A week ago today we were scrambling to respond to calls for help from Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary which had just been hit by a devastating wildfire.

With fires still being extinguished, Dr Peter Caldwell flew down to treat animals, work began to secure permits to move the animals from Western Cape to Free State, and three members of the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary team headed down to help evacuate animals.

On Saturday, Dr Caldwell examined Lei-ah and Elsa and boosted their hydration with fluid drips.  They were then loaded in a vehicle donated for the trip by Driven by Nature and embarked on the 15+ hour journey with Lefaso accompanying them and checking on them periodically, another ADIWS car followed with a trailer – we had hoped we would also be bringing a tiger, Rays, but sadly he passed away due to smoke inhalation. Other animals were heading off in ones and twos to sanctuaries across South Africa as everyone provided what help they could.

At 4am on Sunday morning, the lions arrived at ADIWS and were released into our quarantine unit house. They had suffered a terrifying ordeal with the fire and were extremely nervous. They cuddled up together and the following morning the doors were opened but they remained inside with a member of our Resident Welfare Team sitting quietly with them. On Monday they ventured out and began to explore, growing in confidence by the hour.

Both lions have only partial sight and we will be assessing their vision to see what adaptations may be needed to their habitat, such as around gates/doorways. They currently have access to a feeding camp of roughly 7,000 square feet and to a 2.5-acre habitat once they are moving around with confidence. White lions, like Lei-ah and Elsa, are the result of a genetic mutation, like albinism. Tragically this mutation is exploited by constant in-breeding for pet sales, with cruel and disastrous effects including deafness, partial or complete blindness and other health problems.

Thank you to everyone who supported this important life-saving mission at such short notice. Lei-ah and Elsa will now stay at ADIWS for as long as it takes for Panthera to rebuild, which could be many months, or even a year or more.  ADI plans to help Panthera with other animals during this crisis.

This is going to change some of our plans and may mean we need to build additional habitats for rescues we have planned – so we are continuing to appeal for funds to cover this. But when your neighbour’s house is on fire, you just help as quickly as you can and we are grateful to all of the ADI supporters who immediately stepped up. 

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