Developing nations are often guilty of putting conservation very low on their list of priorities, with the provision of basic facilities (food, water, shelter) for their population inevitably a more pressing concern. Bolivia seems to be breaking the mold however, and have become the first nation anywhere in the world to pass a law making it illegal for ANY wild animal to appear in a circus – good going!
This has meant that many of the animals already part of circuses in Bolivia have had to find new homes, not always an easy task. A recent success story however is that 25 lions have just found a home in a number of wildlife reserves in the US, and Animal Defenders International (ADI) are currently preparing them for the journey to their new home.
There is still a large illegal animal trafficking problem in Bolivia, mainly for the pet trade, but this circus law is a huge step in the right direction.
Click in here to read the BBC article about the rescued lions