Leopards Run Free

Sirius and Pitou had lived in a 20 foot cage in a Monaco zoo for the past ten years. But after a five year campaign, they were set free last week to live in a wildlife reserve in South Africa. The leopards were given to the late Prince Ranier by a circus owner. Prince Albert of Monaco freed them for release and said:

“The leopards are quite old now but if they can have a nice last few years, then hopefully they will appreciate that we can do that for them.

“It’s time to rethink the mission of zoos, particularly when we can now see the wonder of animal life in documentaries.”

76-year-old Virginia McKenna of the Born Free Foundation, star of the 1966 film Born Free, spearheaded the campaign. Link -via Fark