Author: animaldefendersinternational

His smile says it all

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Bumba, rescued from a circus in Colombia, is loving his A frame (made out of branches) at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. It provides just the right amount of shade while still allowing him to see through. These A frames are hugely popular because many of our ADIWS residents have FOMO (fear of missing out). So far, the A frames have also been given to Sasha lioness, ReyA and Simba, Tomas and Kimba, Kesari, and Sasha tiger. Stay tuned for more photos!

We would love to make more A frames for the rest of our residents to enjoy. Can you help? It costs UK £53 / US $66 / R1,200 each. You can donate towards one (or more) here: Donate UK £ | Donate US $

Worlds apart

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These are sisters Africa and Kiara today in the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa, looking just like two lionesses should. It seems almost unimaginable that the cage in the second picture was their entire world for years in a circus in Peru. We took the second picture just after we had rescued them following Peru’s circus ban. Thanks to that ban no lions will ever be forced to live in the cage again and Africa and Kiara get to enjoy life in their natural world.

READ ON TO FIND OUT HOW A DONATION FOR THE LIONESSES THIS WEEKEND WILL BE DOUBLED

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Smith still in hospital but getting stronger

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Smith is responding to treatment at Old Chapel Veterinary Hospital in Dr Peter Caldwell’s care and seems to be regaining his strength now. He enjoys sunning himself in the tunnel outside his hospital room and happily takes his medications out there (third pic). Good news is that he is eating 4kg a day. We can’t wait to get our big old boy back to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary but want to get him back to his old self.

We are so grateful to an anonymous donor who has supported the ADIWS veterinary costs. With the background of these animals and the fact that many are getting older now, this would have been a very difficult challenge without their help. Please remember that it is often the day to day, long term care of animals, feeding, transport, staff to look after them etc, for the years after they have been rescued that pose the biggest challenge for ourselves and indeed many sanctuaries.

Circus survivors from Latin America

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These are the circus survivors from Latin America who made it home to Africa. In operations to enforce ban on animals in circuses in Bolivia, Colombia, Peru and Guatemala, ADI emptied the cages and rescued over 80 lions and tigers, most went to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, but also other sanctuaries. We currently have 30 of these warriors at ADIWS.

Today we say a huge lion-hearted thank you on their behalf, to Alexis Diaz Limaco, who passed away last week, who played an integral role saving them. These are the faces that say “campaigning for animals makes a real difference.”

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Farewell to a warrior for animals

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Yesterday, the animals lost a true champion with the passing of Alexis Diaz Limaco, ADI’s Latin America General Manager. His impact for animals was immense. The ADI family has lost a great friend and colleague.

It was a chance meeting in London over 20 years ago that led Jan and Tim to recruit a young Peruvian for ADI’s undercover team. He would prove to be the vital part of the jigsaw of skills which saw ADIs work change laws and attitudes across Latin America.

He began investigating circuses in Spain and Portugal, securing harrowing footage which subsequently help drive bans in both countries on wild animals in circuses. Then he returned to South America, and truly found his calling.

ADI had rescued Toto the chimpanzee from a circus in Chile and launched a campaign to ban animal circuses, tantalizingly close to a ban in Chile, but a major investigation of the Latin American circus industry was needed. Alexis headed home.

Alexis assembled a team. Moving from country to country, he and his team faced huge risks. In Bolivia, he fought off a gang of circus thugs with his tripod; on another occasion, his leg was broken by a circus after he was caught filming.

For two years, the team was undercover inside circuses in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil. The footage was horrific: appalling living conditions and animals were being beaten, kicked, punched, even having rocks hurled at them.

Alexis headed to the countries where we had the most evidence teaming up with local campaigners to launch the findings, getting our materials printed, organizing press conferences. The investigation shocked the continent, causing public outcry.

Alexis had been a human rights activist and now threw himself into lobbying for circus bans. Bolivia became the first South American country to ban animals in circuses and then, a new challenge emerged…

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Smith in hospital

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Please send your thoughts and love to Smith, who is back in hospital. We were so pleased when Smith appeared to have bounced back after a slow recovery from a gastric infection, and was reunited with his brother Rey Cusco. Sadly, Smith’s condition deteriorated again, he stopped eating so we quickly got him back to Dr Caldwell at Old Chapel Veterinary Clinic. The pictures today show Smith is already looking brighter, and has eaten a little. He is having tests to find out what the problem is, so Smith will remain under observation for a while. We are all concerned but hoping for the best.

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The chick who grew up for Easter

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Meet Adie, a guinea fowl chick who was hand reared at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, after being found separated from her wild family and close to death. ADI Maintenance Specialist Kidro, with his daughter Kiara, hand reared the little chick and released her as quickly as possible, close to the other guinea fowl groups on the Sanctuary. Adie had other ideas – she has become an established member of our group of “misfits” – Tulip Turkey, Gertie Guinea Fowl (both already on the land when we purchased it), and another wild guinea fowl who joined them. Adie is growing fast and likes to visit the other guinea fowl groups, then return to the misfits – all are regular visitors around Chris Lee Lodge (our future volunteer house).

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Adopt Max and Stripes as an Easter gift

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Rescued with their family from a circus in Guatemala at just six months old, Max and Stripes have their whole lives ahead of them – in freedom.

The boys have benefitted from a proper diet and are now huge, powerful, personalities with Max being the natural leader.

Easter is coming – symbolic of new life and beginnings – can you adopt our big boys and help secure their lifetime care? And what a great Easter gift!

Adopt US $ | Adopt UK £

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