Lion Ark

Lion Ark is the award-winning documentary that tells the story of how Bolivia banned the use of animals circuses, the circuses defied the law, but ADI tracked them down, raiding one after the other until every animal was saved. You are transported to the heart of the action, up close and personal with the animals and find yourself cheering the lions.

Do not miss out as Lion Ark finally lands in Canada. ADI’s Rescue Team leaders Jan Creamer and Tim Phillips will be presenting Lion Ark followed by a Q&A at Innis Town Hall, University of Toronto on Wednesday 13th September at 7:00pm. There’ll also be slides and footage from ADI’s most recent rescues.

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Join us, leave the film with a smile and feel inspired that we can change the world for animals.

This is a great opportunity to see the multi-award winning film on a big screen, to get an insight into the massive rescue in Peru, meet the people behind this work AND help animals! A feel-good and empowering film – a great night out.

ADI’s multi award-winning movie Lion Ark continues to tour Italy as part of the campaign with LAV to secure a ban on wild animals in circuses. On August 5th 2017, Lion Ark screened in Grosseto, Tuscany, showing visitors to the Festival of Life how the lives of animals in circuses are transformed once freed from their cages and chains.

Proposals to phase out wild animal acts have already passed the Italian Senate Culture Committee, the first of four parliamentary hurdles to overcome. If the legislation is passed, Italy would join the growing number of countries, nearly 40 to date, taking action to stop circus suffering.

Learn more about the Stop Circus Suffering campaign »

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The multi award-winning film Lion Ark, charting the Animal Defenders International (ADI) rescue operation to enforce legislation banning animal circus acts in Bolivia, will screen at Cinema Massimo for the CinemAmbiente 20th Environmental Film Festival in Turin on Saturday 3 June 2017 at 5.45pm.

The screening is a special hour-long Italian version of the film, followed by a panel discussion with ADI, LAV and contemporary circus Festival Mirabilia.

No booking is required.

Lion Ark is being shown in Italy as part of a campaign to ban wild animal acts nationwide. Current legislation governing animal circuses in Italy dates back to 1968 and is out of step with public and expert opinion. Proposals by the government to phase out animal circus acts would, if passed, see Italy join 18 European countries, and 35 around the world, with restrictions in place.

Lion Ark premiered at the Italian Senate in March, concluding a special workshop in support of the government proposals and hosted by the Italian animal group LAV in association with ADI.

CinemAmbiente is the 20th film festival to have selected Lion Ark; the film has acquired 11 awards, including a nomination at the prestigious 45th NAACP Image Awards.

Watch the trailer!

Buy on DVD (full English version)!

The award-winning film Lion Ark, charting the Animal Defenders International (ADI) rescue operation to enforce legislation banning animal circuses in Bolivia, will premiere in Poland at a series of public screenings across the country organised by Fundacja Viva! – Akcja dla Zwierząt (Viva! Action for Animals Foundation) and the Polish Animal-Free Circus Coalition.

Lion Ark is more action adventure than traditional documentary. The critically acclaimed film follows the story of how a shocking exposé led to Bolivia banning animal circuses. Circuses defy the law but are tracked down by ADI, animals saved and a joyous finale sees 25 lions airlifted to freedom.

Current legislation in Poland restricts the use of wild-born animals nationwide, and dozens of local authorities prohibit the use of animals in circuses on public land. ADI is teaming up with Fundacja Viva! – Akcja dla Zwierząt and the Polish Animal-Free Circus Coalition to urge the government to extend its legislation and prohibit animals in circuses in line with other European countries including Austria, Croatia, Greece, Malta, Norway, Slovenia, and The Netherlands.

ADI’s case studies over the past twenty years have concluded that given the constant travel, the need for animal accommodation to be small, lightweight and mobile, circuses cannot provide the animals with the space and environment they need to maintain physical and psychological health. Welfare is always compromised.

The epic Operation Spirit of Freedom, their most recent mission, saw ADI rescue over 100 animals from circuses and the illegal wildlife trade as they assisted the government of Peru with enforcement of a ban on wild animal acts. Native animals including endangered bears and dozens of monkeys were rehomed in Amazon sanctuaries, while a tiger was relocated to a sanctuary in Florida and 33 African lions (nine from Colombia) airlifted to freedom and natural bush habitats in their native Africa.

ADI President and Lion Ark producer Jan Creamer said: “Seeing the transformation of the animals we save drives us to help others in need, and we hope Lion Ark will inspire viewers to help Poland’s circus animals.”

Watch the trailer here »
Lion Ark is available on DVD – buy it now »