As we continue to mourn the passing of an incredible resident of the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, we look back on how against all odds, Leo survived the circus and came home to Africa.

Leo was born in a circus cage in Peru in the early noughties; even as a cub, his long face and distinctive jaw must have made him look special. He was used by many circuses to breed more lions and was claimed to be the father or grandfather of many of the lions in Peru’s circuses. Leo’s future looked bleak, though, there were national circus bans in South America. All that was about to change as ADI undercover investigators were moving from circus to circus, filming, gathering evidence. Leo grew up touring Peru (and probably other countries) crossing deserts and the Andes mountains. That’s where he encountered ADI – although none of us realized who he was until we identified him in footage, years later.

The ADI investigations broke in 2007 and with it came our campaign to secure bans, Bolivia passed a circus ban in 2009 and was joined by Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Paraguay by 2012. Leo was touring Peru and was a breeder, with his mate Muñeca. Their last offspring were Chino, Coco, Rolex, and Africa.

In 2014, we began Operation Spirit of Freedom to enforce Peru and Colombia’s bans on wild animals in circuses. During the first rescue we found Leo, alone in a cage the size of a queen-sized bed and in an adjoining cage were his three sons, Coco, Chino, and Rolex. Leo looked utterly broken, he sat dejected and motionless.

Jan lured him from his circus cage with a treat and he began to come to life, excited, rolling about in the hay, probably his first ever soft bed. His sons were also loaded, but then the circus lawyer got a temporary injunction, called a halt, blocking the removal of the three lionesses, Leo’s daughters Africa and Kiara and his mate Muñeca.

It was agreed we would get the court order we needed to get them all, but meanwhile, the circus fled and went into hiding.

For his first days in the ADI Temporary Rescue Unit, Leo seemed sick and fragile and seemed much older than the 12 years of age claimed by the circus – there is every chance he was 15, not 12, making him closer to 24 years old when he passed away.

Slowly Leo regained his strength at the ADI Rescue Unit, and his inner kitten emerged. He became one of the most playful lions. The circus had smashed all four of his canine teeth and so although he loved to chase footballs, it would take a long time for him to slowly burst them. He had root canals in all four canines.

Seven months later, ADI got a tip about a circus hundreds of miles away near the border with Ecuador. We raced to get there, but the circus got wind of our coming and a chase through the desert followed. Between ADI, the police and wildlife officials, the trailer with Africa, Kiara, Muñeca and two monkeys was cornered and all saved.

Nearly two years after it commenced, Operation Spirit of Freedom concluded with an airlift of 33 lions to South Africa – we put Leo and Muñeca’s travel crates side by side for the flight (all families kept together). ADI had located the animals and circuses, presented evidence, emptied every circus cage, and rescued over a hundred animals.

Leo was reunited with Muñeca and they spent their golden years together living as lions should in the land of their forefathers. Although our lions live in family/friend groups at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, Leo has always been the leader of our super-pride from Colombia and Peru and joined in the morning and evening roaring across their home. He did things at his own pace, pottering slowly down the habitat for his food, always close to Muñeca.

In late 2022, Muñeca became ill and Leo stayed at her side comforting her, nudging her with his head, try to rouse her. When she passed away, Leo faded for a while but then recovered and was his old self, exploring and popping up all over the habitat.

As he aged, Leo would sometimes get distracted and leave half of his food, the Resident Welfare Team adapted, and every evening Leo would be hand fed with tongs – he seemed to enjoy the attention. He started to lose his hearing and slept very heavily. We will miss the sound of Johannes’ voice echoing across the Sanctuary “Leo, Leo, Leo” calling him for his meds or dinner, then the pair would walk side by side along the fence to Leo’s house.

He was an incredible warrior.  He survived all the horrors that the circus threw at him, and they never broke his spirit. He retained his inner kitten into old age along with a certain stubbornness and independence and was loving and loyal to his Muñeca to the end. We will miss you Leo, you were amazing, an inspiration and a complete survivor.

Our thanks to all of the ADI supporters who made Leo and Muñeca’s dreams come true.