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Date Published: 06/12/2024

Lion cubs rescued from French circus find new home in Alicante

The AAP Primadomus rescue centre also took in three adult cats who all came to the centre in terrible condition

Nine lion cubs, alongside two mothers and a third adult cat, have just started a new life in the AAP Primadomus rescue centre in Villena, Alicante. Far from their previous existence in a French circus, the adult felines are looking to regain their strength, and the cubs are set to grow up healthy in their new sanctuary in Spain.

The delicate nature of rearing cubs is what has made this rescue mission all the more urgent. The French circus was in breach of French regulation and law, by allowing the births of the babies last summer.

They further broke French rules by keeping the felines in a mobile facility from which they were displayed to the public. Furthermore, the cubs and adults alike were kept in questionable conditions and when they finally arrived at the rescue centre in Spain they were in a bad state.

The AAP Primadomus rescue centre stated that the felines were "very dirty" upon arrival and they showed signs of being malnourished. However, This case is not among the most serious that AAP has dealt with. In the past, the centre has received felines confiscated from individuals who exploited them in private shows or who had suffered abuse.

Nevertheless, this rescue is the largest one undertaken by the rescue centre in Villena. The rescue of such a large number of felines is a result of the new law that came into force in France in 2023, that bans the breeding, acquisition and sale of wild animals in circuses.

The rescue centre has also noted that they were scared that the animals would be sold to finance the upkeep of the rest of the circus animals. Luckily, the circus was persuaded to hand over the lions to the rescue centre with the help of the organisation ‘code animal’.

The rescue, initially scheduled for October, had to be postponed due to the lack of cooperation from the circus and an increasingly "tense" atmosphere. Finally, this past Sunday, the operation was carried out, culminating in the transfer of the lions after an "arduous journey" of more than 20 hours to the headquarters of AAP Primadomus in Spain, located in the municipality of Villena.

The felines, now in the rescue centre, will have to undergo a quarantine period and be seen by vets to assess their health. Only after that has been completed will the animals be able to begin their recovery. The centre has stated that the "babies were especially nervous" when they first arrived in the centre.

Once the felines are given the all clear they can then gain access to AAP Primadomus's largest facility of around 4,000 square metres, to continue their recovery process.

Though this environment is not that of the wild of Africa, it is a step in the right direction for the wellbeing of these beautiful big cats.

For more information, news and what’s on visit our homepage at Alicante Today

Images: AAP Primadomus

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