33 Rescued Circus Lions Airlifted to South African Sanctuary

— -- Thirty-three lions rescued from "deplorable conditions" in circuses in Peru and Colombia are being flown over 7,000 miles today back to their homeland in South African bush, according to Animal Defenders International, the group spearheading the operation.

The lions' journey marks the conclusion of Operation Spirit of Freedom, a mission started by ADI in partnership with the Peruvian and Colombian governments to enforce the ban on wild animals in circuses and crack down on illegal wildlife trafficking, ADI said in a news release earlier this week.

ABC News "Nightline" has been following this story since last year and will air an update on May 3.

The operation has rescued over 100 animals, including the 33 lions were who were found "living in deplorable conditions in cages on the backs of trucks," ADI said.

Unfortunately, almost all the lions "have been mutilated to remove their claws, one has lost an eye, another is almost blind, and many have smashed and broken teeth," the group said.

"These lions have endured hell on earth and now they are heading home to paradise," ADI President Jan Creamer said in ADI's news release.

But later today, the lions will begin a new chapter of their lives at Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary, ADI said.

There, the lions will enjoy large natural enclosures situated in pristine African bush complete with drinking pools, platforms and toys, according to Savannah Heuser, the sanctuary's founder.

"This is their birth right," Heuser said in ADI's news release. "African sun, African night skies, African bush and sounds, clouds, summer thunderstorms, large enclosures in a natural setting where they can remember who they are.”