Lions rescued from circuses in Peru get their teeth fixed.

LIMA, Peru -- King was unable to chew normally because most of his teeth had been pulled by the circus owners. Simba's front claws had been removed and his fangs broken.

The lions were among 21 rescued from Peruvian circuses in 2014 by members of Los Angeles-based Animal Defenders International. Activists say the lions were kept in appalling conditions.

''In the circuses they often break their teeth and remove their claws,'' said Eva Chomba, a Peruvian veterinarian with Animal Defenders. ''It's a painful process in which they do not use anesthesia and those doing it are not veterinarians.''

On Friday, a team of veterinarians sedated King and Simba to perform dental surgery on the big cats, which weigh more than 350 pounds and are 17 and 7 years old, respectively.

U.S. veterinarian Peter Emily, founder of the Peter Emily International...