When we were still kids, we would always want to visit the carnival to see a circus show. There, we get to see amazing stunts done by circus performers. It even gets more exciting if it’s done by animals like elephants, monkeys, tigers, lions, and many more.
We see no harm from circus performances – not until we’ve come to our grown-up senses.
The fun ends behind the circus curtains. These animals are bringing smiles to people’s faces but to them – it was never fun.
The reality behind the circus show is animal cruelty. Poor animals getting physically beaten and abused whenever they fail to do a trick or learn a new one. Although we can’t really tell if the same nightmare happens to all animals in every circus shows.
Still, we can’t ignore the fact that most of them are being abused by their handlers or trainers.
Fighting animal cruelty.
Thankfully, there are lots of groups and organizations that are on the side of abused animals. They fight for the ultimate goal of spreading the word about animal rights so that more and more people become aware of it.
And Animal Defenders Incorporated (ADI) is one of them. It is an international campaigning group that protects all kinds of animals from any type of abuse. Their global campaign called Stop Circus Suffering was made to uncage animals from the cruel corners of the circus.
According to their website:
“Stop Circus Suffering is a major campaign by Animal Defenders International to end the suffering of animals in circuses. Built on the hard-hitting evidence of our undercover investigations, ADI runs awareness campaigns; lobbies governments and municipalities; and works with partner groups. The campaign has seen many successes including the closure of circuses, rescue of animals, and local and national bans – to date, 47 countries have taken measures to prohibit animal circuses!”
An animal rescue operation on a circus in Guatemala.
The group received reports about 11 wild animals, – 9 tigers and 2 lions that are being held in the circus. Their mission was to free the animals from their cruel circus cages.
Members of ADI, including president Jan and vice president Tim, stepped into action and went personally to where the contained animals were. They saw the poor condition of the animals and they were utterly devastated by it.
They took notice of the lions, in particular…
Tarzan and Tanya.
Tanya and Tarzan were all squeezed inside a small cage, not the ideal size for their humongous size. Just by merely looking at them, ADI immediately saw the suffering the lions have gone through in the premises of the circus.
Tarzan, in particular, needed more help because his lower lip was hanging. He incurred the injury after a fight with one of the tigers. Luckily, things didn’t get worse, and it’s all thanks to Tanya for defending him.
“Tanya’s quite tiny but she fought her heart out,” Jan told The Dodo.
They were held by the circus for 8 years!
They haven’t been to their natural habitat nor experience being real lions. They’re enslaved and forced to perform, the circus milked money out from Tarzan and Tanya’s misery.
ADI quickly took action and decided to bring both Tarzan and Tanya to one of their enclosures. They are freeing them from their 8 years of imprisonment. The group used the place in the meantime while waiting for the lions to recover physically and mentally from their brutal fate in the circus.
Free at last!
They released Tarzan first but the “king” was a bit hesitant to step out. It looks like he became inferior to his natural habitat because of the mental torture that he’s got from the circus. Eventually, he finally comes out and sets foot onto the grass for the very first time in his entire life.
They soon let Tanya out so Tarzan could see her with him. They’ve been through thick and thin so it’s only a must to let them heal together from their dark past.
Bringing them to where they truly belong.
After a couple of more weeks, Tarzan and Tanya, and the rest of the tigers were soon brought to their sanctuary in South Africa. It’s a sanctuary for wild animals like them and it’s most likely where they’ll be spending the rest of their now more meaningful lives.
It’s all thanks to groups like ADI, more and more animals are being freed from people who want nothing but to abuse them. There’s still a long road ahead in the fight against animal cruelty but we are all hoping for the best.
In Tarzan and Tanya’s case, everything should go well from here. We’re glad they still have each other back from day 1 up to the present.
Watch the touching moment below.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
