ADI’s Operation Liberty, enforcing Guatemala’s ban on animals in circuses nears conclusion on Sunday when a cargo aircraft will take off from Guatemala City carrying 12 tigers and 5 lions to a new life.
Continue readingAuthor: animaldefendersinternational
Help install an eco-friendly waste water filtration system at the sanctuary
See what we have achieved in the first 16 months of the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, the incredible rate of progress made possible by our wonderful founders and supporters. Now, our most pressing need is environmentally-friendly water purification and waste disposal systems for the sanctuary – a huge, essential project for which your contribution will be DOUBLED!
Continue readingHome for the Holidays Fundraiser
Following our Home for the Holidays US fundraiser on December 8th and online appeals, we have hit our target to build the travel crates for the 17 lions and tigers rescued from circuses in Guatemala during ADI Operation Liberty and who will be coming home to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary soon!
Continue readingHelp animals as you shop!

Every holiday purchase from the ADI online store helps support the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary and our life-saving work for animals around the world.
Continue readingLions have fun with their Halloween pumpkin treats!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! As the sun set at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, the rescued lions were given pumpkins with treats to play with!
Continue readingKesari is home – just in time for his birthday!

Homeless Kesari is now a resident of the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary.
The operation at Pretoria Zoo began at 5:30am and some of you joined us in the early hours/late at night on Facebook Live, as Kesari was loaded into his travel crate ready for the journey to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS).
21 Lions and tigers in Guatemala take a step closer to a new life
21 LIONS & TIGERS IN GUATEMALA TAKE A STEP CLOSER TO A NEW LIFE. A new Temporary Rescue Center (TRC), better climate and closer to the airport, is up and running. The tigers and lions rescued from circuses by ADI, are safe. We have armed security. This is our launch pad for the final phase of the rescue, which will see 6 lions and 12 tigers heading to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa, and 3 tigers to Big Cat Rescue in Florida.
Continue readingADI Wildlife Sanctuary: Reflecting on an incredible first year
August last year, we purchased 455 acres of land and buildings in South Africa. It was just a beautiful, blank canvas, and we knew turning it into an animal sanctuary would be a monumental task. One year ago this week, we were rolling up our sleeves and taking on that task and today, our ADI Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS) awakes each day, to the roars of our rescued lions, freed from suffering.
Continue readingADI Operation Liberty rescue mission, Guatemala
Animal Defenders International has been working this past year with Guatemala’s wildlife and animal welfare officials to enforce their country’s ban on animal circuses. We have rescued 21 lions and tigers who are being cared for and prepared for export at our Temporary Rescue Center in Guatemala.
Where the animals were rescued from…
ADI Wildlife Sanctuary: The dream becomes a reality
In the last 12 months, we’ve made huge strides in transforming 455 acres of grassland to create the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, a place of loving kindness in South Africa.
The sanctuary is now home to 25 lions rescued by ADI from circuses in Colombia and Peru. In the coming months, they will be joined by 12 tigers and six lions rescued during Operation Liberty, the ADI mission to help enforce Guatemala’s circus ban, as well as a lion from Pretoria zoo.
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