Two rescued circus lions from Bulgaria are well into their journey of more than 17 000km to begin new lives at Shamwari Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape.
International charity The Born Free Foundation said that 7-year-old brothers Jora and Black were rescued by Born Free in July from a cramped metal beast wagon near Sofia.
They were assisted by international animal welfare organisation Four Paws.
Their plight made international headlines and a major appeal was launched by Helen Worth, an actress in Coronation Street.
Worth said: “I am so excited to be part of this venture to rehome them at Shamwari. The public response has been heart-warming, and to finally see them set foot on African soil will be most rewarding.”
Jora and Black were flown from Bourgas airport to London Gatwick on Saturday.
The lions then travelled by road in an approved quarantine vehicle to Heathrow.
The longest leg of the journey would see the brothers fly from Heathrow to Joburg.
On arrival in South Africa, they were to be taken by a convoy of vehicles and trailers to their new home at the Born Free Jean Byrd Education and Rescue Centre, just outside Port Elizabeth. Here they will be released into spacious, natural accommodation.
Taken in as small cubs, Jora and Black were originally part of a circus act touring Eastern Europe and Turkey.
After the Bulgarian government’s ban on the use of wild animals in circuses, the lions were left to languish in a stifling beast wagon since last year, until their owners agreed to re-home them with Born Free.
Johan Joubert, a vet and Shamwari’s group head of wildlife, and Tony Wiles, Born Free’s big cat expert, will be with the lions at every step of their long journey to Africa.
Speaking in transit in England, Wiles said: “The lions are doing really well, and we are very happy with their progress.
“They are travelling well in their crates, and we will be keeping a close eye on them throughout the journey.”
For more information on Born Free, visit www.bornfree.org.uk.