Colorado’s Wild Animal Sanctuary: Rescuing Lions From Bolivian Circuses

The Wild Animal Sanctuary just outside of the eastern plains town of Keenesburg, Colorado is truly something to behold.

Read More: Take a Virtual Tour of Colorado’s Wild Animal Sanctuary |

One of the most recent headlines regarding the sanctuary came just a few years ago on the heels of the Tiger King series reporting that following the closure of Joe Exotic's GW Zoo, some of the tigers were relocated to the Centennial State.

However, a few years earlier, the Wild Animal Sanctuary was part of a massive operation involving the rescue of 25 circus lions in Bolivia and, luckily, the entire saga was pretty well documented.

Colorado Wild Animal Sanctuary + the Bolivian Circus Lion Rescue

A few years back, the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado was the subject of a well-documented rescue of 25 malnourished, neglected, and abused lions that were once owned by a number of circuses in Bolivia.

Following the passage of a law prohibiting Bolivian circuses from using wild animals, a group known as Animal Defenders International made a trip to South America to rescue the retired lions, a task that was often met with resistance from the circus owners.

However, all 25 lions did end up being rescued from the eight circuses and after being secured, were loaded up into a plane that brought the animals to Denver International Airport.

In preparation, the Wild Animal Sanctuary built a brand new, massive facility on the land just for these lions.

The animals were then given medical examinations and treatments before settling into their new homes.

Keep scrolling to check out some highlights from this amazing story: