We are heartbroken to report the passing of one of our young tigers, JADE, who was taken into hospital after slowing down and showing signs of discomfort. Dr Caldwell found that 9-year-old Jade had a very large, fast-growing stomach cancer. There was nothing to be done and trying to treat it would cause more suffering. It was time to let her go.

Jade was the smallest of our tigers, but a huge presence at ADIWS being the life and soul of the four tigers we call the Spice Girls. She was always the one who raced around and got her sisters playing, sometimes bounding up and getting them up, even when they were sleeping. She seemed to have boundless energy, a lust for life and sense of mischief.

Jade was rescued by ADI at 18 months old from a circus in Guatemala on 13 June 2018, along with two lions (Tarzan and Tanya) and nine other tigers, including her sister Luna and 6-month-old siblings from another litter, Sun and Moon, the group becoming ‘the Spice Girls’, because of their rambunctious behaviors. Five months later, in November, we rescued the remaining tigers.

Overall, the tigers have all proved to be in the worst health of any animals we have rescued – 4 have already passed away due to inherited neurological malfunctions related to lifelong malnutrition and inbreeding. Jade was undersized and suffered spondylosis – the nerves between her brain and spine were pinched, not developed properly and caused a goose-stepping walk. In the adult females, this condition resulted in seizures. The difference can be seen with Sun, Moon, Max and Stripes – all rescued from the same circus but at just 6 months old, and so benefited from the enhanced ADI feeding regime, with extra vitamin and mineral supplements.

Jade had also lost her tail in the circus, with just a small stump left. This is a common injury in circuses, when animals are chased through drop doors between cages and doors dropped on their tails – Tanya (from the same circus) has no fluffy tip to her tail. An ADI investigator filmed this happening in a British circus (before the ban).

In our grief at the loss of a family member, it is hard not to feel rage that circuses not only confine these animals in barren cages and take all the joy from their lives, but also break their bodies, causing lifelong damage.

Despite her health challenges, Jade threw herself into her new life with great vigor. In the ADI Temporary Rescue Unit (TRU) in Guatemala, she enjoyed grass beneath her feet for the first time, and no one who saw it will ever forget, Luna and Jade experiencing a pool for the first time. Within minutes, it was full of mud and half the water had been splashed out. Jade and Luna were introduced to Sun and Moon in the TRU and the youngsters grew up under Jade’s leadership.

When the family arrived at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa, it was Jade who led them out, endlessly bouncing around the entire perimeter at high speed. Despite being the smallest, Jade was clearly the boss, even though Sun and Moon grew much bigger. For seven years this small, bundle of energy was a huge part of our lives and ADIWS, she will be much missed.