We’d like to start with news of a new addition to our ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in time for Christmas. One of our family of donkeys has given birth to a beautiful foal. She has been checked by the veterinarian and is doing well.

The donkeys came to the sanctuary in May after being abandoned at a holiday lodge which had closed. ADIWS does not allow breeding, so Christopher the male was neutered on arrival. However, nobody knew the status of the females, and a donkey pregnancy can last up to 14 months! We did suspect that one female looked rather round and are delighted to welcome a new baby to the donkey family, being called Nugget.

Ruben’s first Christmas

This time last year, we were telling you about our dreams for lonely lion Ruben, alone in a small cage in a private zoo in Armenia. The zoo had closed, and the other animals removed. We were told “there was no room on the truck” for Ruben. His world fell silent, and he was alone for six years. His plaintive roar petered out, and confinement and malnutrition had left him barely able to walk a few steps.

In late August, we were finally able to fly him home to Africa. He stepped onto his homeland at ADIWS, wobbled, but determinedly stayed on his feet and headed to play with a giant catnip sack which he grappled with until it exploded.

Since then, his coordination and movement have improved more than we thought possible. From day one, the frightened, angry lion in Armenia has been calm and confident at ADIWS. He comes to the fence to take his medications from his carers. Integral to the improvements in his health have been the variety of toys and enrichments he is given daily – pumpkins, catnip sacks and boxes, balls, watermelons, and other treats. Not just fun but vital physiotherapy.

The same is true for Sasha, a lioness we rescued in Guatemala. A brutal declawing in the circus left her with a crushed toe which developed into cancer in her leg. At ADIWS, Dr Caldwell’s groundbreaking surgery gave her a titanium leg implant. She is pain free, but her tendons have never stretched, so it is essential that she keeps working her leg with her toys and running up and down the fence with her brothers Kimba and Tomas.

Regardless of their medical needs, all the lions and tigers who now live in peace in ADI care in South Africa, love extra enrichment and toys to play with. Anything new causes much excitement. And there’s no one more playful with their treats than Jade with her ‘Spice Girls’ sisters Luna, Moon, and Sun.

See what fun our rescued animals had last Christmas. We can’t wait see their antics this year, with Ruben joining in with the festivities at the Sanctuary!

Watch the lions and tigers go wild last year..

With your help we can give them all another really happy Christmas.

Watch out for our annual Christmas videos of the animals enjoying their treats on our social media and www.youtube.com/ADITV–animals – make sure to follow and subscribe today so you don’t miss out.

Finally, as the end of the year approaches, will you consider a special donation to support the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary? Please donate here.