Precious Jade has one thing on her mind as she strides across the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary’s Tiger Territory: FUN! Jade has proven to be the especially playful one of the boisterous ‘Spice Girls’, a group of tigresses rescued by ADI from a Guatemalan circus, including sister Luna and sisters from another litter Sun and Moon. Jade loves to chase and be chased, and right now she’s ready to wind down and relax in the pool.
Continue readingAuthor: animaldefendersinternational
Magnificent Max and Stripes
You remember those tiny cubs ADI rescued from a circus holed up in a junkyard in Guatemala? Well, they grew up to be really, really BIG. With good food, care and nutritional supplements, all the cubs we rescued in Guatemala – Max, Stripes, Sun and Moon – have outgrown the rest of their family, who endured lifelong malnutrition in the circus. The boys were once the shyest of the animals at the ADIWS but have steadily become increasingly friendly and inquisitive.
Freedom looks good on Tomas
Strikingly handsome ex-circus lion Tomas checks out his kingdom from his viewing platform before retiring for a nap at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa. After ADI helped to enforce legislation banning all animal circus acts in Guatemala, Tomas’ family members Kimba and Sasha were handed over to ADI and cared for at our Temporary Rescue Unit. Tomas was first given to a zoo by the circus, but thankfully, the zoo did not have space for him and he was brought to ADI and reunited with his pride.
Continue readingBorn to be wild
For animals like Sasha, rescued from a circus in Guatemala and now at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, it is sadly not possible to return them to the wild. But we can try to do the next best thing. She has the space to roam – the 2.5-acre Stephi Habitat – and a natural habitat she can blend into and disappear from view. Seeing Sasha leaping over one of the natural pools in her habitat or suddenly springing into the air to try and catch a bird are spectacular sights. It’s a long way from that bare circus cage in Guatemala, this is her piece of ‘wild’.
Continue readingSoaking up the rays with Rey
The close bond between brothers Smith and ReyC, seen here soaking up the last rays of afternoon sun from their viewing platform, has always been apparent. When they were in a Peruvian circus, they endured abuse, malnutrition and confinement in tiny cages.
Smith, who lacks a mane due to castration, almost lost his life after he pounced on a member of the public during an incredibly reckless performance – ADI successfully fought to save him.
They and their family were rescued and flown to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in their native Africa. These two magnificent boys now share the spacious 6 acres of the Stephanides Habitat. Help support the lifetime of the care they deserve.
Sasha’s freedom of choice
Rescued tigers like Sasha cannot be returned to the wild, but we can give them choices and a natural and interesting environment at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa. Before ADI rescued her from a circus in Guatemala, she was confined to a tiny bare cage, with nowhere to hide – always exposed from all four sides. Now Sasha can choose whether to disappear into her habitat, perhaps only to be seen leaping into the air to try to catch a bird. She will often wander over to neighbours Max and Stripes or lounge in one of her pools – she has two we have built and one natural pool, but often she will still choose to lie in a water trough. She might play with one of her toys like her giant ball, or might wander over to check out a passing human. Then, if you’re lucky, she’ll walk alongside you for a while. Here’s the important thing, it’s when she chooses.
Rey Cusco & Smith: Brothers in Africa
Rescued by ADI from a circus in the city of Cusco, Peru, are thriving in the world nature intended for them at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa. The two endured a brutal circus life, deprived of their physical and psychological needs as they lived on bare boards in a tiny cage. Smith is a huge male, but lacks a mane because he was castrated in the circus. At the Sanctuary, they receive proper nutrition, veterinary care, vital enrichment such as catnip-infused hay boxes, and ample space to roam, relax and play in an environment as close to what nature intended.
Continue readingLonely Hearts update: David and Easy
Lions David and Easy have been enchanting the whole human population at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, as their bond has grown closer, and they follow each other around the habitat. We love that when they travel up to the end of the habitat, if David is in front, he stops and waits for Easy to catch up. When Easy moves off to explore, she will wait for David, and they do an affectionate head bump.
Phase 1 of our roads project complete
The summer rains this year left our dirt roads between our lion and tiger habitats damaged, churned up, and often impassable. Our habitats cover over 60 acres and are connected by almost two miles of dirt roads which are used several times a day to deliver food, medications and enrichment for the animals, for cleaning and maintenance, and security/welfare checks. Good roads are essential to the welfare of our residents and for any emergencies like fighting wildfires and getting a resident to the hospital if needed.
Continue readingFather of the pride
With Father’s Day on Sunday, we salute the Father of our ADI Wildlife Sanctuary Pride, 19-year old Leo.
We know that Leo and partner Muñeca are parents to at least five lions living at the sanctuary: Rolex, Coco, Chino, Africa and KiaraP. But it could be several more. Before they were rescued by ADI, Leo and Muñeca were owned by a circus in Peru, which was breeding and supplying almost every circus in the country. So, Leo could also be the daddy of Rey Cusco, KiaraC, Smith and Amazonas, and Grand Daddy to Mahla and Scarc – as some Peruvian officials believed.
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