Our beloved Sasha has arrived home at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary after two months in the hospital!
In November, Sasha had ground-breaking surgery to remove diseased bone from her leg and replace it with a titanium scaffold and bone cement. The damage to her leg started in the circus in Guatemala. During a brutal declawing operation, part of the toe was left and became infected, leading to a local cancer and then bone cysts spread up her leg.
Now she begins a slow, careful rehabilitation at the sanctuary.
They began life in tiny circus cages in Colombia, Peru, and Guatemala but crossed the globe to a new life in Africa, and one joined us from South African zoo. That is the difference we all make when we defend animals together and never, ever, ever give up. Thank you.
We are delighted that our dear Colombian ex-circus lion, OJ (Ojiclaro), has been discharged from hospital and is home for Christmas.
OJ went into hospital a couple of weeks ago after he seemed unwell, and we were all so very sad when he was diagnosed with leukaemia. Our vet Dr Peter Caldwell said his prospects were bleak, as no cure has been published, but when we asked how long OJ might have at home, Peter said there was something he could try. Naturally, we said yes.
We are heartbroken that our dear Ricardo, the one-eyed ex-circus lion ADI rescued in Peru in 2014, has passed away in his sleep, at 19 years of age. We will have the results of his autopsy in a few weeks, but it appears that old age caught up with this warrior. He was one of the bravest lions we have encountered and loved by the ADI and sanctuary teams and our supporters.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING and THANK YOU for all your wonderful support in this extraordinary year. Enjoy seeing some of the animals rescued by ADI whose lives you have helped transform, including a special message from David (one of the circus lions we rescued in Peru) in his own inimitable voice. We are all looking forward to 2021. We know things will remain challenging for quite a while – if you can, check out Giving Tuesday fundraiser to support the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. But what we have learned in 2020 is that together we can get through anything and keep saving animals. THANK YOU.
A lifetime of suffering in the circus takes its toll. When ADI empties the cages and helps enforce national laws to end a whole industry, the animals saved require lifelong care and veterinary attention to deal with their physical and psychological damage.
At the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, we are currently caring for 42 lions and tigers, all bar one rescued from circuses in South America. Most have been cruelly mutilated through declawing. Many came into our care with broken teeth, dental treatment relieving them of years of pain. Others require ongoing medication and supplements to deal with health conditions caused through inbreeding and the long-term effects of their past abuse, confinement, and deprivation. To provide this, and to give these animals who have suffered so much the best possible life, we are reliant on our supporters and the public.
This GivingTuesday – a global day of generosity taking place on December 1st – can you donate $10 / £8 for a Ticket To Thrive to care for one of our rescued animals for one day? You can do so through our dedicated donate page (for the UK click here) or our GivingTuesday Facebook fundraiser.
Sisters Sun, Moon, Luna and Jade demolish their hay bales at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa. The joy and sense of fun these tigers show was simply never seen when they lived in constant fear in tiny, bare cages in a circus in Guatemala.
Sasha is recovering after several hours of highly complex surgery on her leg, to repair damage caused by a botched declawing operation in the circus. Her toes were cut off, but Sasha was left with a damaged, infected toe.
With its uplifting and positive message, this is a t-shirt that perfectly sums up the ADI ethos – that everything is possible when it comes to helping animals.
