Chino and Coco enjoy our latest addition to Kornberg Habitat at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, a carousel on which tires and boxes stuffed with catnip hang. The playful boys love chasing and grappling with their toys. The brothers were rescued from a tiny cage in a circus in Peru where there was nothing to stimulate their mind or body, and no room to stretch their legs. Now at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in their native Africa, they get to explore the 2.5-acre Kornberg Habitat and they are regularly treated to enrichment, which is so vital to their health and wellbeing.
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Tomas: Home to Africa after detour
When Guatemala banned animals in circuses, Tomas was the first animal to be surrendered. But not to ADI, instead he went to a local zoo. Several months later when ADI began removing lions and tigers from circuses as part of the circus ban enforcement operation, the zoo decided it did not have the space for Tomas. Little did he know it, but as Tomas was moved on again, this time he had really caught a lucky break that would take him all the way home to Africa. The ADI Temporary Rescue Unit in Guatemala were only given 20 minutes notice that a lion was already on his way! We frantically moved ‘freedom’ cages around and prepared a space for Tomas. 14 months later, Tomas was on a flight with 12 tigers and 4 other lions home to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa.
Continue readingHelp keep David and Easy safer
Saved from circuses in Colombia and Peru, Easy and David came together in Africa at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. The pair were brought together after Easy lost her sister Shakira, as part of our Operation Lonely Hearts, using careful introduction techniques. These days, they are never too far apart in the almost 4-acre Camo Habitat.
Continue readingPlayful Sasha
Sasha was rescued by ADI from a Guatemalan circus where her front toes were cut off to prevent her claws growing, crushing one toe in the process, which became infected and turned into cancer. Once at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa, Sasha underwent groundbreaking surgery, which involved replacing diseased bone with a titanium implant. Although now pain- and cancer-free, the tendons in her leg are contracted due to a lifetime of limping, so we are providing her with ongoing physiotherapy and rehabilitation – this tire filled with catnip, kindly provided by Kunduchi Pet Products – perfect to help keep this playful lioness mobile and her spirits high.
Tanya sleeping blissfully
The lions and tigers remained relaxed during the wildfire at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. Many supporters have asked how stressed the animals were as the ADIWS team frantically fought the fire that surged into the sanctuary. We are pleased to say they remained very calm and were easily led to their safe zones. Some watched the team fighting the fire on the hillside, Sasha lioness kept playing with her toys, others seemed unaware of the drama unfolding. The ADIWS team, on the other hand, were very stressed indeed! The fire was extinguished yards from Tarzan and Tanya’s habitat – Tanya pictured sleeping blissfully here – but thanks to the heroic efforts of our team and our neighbors who helped fight the blaze, this was subdued and not the wall of flames that entered the sanctuary.
Continue readingPlease help after wildfire hits Sanctuary
Terrifying fire sweeps into the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. All residents and personnel safe after heroic battle to fight flames. Please give today as we rebuild.
Continue readingKesari’s tire swing
Kesari enjoys hanging tire enrichment, which we’ve loaded with the irresistible scent of catnip (kindly donated by Kunduchi Pet Products) and other essential oils. This impressive boy has the run of the Phillips Habitat at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary where we happily cater to his needs. ADI offered him a home after hearing that he was driven from his pride at Pretoria Zoo and for two years, spent most of his time in a night house due to lack of space. Thankfully the zoo waited for a safe home for him – had he been put up for auction, he could have ended up in the sights of a trophy hunter!
Continue readingIron at sunset
As the sun sets over the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa, Iron is on top of his platform and ready to roar out the day with the other lions. Iron is at least 16 years old and was rescued from a circus cage in Colombia eight years ago. For almost his entire life Iron was inseparable from his friend Ojiclaro who sadly passed away due to cancer. Now Iron is part of a programme to slowly introduce him to Bumba who was rescued from the same circus in Colombia. It’s a very gradual process because these are senior male lions, both also recently needed surgery which slowed this process. However, they are eating next to each other, in separate rooms, in their house and rotate in different parts of the habitat. Time will tell if they become close companions or just neighbors.
Spring is in the air
Kimba wakes up at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, sniffs the air and we are sure he can tell Spring is here. Being in South Africa, in the southern hemisphere, Spring and winter are at the opposite time of year to where many ADI supporters live. In the coming weeks as the days get hotter, the winter insulation of heavy rubber and hay bales that we put on the dens will be coming down. Thank you to everyone who sponsored hay bales and kept our lions and tigers snug this winter.
Kimba was rescued from a circus in Guatemala.
Sasha plays ball
Sasha plays with her Robust-a-Ball at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa. Fun for Sasha and important physiotherapy for a lioness with a titanium implant in her leg. Sasha suffered a traumatic declawing process, crushing a toe, as a cub in a Guatemalan circus. It became infected and turned into cancer.After ADI rescued her, veterinarian Peter Caldwell performed groundbreaking surgery, replacing diseased leg bone with a titanium plate. Sasha’s original limp is still evident, due to contracted tendons – a legacy of years of limping in the circus, but she is now pain and cancer free. Enrichment, like these balls, is vital for keeping animals physically and mentally healthy.
To donate towards more enrichment, click here.
ADI Wildlife Sanctuary 