BREAKING: GOLIATH & CORALIE FLY TO THEIR NEW LIFE NEXT WEEK! The two lions, who endured more than a decade in a tiny circus cage in France, will be stepping out onto the land of their ancestors at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa on May 21! Huge thanks to Qatar Airways who stepped in with a free flight to freedom on a cargo aircraft – ADI’s Jan, Tim, and veterinarian Dr Peter Caldwell will be accompanying #GoliathAndCoralie.

The rescue marks the beginning of the end for wild animals in circuses in France. A ban on wild animal acts will come into force in 2028, and meanwhile, new regulations phasing out the cruel acts enabled Coralie and Goliath to be removed from a circus following an investigation by Free Life Association. They have been cared for at Tonga Terre d’Accueil a temporary holding center for confiscated animals near Lyon, until they could be relocated to ADIWS.

More details will follow as we finalize plans, but for now, we expect to be loading the lions with the team at Tonga Terre d’Accueil on the evening of Monday 19, and then drive through the night to Paris. We depart Paris at 16.55 on Tuesday 20, change aircraft in Qatar, and on to Johannesburg. We expect Coralie and Goliath to be stepping out African soil on the afternoon of May 21, to begin their new life. We will do live updates throughout this operation to transform the lives of two more circus survivors.

Thank you to everyone who has been supporting the rescue – we still need help, please support here if you can:

US $, CA $: https://act.ad-international.org/page/169215/donate/1

UK (£, Euros, Rand): https://act.ad-international.org/page/169158/donate/1

Special thanks to Tonga Terre d’Accueil, Free Life Association and Qatar Airways.