Rescue Lions in Lima Undergo Dental Surgery
Vets have carried out dental surgery on two lions, who were rescued from a circus in Lima.
King and Simba were rescued from a circus by Animal Defenders, a charity that campaigns for the safe treatment of animals, based in Los Angeles. King was struggling to eat properly because he had the majority of his teeth removed, while Simba had his canine teeth broken and was also suffering as a result of having his claws removed. The lions, who weigh in at more than 350lbs, had been kept in terrible conditions and were in poor health when the charity came to their rescue.
A Peruvian vet who works as part of Animal Defenders International, Eva Chomba, said that in circuses, they tend to break or remove the claws and teeth to reduce the risk of human injury. The procedures are carried out by untrained people without anaesthetic and are very painful and traumatic for the animals. The effects can also be very negative for the animals going forward. In this case, King suffered poor health because he was unable to eat properly and a previous injury had become infected. After the initial surgery, vets recommended that King undergo further treatment and he will be moved to a sanctuary for animals in Denver, Colorado.
The veterinary team, which includes vets from Peru and the USA, is also treating a group of 26 monkeys rescued from circuses. Peru banned circuses from using animals in 2011. However, the process of implanting this legislation has been slower than desired and many are still employing the services of wild animals.
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