALL FUNDS ARE IMMEDIATELY CONFISCATED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP AND REMEDIATION !!! WE, HUMANKIND, HAVE NO CHOICE IN THIS MATTER IF WE WANT OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF ALL LIFE TO CONTINUE !!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH !!! STOP THE GLOBALIZED CAPITAL GAINS MADNESS; HERE AND NOW !!!
agree 100%
Please catch who ever did this brutal act of violence!
R.I.P. Gentle Babies! l’m so sorry this happened!
Run Free! <3 <3
What kind of big cat “sanctuary” was Emoya, if outside humans were able to penetrate security, poison, and then dismember two lions? Could it have been guards and caregivers, themselves, who committed these heinous atrocities? I guess by pure coincidence there was no security camera footage of these cold-blooded murderers.
Let karma get its way with them, then we will see if they repent at the end.
Was wondering the same thing.
Horrible, I want to cry for these beautiful animals! So brutal & unfair to them, just when they finally got their chance of living a free unabused life. So sad!! I hope they catch he poachers & they suffer the extreme penalty!
I am so saddened to hear about these two lions. After spending so many years in captivity and being abused, they had finally found peace. Those poachers must be found, and they should be shot dead!!! All poachers should be shot on sight!! Drastic steps have to be taken to protect our precious wildlife, and poachers must be killed, just like they kill our wildlife!
Horrible, how can they live with themselves…..
We won’t always be so damn powerless!
Someone needs to poach the poachers!!
PEOPLE : LET’S GET OUR DRONES OUT — LET’S GET OUR POLICE OUT — PUNISHMENT TO POACHERS MUST BE SERIOUS AND SEVERE ///// TO ALL POACHERS : FIND ANOTHER CAREER — LET THE ANIMALS LIVE! — THEY HAVE THE RIGHT! — THEY WANT TO LIVE! — THE WORLD NEEDS THEM! — THE PLANET NEEDS THEM! — YOUR CAREER-CHOICE OF RUTHLESS MURDER OF INNOCENT, VULNERABLE ANIMALS IS BEYOND HEINOUS & SADISTIC — IT’S IRRATIONAL, HATEFUL, IMMORAL, INSANE, UNCONSCIONABLE & MERCILESS — FIND ANOTHER ENEMY AND REASON TO HATE!
This is why poachers should & in many places are killed on sight.
I am totally ashamed of being a member of the human race.
What a tragedy to live your whe life captive and abused by humans, then, when their beautiful peace that was intended for them by God finally comes, they are horrifically kilked by disgusting, heartless human trash!!!! These innocent, feeling majestic lions deserved better than this and I hope when these no good, soulless people are caught, they get exactly what is coming to them!! They need to be punished horrifically!!!!
Sorry to burst your bubble, but your “god” intended these fuckwad poachers to kill these lions. It was the kindness of some human beings that saved these lions in the first place…not “god”…you might as well say “Santa Claus”….same thing.
Are you trying to pi$$ me off?
I realy hope they catch those poachers ,those lions already suffered a terrible life an now for them to die like that it’s horrible ,so many evil ppl out there
You may not agree with what I have to say but the only way to get through to heartless bastards such as poachers is to kill them slowly.
I have no sympathy for idiots who can’t make a living without illegally slaughtering animals. Turn the hunter into the hunted. Instill fear and the senseless slaughter will end or, the poachers life will.
Yes, it’s just that simple.
I agree completely.
I had read that a sharp shooter was hired to fight against poachers. I hope that is true.
I really like the idea of a poacher hunt. Maybe some enterprising person will set up a company to trophy-hunt the poachers. I reckon there’d be lots of customers for that.
I am beginning to despair of humans.
Me too. I just don’t understand calculating cruelty of the human race.
Isn’t it appalling?
I remember reading a statement once, “In the animal kingdom, humans are the devil personified.” Or similar.
How very true.
Heartbreaking, selfish, lack of compassion, empathy… horrendous.
Keep signing petitions… change happens slowly.. but it can happen.
x
Yes….we can be such an evil and horrid species.