It will be ten years ago this year that the two ADI raids on the same grim circus in Cusco, Peru, reunited Kiara with her cubs Mahla and Scarc. Those cubs grew into full grown lions several years ago and just look at Mahla at play now in the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS), South Africa! Mahla’s strength and agility remind us that the lionesses are the hunters of the pride in the wild, providing the food for the family. Young Dhubiya, of the #Kuwait6 – six young lions rescued from Kuwait’s illegal pet lion trade that we hope will be arriving at the ADIWS in May – reminds us of a young Mahla. We can’t wait to see her getting to grips with some of the toys at ADIWS.

Remember: Mahla and Scarc were the last cubs ever born in a circus in Peru. No other lions have to face misery in circuses there thanks to the country outlawing the use of wild animals in circuses and ADI enforcing the ban (saving over 100 animals). Help ADI keep securing bans on animals in circuses and stamp out the illegal wildlife trade dealing in big cats as pets.