Freedom, at last: Slovakia’s last circus tigers settle into their new sanctuary home
Tigresses Samba and Kenya are finally feeling real grass underneath their paws, after being kept for years in tiny circus trailers.
Tigresses Samba and Kenya relaxing together outside at the Felida Big Cat Sanctuary. Credit: Four Paws
Slovakia’s last circus tigers are now enjoying a second chance at life in their new sanctuary home.
The tigers, known as Samba and Kenya, were originally bred in captivity in France before being sold to a Czech circus group in 2013 which then moved to Slovakia.
But in 2018, Slovakia announced a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses, meaning that the tigers no longer had to perform. However, the animals were instead forced to live in tiny circus trailer cages with little space to move.
The two female tigers spent years living in these conditions, until their owner thankfully decided to voluntarily hand them over to an animal welfare association.
The tiger pair in their small cages before rescue. Credit: Four Paws
Animal campaign group Four Paws then stepped in to offer assistance with the tigers’ relocation and help with finding them a permanent sanctuary home.
Now, Samba and Kenya have fully settled into their new sanctuary home, at the Felida Big Cat Sanctuary in the Netherlands. The pair, both of whom are fourteen years old, arrived earlier this year in January.
But before they could venture out, the animals underwent a quarantine process and were also given medical treatment, including Samba who was found to be suffering from internal parasites.
Sanctuary caretakers then spent time carefully and slowly reintroducing the pair, and pointed out that while Kenya and Samba had to live together in tiny circus trailers for years, it was not a given that they wanted to stay together.
After settling into their new home, the pair appear to be loving their new sanctuary life.
Kenya sleeping on the grass at the FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary. Credit: Four Paws
“After they cautiously entered their outdoor enclosures and got a feeling for their new surroundings, Samba and Kenya quickly found their favourite spot to rest and take a nap,” said Juno van Zon, Head of Animal Management at Felida Big Cat Sanctuary.
The sanctuary said that the tigresses are often seen laying close to each other.
“Finally, away from loud crowds and stressful performances, both seem to slowly be recovering from their past,” added van Zon.
The decline of animal circuses
As Slovakia’s last circus tigers, Four Paws described the animal’s relocation as a “milestone” for the country’s efforts to end the keeping of wild animals in circuses.
With the ban in place, circuses are now not allowed to enter Slovakia if they have big cats or any animals on the country’s banned list.
Many countries across Europe have similar bans on the use of wild animals in circuses, including England, Spain, and the Netherlands. On a global scale, countries including Singapore, Mexico and India have banned wild animal circuses too.
Kenya rolling in grass at the FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary. Credit: Four Paws
Whilst animal circuses are still legal in the US, there has been a broader turn away from using animals in performances as circuses move to focus on human feats and animal-free stunts.
America’s long-running Ringlin Bros circus, which had in the past famously used elephants, lions, and tigers to perform tricks, announced its decision to ditch animal performances for its latest run for the first time in the company’s 100-plus year history.
Speak out against animal circuses: join Species Unite in urging Congress to finally pass the Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act, a bill which will ban animal circuses in the US. Add your name here.
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