Over 30 circus lions rescued from Peru, Colombia

<p>A new life in South Africa has begun for over 30 lions rescued from circuses in Peru and Colombia.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/27/world/largest-lion-airlift-rescue-africa-irpt/" target="_blank">Most of the lions</a>&nbsp;were taken from circuses in surprise raids and were moved to Africa in what&#39;s thought to be the biggest airlift of its kind.&nbsp;</p><p>The group landed in Johannesburg over the weekend and soon will be living on a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36157483?ocid=socialflow_facebook&ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbcnews&ns_source=facebook" target="_blank">12,000-acre</a>&nbsp;private sanctuary.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>It&#39;s unlikely the lions would&#39;ve survived if they&#39;d been released into the wild instead. Many had broken teeth and their claws were removed before being rescued.&nbsp;</p><p>The U.S.-based nonprofit Animal Defenders International planned their relocation, and an online&nbsp;<a href="https://theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/store/ars/item/76636/fly-lions-to-freedom?utm_source=ggo-adi&utm_medium=ggo-social&utm-term=4052016&utm_campaign=fly-lions-to-freedom&origin=ars_face_ggoadi_gtgm_flylionstofreedom_76636_04052016" target="_blank">crowdfunding campaign</a>&nbsp;took care of about&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/27/world/largest-lion-airlift-rescue-africa-irpt/" target="_blank">half the cost</a>&nbsp;of flying the lions to South Africa.&nbsp;</p><p>The use of wild animals in circuses&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36157483?ocid=socialflow_facebook&ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbcnews&ns_source=facebook" target="_blank">was banned</a>&nbsp;in Peru in 2011 and in Colombia in 2013. Nine of the lions rescued were voluntarily surrendered by a Colombian circus.</p><p><i>This video includes clips from&nbsp;</i><i><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36157483?ocid=socialflow_facebook&ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbcnews&ns_source=facebook" target="_blank">BBC</a></i><i>,&nbsp;</i><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upBJvulhzmU" target="_blank">Animal Defenders International</a></i><i>&nbsp;and images from Getty Images.&nbsp;</i></p>