Monday, August 29 2005 17:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mananthavadi (Kerala): After entertaining lakhs of circus lovers and staying in tiny cages in relatively unhygienic conditions for years, 19 lions and a tiger return this evening from here to their natural habitat in Tirupati.

Three lions, 16 lioness and a tiger, part of the popular 'Jumbo circus' company, had been relocated in small cages inside the Ramagiri coffee estate, owned by a close relative of the circus company owner, after the Supreme Court directed banning exhibition of wild animals like bear, tiger, leopard and lion, Wayanad DFO V P Mohammed Sherif told sources.

"However, their stay in the estate at Varavayal near Mananthavadi prolonged for seven years after activists of the Chennai unit of People for Animals (PFA), an environmental organisation, intervened and went for litigation for keeping the animals in 'unhygienic' conditions in the estate", he said.

The national zoo authorities, as directed by the Union Environment ministry, finally arranged to transport the animals to Tirupati Sree Venkateshwara Zoological park, about 20 km from the hill shrine, where they will be kept separately in spacious cages for identification.

As per the settlement reached with the authorities, it has been decided to provide adequate compensation to the circus company for handing over the animals, most of which are in the 15-20 age group, the DFO said.

"Accompanied by two veterinary doctors and 'probably' by the PFA activists, the animals would make the nearly 20 hour journey in seven trucks from here and are expected to reach the pilgrim town on September one", he said.