As an animal lover I’ve always disagree with circuses. Forcing a wild animal to perform shows with the only purpose of entertaining people is nothing but barbaric and heartbreaking. Nevertheless, there are still countless of innocent animals forced to live in tiny cages. Unfortunately, this majestic tiger is one of those mistreated animals. But fortunately for him, his story has a happy ending!
Hoover is a 12-year-old tiger who lived his entire life in a cage. The poor animal was part of a traveling circus in Peru and all those years he performed tricks all over the country. Fortunately it all came to an end, back in 2012 when the Peruvian government decided to ban circuses. Shortly after, a British rescue group called Animal Defenders International decided to step in and rescue those animals from the hands of their so called “owners.”
Even though, rescuing Hoover wasn’t an easy job as the circus he was part of, has somehow managed to hide from the authorities. But eventually, they track them down three years later, back in 2015 and Hoover finally got his chance to taste freedom. Unfortunately he was the only one that survived out out of 12 other circus tigers.
However, Hoover didn’t look very well, neither. Exhausted and “not-too-healthy,” the rescue tiger stand no chance of getting in the wild. So the only available option for him was to be relocated into a peaceful sanctuary. “He’s just not had a good life,” Jan Creamer with the Animal Defenders International said. “He would not be able to be released back into the wild and would need a home that could give him proper medical care.”
Hoover was initially kept in a safe shelter in Peru, until the vets decided he’s strong enough to travel. After a few days, the beautiful animal was taken to his new forever home – the famous Big Cat Rescue center in Florida, run by Carole Baskin.
“He will spend the rest of his life enjoying the warm breezes of Florida, relaxing in the shady grass, lounging on his platforms and cooling off in our lake,” Carole said at the time. Although he got the chance to taste a free and peacefully life, far far away from the circuses cages, Hoover would never get the chance to experience the life in the wild. The big cat sadly passed away last year.
Find out more about Hoover’s heartbreaking story in the video below!
