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.
Continue readingAuthor: animaldefendersinternational
Happy Valentine’s Day
Of course, Tanya and Tarzan had a nice lie in! The loving lions, rescued from a circus in Guatemala, were dozing, hugging each other, in their house at sunrise, before wandering out to their main habitat at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa.
The lion-hearted sweethearts comforted and protected each other through seven hellish years in a circus cage. Tarzan’s lip was torn from his face after a fight with a tiger in the circus and Tanya bears the scars of defending him. Safe at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, they still sleep cuddled up together, live at their own very gentle pace, and Tarzan still kisses Tanya goodnight.
Continue readingOperation Lonely Hearts launched for Valentine’s Day
As Valentine’s Day approaches, “Operation Lonely Hearts” at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary is our work to bring solitary lions together.
Some of the most moving moments during our rescues have been re-uniting animals. Who could forget Kiara being reunited with cubs Scarc and Mahla, or lonely spider monkey Pepe meeting Valerie? Animals need their own kind.
Lions are very social, intelligent, emotional, and family living plays a huge part in their quality of life. For many animals in captivity, the worst torture they endure is deliberate isolation from their own kind.
We have suffered heartbreak over the past two years, as the ravages of circus life caught up with several Sanctuary residents. As painful as it has been for us, it is nothing compared to the loss suffered by their siblings and companions, left behind.
Continue readingLion toy can help animals like Sasha
No one can forget the sight of Sasha in her bare circus cage in Guatemala, her foot held up in pain. A toe had been crushed in a brutal ‘declawing’ operation and cancer spread up her leg. After her rescue, at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa, she underwent groundbreaking surgery removing diseased bone and replacing it with a titanium implant. She is no longer in pain but after almost a decade of pain, in the circus, the tendons in her leg had shortened and she still holds the leg aloft. So we need to give her physiotherapy, exercising, stretching and using her leg by playing with balls, catnip boxes, melons, and logs. The indomitable Sasha is a testament to what is possible with your support.
You can keep Sasha and our other rescued animals playing with Oba, the limited-edition lion toy. Our friends at The Elephant Project, have created a limited-edition stuffed lion named Oba (meaning ‘king ruler’ in West Africa) with 100% of net proceeds from sales going to ADI and other organizations.
Continue readingTanya’s medicine time while Tarzan waits
Tanya takes her medicine as Tarzan waits outside for his princess. At the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, the day begins with medicines for several residents, before breakfast. Coming from a life of suffering, many of our circus survivors require treatment for arthritis and damage caused by in-breeding and poor nutrition as growing cubs. Many also have damaged and broken teeth. Tanya is receiving medicine for suspected toothache prior to a visit to the dentist. She previously had dental surgery in our field hospital in Guatemala soon after her rescue from the circus. Loyal Tarzan follows her to their house each morning and waits patiently outside while ADIWS Animal Care Manager, Hadio, gives Tanya her morning medication in a treat. ADIWS has strict COVID and other disease prevention measures in place, with all food prepared wearing gloves and masks. However, our residents are not so relaxed with people in masks, and so medications are given without masks.
Continue readingHappy Caturday from lion David
Happy Caturday from David at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa. David was rescued from a circus in Peru and is now in our Operation Lonely Hearts project to introduce this handsome boy to Easy, a lioness rescued from a circus in Colombia. Watch for updates.
To support David’s care so he can continue to thrive:
Operation Lonely Hearts
WE ALWAYS TRAVEL WITH ADI… Well, it may look like an advert for ADI rescue and relocations, but it’s actually Africa and Kiara2 making the most of crate familiarization time at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. We pride ourselves on avoiding using anesthetics to move our rescues. That’s achieved by keeping them calm, trusting, and familiar with their travel crates and never afraid. Africa and Kiara2 were among 33 lions airlifted from Peru and Colombia as ADI emptied circuses there – the biggest airlift of its kind. Now, they are preparing for a much shorter relocation within the Sanctuary, as part of what we are calling “operation lonely hearts”. Our aim to bring together seven lions in three groups – David & Easy; Africa, Kiara2 and Rolex; Bumba and Iron.
Continue readingRoads for lions and tigers
When it rains in South Africa, it pours! Our habitats are green and lush and our natural wells feeding the residents’ habitats are full, but with more rains than usual this year, WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. Our lion and tiger habitats cover over 60 acres and are connected by almost two miles of internal dirt roads, which are becoming increasingly churned up and on certain days, some are impassable.
Roads may not seem as exciting as flights or new habitats for rescued animals, but they are vital for lifelong feeding and daily care. Without these roads, we will be unable to add habitats to rescue more animals and run the risk of being prevented from getting a sick lion or tiger to hospital during heavy rains.
Continue readingHome sweet home for Leo and Muñeca
Big developments at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary as we start bringing together some key groups of animals: Easy with David, sisters Kiara2 and Africa with brother Rolex, and Iron with Bumba. Several of these animals have been sharing territory for some time, but we will be placing all (except Easy and David) in new, neutral territory, to start their new lives together. As part of this, one of our established pairs, Leo and Muñeca (rescued by ADI from a circus in Peru in 2014), have moved next door to Augie Habitat, from their Abbey Habitat. This is a lovely, very similar habitat to Abbey, and should give the pair an interesting change of scenery as they have always enjoyed exploring. It had been a while since Leo and Muñeca were in their travel crates, so we had three days of crate familiarization, to allow them to wander freely in and out of their crates, and have their meals in the crates. Once they were comfortable, we closed the crates and moved them to Augie Habitat where they first got oriented in the feeding camp and house.
Continue readingChino and Coco enjoy the morning sun
Chino and Coco, two lions rescued from a circus in Peru by ADI, enjoying the morning sunshine at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary South Africa. The boys share the 2.5 acre Kornberg Habitat and anyone joining the ADIWS volunteer programme will almost certainly go to sleep and wake up to their roars and open their curtains in the morning to see the boys watching for the arrival of their breakfast. The launch of our sanctuary volunteer scheme was halted by the pandemic but we hope to have it up and running as soon as possible.
Want to know what it takes to rescue animals like Chino and Coco? Check out rescue documentary Lion Ark which is available to stream for the first time on EarthStream.app. As a special promotion, for every subscription made though this link, $30 (normally $20) will go to ADI and directly benefit our rescued animals. Click here to subscribe and tune in.
