Hoover The Tiger Has Finally Been Released To His New Florida Sanctuary

First Posted: Jun 17, 2016 04:30 AM EDT

Hoover the tiger is finally free after spending 12 years of his life in a circus cage. The cat was rescued from a Peruvian circus in April, where he has been enslaved for his entire life.

Hoover, enjoying his morning swim. From the Tiger Lake Cam . https://t.co/Kd2d99c2uE @BigCatRescue pic.twitter.com/dVUjUQ0p5k

— explore.org (@exploreorg) June 9, 2016

Circus shows are known for being cruel to their animals, and Hoover's trainers have whipped and beaten him, forcing him and up to 11 other tigers to perform on demand. Hoover was lucky enough to be rescued and nursed back to health by his rescuers. Inhabitat noted that Hoover now lives in southern Florida where he enjoys warm breeze and shady grass for the rest of his life, at a natural woodland sanctuary that he shares with other tigers.

Animal Defenders International was able to rescue Hoover, but unfortunately it was too late his 11 other cage mates. He was the only one who survived by the time ADI around to save the streak. People Magazine said that Peru is working to enforce new laws against roadside zoos, and it has been a struggle to shut down these operations because many of them have already fled to the mountains.

Hoover is one of the few tigers to find a happy ending in the new legislation. After he was rescued from the circus, ADI transported him to Spirit of Freedom rescue center in Lima, where he was rehabilitated and treated for a year. He was then flown to a Florida sanctuary in time for his 12^th birthday.

"Hoover was very lucky to survive; his last cage mate had died before we could get to him," Jan Creamer, ADI's president said in a statement. "We were very grateful for the public support and information that helped us to track the circus down, now he can live in peace in his wonderful new environment."

The majestic cat instantly felt at home in his posh new habitat, where he has his own swimming lake, a lot of space befitting of the wild species, and a plethora of plants and trees to help him cool off these warm summer months.