Ayacucho peacefully awaiting his release at the Spirit of Freedom center in the outskirts of Lima, Peru 2014. He is one of the several circus animals rescued by Animal Defenders International during their mission in Peru. Ayacucho and the other lions went onto a well deserved retirement at a sanctuary in South Africa, Hoover the tiger went to a sanctuary in Florida, USA and the native animals went to sanctuaries in their natural Peruvian habitats. These types of rescue missions go on for years. From undercover investigations, to lobbying, to rescuing, to treating their physical and mental injuries, to finding them forever homes and finally looking after them until their final rest.
