More than 30 lions rescued from abuse in Peruvian and Colombian circuses have been flown to South Africa, in what campaigners have called the largest-ever airlift of big cats.

The 33 lions, with names such as Zeus and Shakira, were freed after the use of wild animals in circuses was outlawed in Peru in 2011 and Colombia in 2013.

Saved from the lion tamer's whip, they have been rounded up with the help of authorities by Animal Defenders International (ADI), an animal rights charity.

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"These lions have endured hell on earth and now they are heading home to paradise," ADI president Jan Creamer said.

ADI said it rescued 24 of the lions in surprise raids on circuses in Peru, while nine were voluntarily surrendered by a circus in Colombia.

"All of the lions when they arrive from the circuses have health problems, parasites, disease," Ms Creamer said.

"All of their lives they haven't had enough food, so they have long-term malnutrition problems."

"These lions have endured hell on earth and now they are heading home to paradise." ( Reuters: Janine Costa )

Ms Creamer said the rescued lions are in generally good health, having spent recent months in straw-lined cages in a refuge north of Lima, where they have been well fed.

Late on Friday (local time), the airlift took off, transporting the big cats to their new life.

"We are on our way!" read a post on the ADI website.

"The 33 lions are on board the ADI Spirit Of Freedom Flight, on route to their wonderful new lives at Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary, South Africa."

The group of big cats includes Shakira, named after the Colombian pop singer — her minders said she likes to play with a tire and eat watermelons.

From one of 10 Peruvian circuses comes "Ricardo, the one-eyed lion" and from another "Joseph, the almost-blind lion".

'They can remember who they are'

The lions would be well looked-after on the 16 hour flight to South Africa, ADI said. ( Reuters: Janine Costa )

Together, the 33 lions were to take a 15-hour flight to South Africa in travel cages inside the plane chartered by ADI.

They will arrive in Johannesburg and be taken on to the Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary in the north of the country.

"The lions will be in their natural habitat for the first time in their lives," Ms Creamer said.

"They should fit right into that habitat — it's the best environment for them."

Eva Chomba, a veterinarian with ADI, said the trip to Johannesburg would take about 16 hours with a stop in Brazil to refuel.

"We're going to take care of the animals throughout the whole trip," Ms Chomba said.

"Three of us are going on the plane... to tend to the animals' needs, to give them chicken meat and water because the trip is very long and they need attention."

Savannah Heuser, founder of Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary, said in a statement: "The lions are returning to where they belong. This is their birth right — African sun, African night skies, African bush and sounds, clouds, summer thunderstorms, large enclosures in a natural setting where they can remember who they are."

The cost of the transfer is $13,150 per cat, ADI said.



AFP/Reuters