Two ex-circus lions rescued from cramped conditions in Bulgaria have embarked on an epic journey of almost 17‚000km to begin new lives in their ancestral home of Africa where they will be resettled in South Africa’s Shamwari Game Reserve. Seven-year-old brothers Jora and Black were rescued from a cramped metal beast wagon near Bulgaria’s capital‚ Sofia‚ in July this year by international wildlife charity The Born Free Foundation‚ assisted assisted by international animal welfare organisation Four Paws.lionTaken in as small cubs‚ Jora and Black were originally part of a circus act touring Eastern Europe and Turkey. Following the Bulgarian government’s much-welcomed ban on the use of wild animals in circuses‚ the lions were left to languish in a stifling beast wagon since the summer of 2014‚ until their owners agreed to re-home them with Born Free.Their terrible plight made international headlines and a major appeal was launched by Coronation Street actress Helen Worth.“It is truly incredible that these majestic animals have spent their lives from being small cubs cooped up in a circus trailer. I am so excited to be part of this incredible venture to re-home them to the wonderful Shamwari Game Reserve. The public response has been heart-warming and to finally see them set foot on African soil will be most rewarding‚” the actress said.The lions will be flown from Bourgas airport to London Gatwick by Thomson Airways‚ where they will be met by legendary actress and Born Free Foundation Co-Founder‚ Virginia McKenna OBE.The star of the movie ‘Born Free’ which also featured her husband Bill Travers‚ said: “It’s fantastic to see the animals have travelled so well. They still have a long way to go but I am really happy that with the generous public support we are able to offer them a wonderful new home with our friends at Shamwari Game Reserve. They deserve no less.”Jora and Black will then travel by road in an approved quarantine vehicle to London Heathrow. Waiting to meet them there will be Helen Worth.The lions will then commence the longest leg of their mammoth journey‚ flying from Heathrow to Johannesburg. On arrival in South Africa they will be transported by a convoy of Land Rover Discovery vehicles and trailers to their new home at the Born Free Jean Byrd Education and Rescue Centre‚ at the award-winning Shamwari Game Reserve‚ just outside of Port Elizabeth.Here they will eventually be released into spacious‚ safe and enriching natural accommodation‚ surrounded by the sights and sounds of Africa...