Colorado Sanctuary Founder Leads Massive Animal Rescue from Closed Puerto Rico Zoo

After months of effort, hundreds of animals, including lions, hippos and an 8,000-pound elephant, have been relocated to sanctuaries across the U.S. for rehabilitation and a chance at a better life.

Pat Craig, founder of The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado, led a mission to rescue hundreds of animals from the Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo in Puerto Rico, which was closed in 2018 after years of complaints about conditions and animal mistreatment.
The U.S. Department of Justice oversaw the evacuation of every single animal from the zoo, including lions, hippos and an 8,000-pound elephant, after the zoo was cited two dozen times for substandard conditions and animal mistreatment over a decade.
Over the course of five months, Craig and his team used patience, prodding, pursuit, and grape jelly to lure each animal into custom-built crates for transport to new homes in sanctuaries across the U.S.
Many of the animals suffered from severe physical and emotional trauma due to neglect and mistreatment at the zoo, requiring extensive rehabilitation at their new homes.
Craig's sanctuary in Colorado, a 1,200-acre facility, took in as many of the rescued animals as possible, providing them with tailored diets, medical care, and a vast space to roam.

CBS News