We are heartbroken to report the passing of a giant at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, Bumba, aged around 17 years. On Tuesday, after a loss of appetite and lethargy, Bumba was sedated by Dr Peter Caldwell and taken to hospital. Many of you following on our ‘live’ feeds on veterinary day, saw Dr Caldwell express concern about Bumba’s lungs. Sadly, after blood analysis, x-rays and ultrasounds, the worst was confirmed this morning. Bumba had multiple tumours and his condition would deteriorate rapidly and radically. We took the decision to let a grand old warrior go peacefully. Rescued from a circus in Colombia, he had enjoyed 9 years of love in ADI’s care, most of it home in Africa.

Bumba was rescued from a circus in Colombia with eight other lions (Iron, OJ, Zeus, Junior, Bolillo, Barbie, Shakira and Easy) almost a decade ago. While waiting for export, they were cared for near Bucaramanga for 18 months by ADI’s Colombia Manager Yani Mateus, and her team. Free of the circus, the lions felt soft hay, respect and loving care. Bumba was a quiet, gentle lion, with brothers Zeus and OJ much more dominant. He enjoyed snuggling down in the hay and playing with pumpkins. The circus originally said he was 3 years old but once in Africa, it became clear to us that he and his brothers were much older.

In April 2016, Bumba was one of 33 ex-circus lions ADI flew from Peru and Colombia home to South Africa in Operation Spirit of Freedom to empty the cages in both countries.

At the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, the sight of brothers Bumba, Zeus and Junior patrolling their 6-acre Sam & Eric Habitat, quietly walking through the long grass at night, was spectacular. Sadly, Junior passed from cancer in June 2020 and Zeus from spondylitis complications in October 2021. Many of our circus survivors suffer disease in later life, linked to a lifetime of malnourishment, confinement, stress and suffering in the circus.

In 2022, we moved Bumba to the 7.5 acre Antonia Habitat to introduce him to Iron, related and from the same circus, who had also lost his lifelong companion, OJ. They lived alongside each other, taking turns in the main habitat, were relaxed and peaceful together, communicated with each other, but didn’t develop a bond. We sensed Iron and Bumba simply didn’t feel the need to move on from their soul mates, OJ and Zeus. Iron passed away from cancer in February this year.

Bumba then struck up an unexpected friendship with Smith when he moved in next door after Smith’s return from hospital following a heart condition diagnosis, requiring him to be in a quiet, calm environment. Over the next few months, we were delighted to see the boys regularly sitting or lying down near each other with the fence in between. They were clearly enjoying the company.

It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to the last of this truly magnificent pride of boys from Colombia, but it is important to remember the good years you gave them. They left brutal lives in tiny circus cages on the other side of the world to roam their African homeland, stalk through the long grass, lie beneath the trees, feel the sun on their backs and the wind in their manes, with dignity and without fear – living those precious years just as lions should.

Farewell Bumba.