Author: animaldefendersinternational

Re-live Ruben’s journey home

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Re-live those magical moments when Ruben flew from Armenia and stepped out onto grass and his African homeland at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary for the first time. The video from Qatar Airways Cargo – who made his journey to a new life possible – contains previously unseen footage from behind the scenes of the journey and of Ruben’s first day at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. Enjoy Ruben’s blissful face as catnip swirls around him, note the donkeys making an appearance behind Tim, and for ADI supporters, smile as Tanya tells the person filming to stop looking at her Tarzan! With huge thanks to Qatar Airways Cargo who specially scheduled a large aircraft to take Ruben from Armenia.

To support Ruben: Donate US $ | Donate UK £

Ruben goes wild

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Ruben goes wild with his first catnip bag! We wondered what Ruben would do as he took his first steps on African soil. It turned out he just wanted to play, and play, and play.

Six years of emptiness and loneliness ended as he walked to his giant catnip punchbag. Now, he has the company of his own kind living nearby, he walks on grass, bakes himself under the African sun in his Keith’s Happiness Habitat. And he is not afraid to show his inner kitten!

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Swing into the week

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Max and Stripes check out their new ball and tire swing in their Kakato by April Fong Habitat at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary – our thanks to Kunduchi Pet Products for donating the catnip.

Together with their family, these brothers were rescued from a circus in Guatemala when they were just six months old. This is why, having enjoyed a proper diet under our care, they have grown into huge, powerful boys.

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Ruben Rugby World Cup ready

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Ruben looks ready to join defending champions South Africa as the tournament kicks off in France. After shredding his giant Kunduchi Pet Products punchbags, today we gave him this ‘rugby ball’ and he proudly strode around his camp with it at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa.

Ruben recently arrived from a zoo in Armenia, where he was alone in a tiny cage and developed difficulty walking due to poor care and nutrition. He has stunned people with his determination to stay on his feet and keep moving, and is now able to do a full circuit of his camp without falling. Enrichment like his ‘rugby ball’ is a vital part of his rehabilitation. It’s also essential for all of the 32 rescued lions and tigers at the sanctuary. You can help by donating toward more enrichment. Donate US $ | Donate UK £

Ruben rescue turns spotlight on lonely captive animals

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The story of our rescue of Ruben the lion from Armenia – dubbed “the loneliest lion in the world” – exploded worldwide, with coverage in the US, UK, South Africa, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Montenegro, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, and Vietnam.

Ruben’s suffering and the rescue has touched the hearts of millions, and importantly, we got into the headlines the suffering of isolation and impacts on the health of captive animals.

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Lupe still fighting her circus past

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An additional tragedy of captive animal abuse is that the impacts of their past can impact their lives long after they are rescued – many of you are following Ruben’s valiant battle to overcome the damage done to him. Our beloved Lupe, rescued from a circus in Guatemala is haunted by her past. The mother of tigers Max and Stripes – initially it was believed Sombra was the mother but it has been confirmed otherwise – she suffers seizures due to malnutrition and in-breeding in the circus. The seizures have already claimed her sisters Bimbi and Sombra who she lived with. She is medicated each day, Dr Caldwell continues to monitor and assess her treatment, and she is monitored in her main habitat with the ADIWS team on the alert for any problems. She lives alongside her boys Max and Stripes and they greet each other through the fence. The huge challenges she faces and the loss of her sisters has not broken the spirit of this warrior tigress and it is a joy to see her exploring and playing.

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Dream, Ruben, Dream

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His mane full of catnip and hay, Ruben sleeps next to one of the catnip punchbags he has shredded. Eventually, he destroyed it completely. It’s just over a week since the battered old warrior arrived at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary from Armenia. He has felt grass beneath his feet for the first time, the African sun on his back, heard the voices of his own kind for the first time in six years and roared back. After he stepped from his ADI travel crate he headed straight to the catnip bag and played – his first toy. He fell asleep with his prize. He is more playful than we could have imagined when we saw him in Armenia. He plays with pumpkins, catnip sacks and boxes. His movement has improved, and we have huge hopes over time. Keep dreaming Ruben, your dreams may come true.

To help care for Ruben: Donate UK £ | Donate US $

Adopt Ruben UK £ | Adopt Ruben US $