Lions Goliath and Coralie lived more than a decade in a cramped, bare circus cage on the back of a truck, touring France. Now, thanks to new regulations aimed at ending the use of wild animals in circuses, the doting pair of lions are on their way to the land of their ancestors at Animal Defenders International’s Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS) in South Africa – freedom to roam, run, play, and snooze under African skies.
On Tuesday May 20 Goliath and Coralie are flying to Africa.
Animal Defenders International (ADI) has been urgently raising the funds to relocate the animals and cover the costs of their lifetime care when, this week, Qatar Airways Cargo dramatically offered to fly the lions to their new life for free! The lions will fly on a freighter from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport on Tuesday May 20 to Doha, then transfer to another aircraft for the final leg of the journey to Johannesburg, arriving May 21. ADI Founders Jan Creamer and Tim Phillips and ADI veterinarian Dr Peter Caldwell will accompany Goliath and Coralie on the two-day journey.
Mark Drusch, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo said: “We are proud to once again be supporting ADI, this time in bringing these two beautiful lions home to Africa. Our WeQare Rewild the Planet initiative is our commitment to returning wildlife and endangered species back to their natural habitat, free of charge.”
“It takes a lot of effort and logistics for our team to organise moving such large animals; from the logistics at the airports, loading and unloading the animals from the aircraft, to ensuring the correct cages and wellbeing of the animals are in place, but it is something we are all collectively very proud and passionate to be a part of.”
In 2021, France – once home to one of the most prestigious circus industries in the world – joined 50 other countries banning wild animals like lions, tigers, and elephants in circuses. The law is phasing out the cruel shows using new regulations, followed by the full ban coming into force in 2028.
Using the new rules, a complaint was filed against Cirque Idéal by France’s Free Life Association. Despite the circus going into hiding, they were tracked down, and 13-year-old Coralie and 11-year-old Goliath were seized. The playful lions were relocated to Tonga Terre d’Accueil, near St Etienne, a temporary holding facility for confiscated wildlife – then a call went out to ADI.
ADI specialises in large-scale rescue missions following government circus bans, removing all circus animals in countries like Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Guatemala – flying 33 ex-circus lions from Peru and Colombia on one aircraft to South Africa.
ADI’s Jan Creamer and Tim Phillips visited Goliath and Coralie at Tonga Terre d’Accueil and agreed to give them a new life at the 455-acre ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in Free State, South Africa, home to dozens of rescued lions, tigers, and other animals. It is not possible to return animals like Goliath and Coralie to the wild due to the inbreeding and damage caused by circus life, so ADIWS provides huge natural habitats ranging from 2.5 acres to 8 acres – more space and freedom than they have ever known, and a life as close as possible to what nature intended.
ADI President Jan Creamer said: “These two intelligent, beautiful, lions have suffered a lifetime of deprivation and abuse, living in a tiny cage, bare floorboards, behind bars, with no regard given to their wellbeing or physical needs. No freedom of movement, no space to roam. If we all pull together, they will enjoy life under the African sunshine, in their native homeland where they can run, play, chase the local wildlife, or snooze in the grass.”
A scientific study from Bristol University in the UK concluded that “life for wild animals in travelling circuses…does not appear to constitute either a ‘good life’ or a ‘life worth living’”. ADI has spearheaded the global Stop Circus Suffering campaign using evidence from their undercover investigations in circuses that has seen more than 50 countries and seven US states ban wild animals in circuses.
Jan Creamer added: “It is wonderful news that the lions will be home in Africa by this time next week thanks to this massive contribution from Qatar Airways Cargo. Unfortunately, we are still a long way off our fundraising target to cover the costs of caring for Coralie and Goliath for the next ten years, preparing a habitat and house for them at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary and other costs of the relocation to Africa such as ground transport, crates, airport costs, so I hope people will continue to help out these lions who suffered so much. This mission will transform the lives of Goliath and Coralie and take us a step closer to the day when there will be no lions in cages in France.”
