MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FLA. (WSVN) - Three tigers rescued from a hard circus life in Guatemala have made a stop at Miami International Airport before moving to an animal sanctuary in Tampa.
The Bengal tigers received a warm welcome as they landed at the airport early Monday morning, before heading to Big Cat Rescue to start their new lives.
When the use of animals was banned from circus performances in 2017, Guatemala’s government asked Animal Defenders International to help enforce the law throughout the country.
Max, Simba and Kimba were among other felines rescued in an intense, one-day operation back in June of 2018.
Kimba was about a year and a half at the time of the rescue, and Animal Defenders International officials said the young tiger was being severely beaten by circus workers.
“Although this particular circus had initially agreed to turn over it’s animals, when the authorities arrived and we arrived as support for the authorities, there was, unfortunately, a very intense standoff,” said Christina Scaringe with Animal Defenders International.
After they were rescued, the three tigers lived in a temporary rescue center in the Central American country until they could be brought into the U.S.
“It takes quite a while for the paperwork to all be signed off on and the vet checks, et cetera, both from U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the Guatemalan government,” said Susan Bass with Big Cat Rescue.
Their rough life of performing and being mistreated will be left in the past as they head to their new home.
“It’s amazing to see them just develop and become what they were meant to be,” said Animal Defenders International President Jan Creamer.
Big Cat Rescue will have spacious enclosures, pools and grassy plains for the three tigers to live the rest of their lives in a calm and safe environment.
“Each one of the tigers will have their own separate enclosure that’s about 4,000 square feet, so they have a lot of room,” said Bass. “They’re going to have their own individual pool to splash around in and cool off. They’re going to have a lot of dens to hide in or sneak around in and they’re going to have platforms. These are majestic cats. They shouldn’t be forced to perform unnatural acts just to entertain people.”
The other tigers and lions rescued in the operation will head to an animal sanctuary in South Africa.
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