Dr Peter Caldwell is at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary today, doing health checks on the residents, giving vaccinations, and took the opportunity to give Kesari a thorough examination.

Our big boy vomited recently, and left some food, which is out of character. THIS LION IS MASSIVE. Kesari weighed in today at an incredible 203kg/447.5lbs – it took 11 of the ADIWS team to lift him!

Dr Caldwell felt very proud of this South African lion and gave him a perfect body score – he’s not fat, that’s all muscle. His teeth also look perfect, urine was the right colour, so now, we just await blood test results.

Unlike the ADIWS lion residents rescued from circuses and the pet trade, Kesari has not suffered the damage of in-breeding and malnutrition. He is significantly larger than the others, with perfect proportions for a lion. It is not just the physical abuse and confinement that does lasting damage to animals in captivity.