Magnificent big cat brothers Vigo and Kumba are biding their time at a rescue centre in Spain, having been rescued from a miserable life under the big top. The hope is they will soon follow in the paw prints of five tigers saved by an international rescue group and re-homed at the Isle of Wight Zoo after an epic 1,300-mile road trek last summer. Ensuring the lions are not stranded amid Channel import and export traffic as March 29 approaches is creating a logistical nightmare for the charity bringing them to the UK.
The Springwatch presenter is a trustee of the Wildheart Trust, founded by his partner, Charlotte Corney, to support conservation efforts around the world as well as providing a “retirement home” for rescue animals at its Isle of Wight Zoo.
With EU exit day, March 29, looming, the trust fears the potential upsurge in Channel lorry raffic could hit transportation times to the UK. Post-Brexit, customs red tape could also hold-up journeys with long tailbacks, something the charity does not want to risk for the five year old lions.
Plans are underway to build the big cats a bespoke sanctuary at the the zoo but there is an enclosure available to be refitted in the short-term if the animals have to be brought over sooner. With costs rising for the transfer mission, the trust is appealing for urgent funds.
Chris says the big cats, already robbed of their flowing manes because they have been castrated, should not have the charity’s pledge to provide them with a contented forever home also stolen.
He said: “The vast majority of us agree that the tradition of circuses should be consigned to the history books along with bear-baiting, bull-fighting, fox-hunting and all the other grotesque examples of animal abuse.
“Thankfully the tide is turning on the big top with popular opinion leading to the end of circuses with performing animals, meanwhile many countries from Austria to Slovenia are introducing their own circus bans.
“This is all good and can’t come quick enough but the by-product of this progress is a number of animals coming out of the ‘entertainment’ system with nowhere to call home.”
Last year Chris was left awestruck when he visited the AAP Primadomus outplacement centre in southern Spain where tigers Mondo, Girona, Antonella, Zoppa and Natasha were kept before being transferred to the Isle of Wight Zoo. Their arrival, he says, was the highlight of his year.
The presenter, recently awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours, says it is now his personal goal to ensure Vigo and Kumba also receive the same love and expert care from the Wildheart team as the tigers, yet Brexit casts a shadow.
He added: “The clock is now ticking to change the fortune of these lions, with Brexit looming and all the trade restrictions which will come in the aftermath, we are really up against it.
“If we can raise the required funds to move the lions before March 29 we know that we’ll also be securing a home for two more ‘in need’ big cats.
“We can’t risk Brexit breaking our promise to these lions so while our leaders debate our fate we’ve got to get on with the job in hand – on behalf of Vigo and Kumba, any support we receive in the next few weeks will be very much appreciated.”
Anyone wishing to help with the fundraising effort for the rehoming of these lions can visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/kumbaandvigo