It is over three years since the cataract on Kiara’s left eye began to significantly impact her vision and she now has very little, if any, vision in that eye. Our ADI Wildlife Sanctuary team constantly monitor for any inflammation and discomfort, so it can be treated quickly. Dr Peter Caldwell examined Kiara and believes she will need surgery in the new year to remove the eye. She is believed to be 15 years old, although the ages given by circuses are often suspect, as they try to hide the length of time they have been in possession of the animals. ADI rescued her from a circus in Peru ten years ago.

Eye problems are common in rescued circus animals due to early age malnutrition, and it is often a case of holding the damage at bay for as long as possible for a lioness like Kiara. Performing the surgery while she is middle aged, should make any adjustment easier and hopefully not impact her relationship with younger sibling Africa.

Although cataract surgery is very successful in people there are added complications with big cats. Post-operative care is intensive, including eye drops needing to be applied multiple times a day. As a result, is almost never successful in animals of her age. Over the years, several of our lions, Leo, Kiara Cusco, and Smith, have needed to have an eye removed due to cataracts which lead to infection, all have coped well and resumed life as normal following the surgery.