Twelve tigers and five lions have been relocated to a sanctuary in South Africa after they were rescued from circuses in Guatemala where they spent years.

The animals, both cubs and adults, are among 200 that have been rescued from the circus industry in Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia and Colombia since 2018. The countries have since banned the use of animals in circuses.

"These animals have suffered a lifetime of deprivation and abuse," Jan Creamer , the president of London-based Animal Defenders International (ADI) said in a statement. The group runs the South Africa sanctuary, which is already home to 26 rescued lions.

The animals that arrived in South Africa on Tuesday were sedated before being transported to South Africa in a chartered aircraft.

According to the ADI, the animals were kept in confinement at a vehicle scrapyard in Guatemala for years and physically abused to make them submissive.

The ADI president said South Africa was picked because of its conducive environment for animals.

"South Africa obviously has the perfect climate for the lions, and it’s an advanced country in that it has good infrastructure, airports and roads so it helps us to manage the animals and to bring them here." Creamer said.