If you’re at work and stifling a yawn, look away now…. these pics won’t help. Big Kesari greets the morning with a great big yawn!
Kesari is always up early at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa, to join Chino, Coco, Simba and Rey roaring in the new day at sunrise. Then it’s up the hill to see if he can see the truck being loaded for breakfast. We hope your week is off to as relaxing a start as Kesari’s…..
In August 2018, ADI purchased 455-acres of land in South Africa and began turning it into a sanctuary with large natural habitats. It is now home to lions and tigers rescued as ADI emptied circuses in Peru, Colombia and Guatemala (and one huge lion, Kesari, who we ensured dodged a hunter’s bullet). We think these pictures of our residents taken in the past few weeks best sum up the world we have created for these survivors. Our mission is to keep emptying the cages and to give these animals a life as close to what nature intended.
This is how you expect to see a lioness in Africa, but Mahla’s story began very differently. She was born in a tiny circus cage in Peru and dragged from her mother (even as she suckled) to be passed around for petting and photos. Thankfully, Peru did the right thing and banned wild animals in circuses. In an almost 2-year mission, ADI raided every circus in Peru and saved every animal, bringing Mahla and 32 other lions home to Africa. Today, Mahla lives with her mother (Kiara1), brother (Scarc) and aunt (Amazonas) at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa. Our aim is to give our rescued animals back their dignity and a life as close as possible to what nature intended.
There are no longer any wild animals in circuses in Peru – please help ADI keep changing the world for animals like Mahla and securing laws to protect future generations of animals.
We hope that your weekend will be as relaxing as Mahla’s.
When we purchased the 455 acres of land for the sanctuary in South Africa, much of it was denuded by agriculture and grazed out. As well as building the habitats for our rescued lions and tigers, we have been steadily re-wilding the land, seeing an explosion in wildflowers, wildlife, birds, insects and this week we are planting 24 more large trees thanks to the generous support of Trees for Tigers USA run by ADIWS founders, Tom and Carolyn Long. Trees for Tigers USA have the great mission of providing trees and enrichment for sanctuaries and have previously purchased numerous trees for ADIWS and the materials for many of our platforms.
Continue reading“MINE, ALL MINE!” You really wouldn’t want to try and get this watermelon out of Rey’s protective paws once he has started playing with it. Rey was rescued from a circus in Peru and now lives at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary where the rescued lions and tigers enjoy a range of toys for enrichment including melons, pumpkins, catnip boxes and balls. ReyC and his brother Smith have a habitat of over 6 acres of natural African landscape to roam – a very different world to the small bare circus cage we rescued them from. However, our enrichment and toys are still vital for keeping the lions and tigers in our care physically and mentally active. Enrichment is an important addition to giving the animals the space they need to express themselves and we think you can tell what Rey’s prize means to him in these pictures!
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Sun is now all grown up from that tiny cub with great big paws that ADI rescued from that bare circus cage in Guatemala. Sun and her sister Moon were just six months old when we rescued them. In our Temporary Rescue Unit in Guatemala, Luna and Jade seemed to tower over them. But with good nutrition from ADI and supplements, Sun and Moon have both outgrown their sisters from another litter, Jade and Luna, who were 18 months old when we rescued them. The four share the same habitat at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa. Coincidentally, one sister from each pair is outgoing, Sun and Jade and the other is quite shy, Moon and Luna, but they all adore each other and are led into fun and mischief by Jade. When you walk by their habitat, you can be sure Jade or Sun will come over to check you out – just like Sun did when we snapped this pic!
Lions are the most social of all the cat species, they need the companionship of their own kind. So last year when Bumba and Iron lost their lifelong friends Zeus and OJ (Ojiclaro) it was a devastating blow. We are now working to bring these two warriors together at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary.
Continue readingAs the sun sets over Camo Habitat at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, you can be sure that either David or Easy (whoever is in the main habitat) is gazing over towards the other lion. We believe Operation Lonely Hearts to bring the lions together is making good progress! We hope that the lions, David from a circus in Peru and Easy from a circus in Colombia, will be together in the coming weeks.
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Rolex enjoying the sunshine in the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa. Rescued from a circus in Peru by ADI, Rolex is part of our Operation Lonely Hearts to bring together lions at the sanctuary in need of companionship. Rolex is being united with his sisters Africa and Kiara (from the same circus – but they were not caged together). Currently, they rotate in the large (5 acre) Davis Habitat and eat and spend time together in the nighthouse, which has three rooms for introductions and observations. When out in the main habitat, Rolex usually stays close to his sisters in the feeding camp. Fingers crossed this family pride can be successfully united.
Thousands of you tuned in to watch Leo and Muñeca’s story on social media over the weekend. Torn apart by the circus and then reunited by ADI in two dramatic raids, hundreds of miles apart in Peru, our two senior lions (19 years old) enjoyed another Valentine’s Day at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa today. Sitting in the shade of a tree, as always together, it is hard to believe they weren’t always in Africa. Those years of abuse, bare cages, being forced apart, the days when Leo looked broken – alone and separated from his Muñeca – are long behind them. Instead, they can inspire us with their bravery, will to survive and, above all else, loyalty and devotion. Happy Valentine’s Day Leo and Muñeca.
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ADI Wildlife Sanctuary 