After a stay in hospital, Shakira has returned home. Now 14 years old, Shakira was rescued from a circus in Colombia and lives at the sanctuary with Easy, the two lionesses almost inseparable.  

Our care team had noticed Shakira looked uncomfortable and did not want her food. We consulted with our veterinarian Dr Peter Caldwell and, after encouraging her into her night house and then travel crate – a great show of trust in her carers and avoiding any need for sedatives – Shakira was soon on her way to the hospital.

Following antibiotic treatment, Shakira initially recovered and started to eat again but then regressed. Dr Caldwell took x-rays, several different ultrasounds and blood tests. It is an unusual condition – there is a problem with her chest lining around her lungs and other organs – requiring consultation with specialists.

After spending a few days in the hospital and responding well to treatment, which she will continue to receive, she was able to come home to the sanctuary. 

The need to get Shakira quickly to the hospital emphasized our next MOST URGENT NEED: A TRAILER FOR THE SANCTUARY.  

At present, for hospital trips, rescues and emergencies, we have to hire a trailer – as we did, and at very short notice, for Shakira. With your help, we can be ready to take our animals to the hospital, as needed, go to the aid of animals like horses and donkeys in need of help, and collect grass and hay bedding for our rescued big cats.

Our target is $3,000. Can you help?

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If you can sponsor the entire trailer, we can put your name on the side, “sponsored by….” And any additional funds raised will go to other essential work at our young sanctuary.

You can take an animal out of the circus but you cannot always take the circus out of the animal. The inbreeding, abuse, and deprivation invariably leaving its mark, months, even years after their rescue and in some cases for the rest of their lives.

Help provide vital veterinary treatment for our damaged, rescued lions and tigers.

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Everyone is increasingly aware of the economic as well as human devastation that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing.  The impact on donations to ADI has been shattering and we are working to ensure our survival and that all of our rescued animals are safe.

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At the end of January, the 17 tigers and lions rescued by ADI from circuses in Guatemala touched down in South Africa and headed to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary.

The timing now looks like one of the luckiest breaks ever!

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UPDATE (April 10): South Africa lockdown has now been extended through the end of April.

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Last night (23 March 2020), in an attempt to combat the spread of COVID-19, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a 3-week shut down in the country, from Thursday 26^th March.  All South Africans must stay at home – with exemptions for health and other essential workers. People will only be able to leave their homes to buy food, visit the pharmacy, seek medical care or to collect a social grant. All businesses will close, except for medical facilities pharmacies, laboratories, petrol stations and food stores. The shutdown is expected to be enforced by police and the military. South Africa has a young population but millions are vulnerable due to long-term disease, malnutrition and the healthcare system suffers an acute lack of resources. 

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