Running wild

One of the most magical things when rescuing lions and tigers is seeing them finally run at full speed and keep going. ADI rescued Stripes (pictured) from a circus in Guatemala where the tigers were living in cages about the size of queen-sized beds. At the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, they have the space to run and express themselves. If a lion or a tiger cannot run like this, then the cage or enclosure is too small.

The master of relaxation

Rolex, son of the beloved and dearly missed Leo and Muñeca, has been a resident of the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary since we built it, 5 years ago.

Rescued from a circus in Peru with his family, he was saved on the very first day of ADI’s Operation Spirit of Freedom in 2014, a mission enforcing Peru’s ban on wild animals in circuses. His mother and sisters were brought to safety a few months later.

ADI emptied every cage in this rescue mission lasting almost two years and saving over 100 animals including 33 lions!

Happy rescue anniversary Max and Stripes!

Six years on from that junkyard rescue in Guatemala: how do you think Max and Stripes are doing?

The circus had been in hiding for months, but on November 10th 2018, an ADI team entered a junkyard with police and wildlife officials to rescue six month old Max and Stripes and four other tigers – all destined for the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa. Given a nutritious diet since the rescue the boys have grown bigger than all of the adult tigers saved that day. Today, they are confident, playful, roam acres of natural habitat with pools in Kakato Habitat and still live next to their mom Lupe.