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Latin American Circus Lion Flight To Colorado Delayed Until June

DENVER (AP) - Over 30 lions and a bear taken from circuses in Latin America won't be moved to their new home in Colorado until June.

Animal Defenders International had planned to fly the lions and an ailing Andean bear named Cholita to Denver later this month on their way to the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg. But the group says that won't be possible because 40 other wild animals need to be moved to a wildlife sanctuary in Peru before the lion flight. It says waiting until June will allow time for that and also align with the schedule of the airline and the sanctuary.

Cholita
Cholita the bear (credit: CBS)

RELATED: Animal Sanctuary Rescues Former Circus Lions | Paddington-Like Bear To Join Rescue Flight To Colorado

ADI says the 33 lions were taken from circuses across Peru and Colombia.

(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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