The year 2015 was very important for AAP. In May of that year, the first big cats arrived at AAP Spain. The two lions and two tigers were rescued from a French circus.
That same year, AAP also joined the InfoCircos coalition, and Catalonia became the first autonomous community in Spain to ban circuses with wild animals. Furthermore, on 15 September, the Netherlands banned circuses with wild animals throughout the country. Important milestones to celebrate!
Big cats at AAP Spain
Since the AAP rescue centre in Spain opened its doors in 2009, different species of primates have passed through its facilities. However, due to the growing demand for the rescue of big cats and the expected imminent approval of national legislation in the Netherlands banning circuses with wild animals, AAP began to expand its scope of work.
The first of three modules to be built at the Spanish rescue centre was completed in early 2015. Everything was ready to welcome the first big cats!
First big cats at AAP
Reza and Aya, two lions, and Radja and Kai, two tigers, were the first big cats to arrive at the newly completed big cat facility in Spain. All four were rescued from a circus in France and had spent their lives in circus wagons, under stage lights and living behind bars.
This rescue was the first of many. In 2016, all three big cat modules were fully operational and able to house tigers and lions from all over Europe, rescued from circuses but also from private owners.
Goodbye to circuses with animals in the Netherlands
The year 2015 was also very special for AAP as the nationwide ban on circuses with animals came into effect on 15 September. AAP’s work since 1972 has been fundamental in educating and raising awareness of the need to stop using wild animals in the entertainment industry. A great example for other countries across Europe.
Spain and circuses
Also in 2015, AAP joined the InfoCircos coalition, together with ANDA, FAADA and AnimaNaturalis. The organizations campaigned for a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses throughout Spain. The foundations were laid when Catalonia became the first autonomous community to ban circuses with animals that year. This milestone shows that the majority of the Spanish population rejected the presence of animals in circuses, due to their limited educational value and the poor welfare of animals in circuses.
Gradually, more towns and cities refused to authorise these practices, until 12 of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities enforced the ban. Finally, in 2023, the use of wild animals was definitively banned throughout the country.
Video: 10 years rescuing big cats at AAP
To celebrate this special date, we couldn’t think of a better way than to do so with the protagonists of the biggest big cat rescue in AAP’s history: nine cubs (not so little anymore), their two mothers and their father were rescued from a circus in France at the end of last year. In this fun video, we see the cubs sniffing and investigating a large papier-mâché number 10, made by the co-workers and volunteers at AAP Spain.
