Many will remember the story of Tanya and Tarzan’s life of confinement and deprivation in a circus in Guatemala, where Tarzan was attacked by a tiger and his lower lip almost torn off – his dear Tanya still carries the scars where she defended him during the fight. Tarzan’s lip healed hanging from his chin after the horrific incident. A week ago, both Tarzan and Tanya had dental work from Dr Gerhard Steenkamp at Old Chapel Veterinary Clinic, and when Tarzan needed a second round of dental work this week, our veterinarian Dr Peter Caldwell took the opportunity to mend Tarzan’s lower lip. Handsome Tarzan has now had what we are describing as a lip lift! Dr Caldwell’s options were limited due to the lack of structure left, so Tarzan still looks his distinctive self, but with less of his lip now hanging down, which should be more comfortable. He is doing well, and the inseparable pair have remained close by each other throughout.
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David and Easy living like lions
Recently united, sharing the same space, David and Easy have been enjoying their 4-acre Camo Habitat at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. They stay closely together as they patrol the habitat; usually with David leading and regularly stopping to check if Easy is close by. It has been very moving to see them sitting together on top of the water tank we converted into a den, because it was such a familiar sight when we used to see Easy and sister Shakira (who passed away with cancer) in the same spot. Easy and David now follow each other into their house to sleep together. Lions are social animals and this is not about romance, but companionship – and of course the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary does not allow breeding – we are all so delighted that these two lions (rescued from different circuses in Peru and Colombia) are no longer alone.
Max peering through tall grass
If you visit a sanctuary, don’t expect to see all of the animals. This is Max at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa watching intensely from the long grass. He was rescued from a circus in Guatemala where he was in a bare cage and was torn from his mother while still suckling and handed around for photographs. Now that Max has space and freedom, he can be wary about approaching people, but that simply makes it extra special when he comes up to chuff and greet you. Animals in captivity need to be able to make the choice of when they want to be seen or not. For many species, being stared at by people can be a torture.
Continue readingTarzan and Tanya undergo dental surgery
Get well soon Tarzan and Tanya. ADI Wildlife Sanctuary sweethearts are recovering at Old Chapel Veterinary Clinic under the watchful eye of Dr Peter Caldwell following dental surgery performed by Dr Gerhard Steenkamp. Circus lions and tigers often have teeth broken when they are hit in the face and it can lead to a lifetime of silent suffering. Many will remember how subdued Tarzan was when we rescued him from a circus in Guatemala – he tucked himself in a corner while Tanya stood guard. After emergency dental work to relieve his pain in our Guatemala field hospital he bounced back and was playing with toys. That was almost four years ago and Tarzan and Tanya were both in need of more treatment. Tarzan will in fact have additional dental work later this week and Tanya will remain in hospital with him until they can return to the sanctuary together.
Kiara2 strides through the grass
Awesome. Kiara 2 striding through the grass in Davis Habitat at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa. The mighty lionesses are the mothers and hunters that hold prides together. Kiara lives with sister Africa both rescued from a circus in Peru after a dramatic chase through the desert near Piura. The circus was defying the country’s ban on animal circuses and had been in hiding for almost 8 months when ADI finally tracked them down.
Kiara and Africa are currently in a programme at ADIWS to unite them with brother Rolex from the same circus.
Kiara has a cataract in her left eye that is bein monitored by our veterinarian.
David and Easy together
Yes, David and Easy, the first of our Lonely Hearts Lions, are together. The door between their rooms in their house at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa was slowly opened and the two lions rubbed heads and then walked out to their feeding camp. It has been a slow and careful process, where David, rescued from a circus in Peru, and Easy, rescued from a circus in Colombia, have been brought close to each other and received a spray of the hormone to encourage feelings of friendship towards each other. Both were very gentle and respectful of each other, with David edging closer and closer to Easy. For a day, Easy seemed to feign disinterest in David – she didn’t seem too impressed when he started to show off, even seeming to do pull-ups! But if he walked away, she would immediately go to find him. We have been monitoring them around the clock and they have been sleeping in the same night room. Today, it is clear they have bonded as friends. They are no longer alone.
Continue readingLions and tigers play ball
Our custom made lion and tiger balls from Robust a Ball have arrived at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary and Kesari, Sasha tiger, Chino and Coco have been the first to have a ball! Sasha lioness has been enjoying our prototype of the new size for the past couple of weeks. For Sasha lioness, it is even more than enrichment, it is great physiotherapy for her leg, which has a titanium scaffold after diseased bone was removed.
Our habitats are large at the ADIWS, giving the lions and tigers space to explore, run, and play, but enrichment like this is still vital for keeping them engaged mentally and physically. You can support treats, toys and enrichment for the animals.
Continue readingMonday yawning with Luna
It hardly seems fair, you’re back at work and Luna is lounging in the pool and then gives one of those great big yawns that only big cats can do! She doesn’t quite match just how wide Kesari managed to get his mouth last Monday. Let us know if looking at this makes you stifle a yawn or maybe wish you were in the pool or back in bed!
Luna lives with sisters Jade, Sun and Moon at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa after they were rescued together from a circus in Guatemala.
PS: If you think Luna is a feeling and sentient animal – and we think it’s pretty obvious she is – and you’re in the UK, then please ask your MP TODAY to support the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill at its Report stage on 14 March:
Lion introduction work continues
Easy gets a squirt in the nose which could bring companionship. As part of the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary lion introduction work (bringing together animals currently living alone), Jessica Burkhart from the University of Minnesota, is using a nasal spray of a natural hormone, oxytocin, often called the “love hormone”. This hormone is involved in childbirth, breast-feeding and is associated with feelings of empathy, trust and relationship-building – is released when lions rub heads, for example. This treatment enhances natural hormones, and has already had success in lion, tiger and cheetah introductions. The process increases the likelihood of animals making new friends – although it can’t make animals who do not like each other, get along.
Over the past weeks, David and Easy have been getting treats and enrichment from Jessica, and the lions seem to barely notice the squirt up their nose while they are distracted with a treat. Easy lost her sister Shakira (who was rescued from the same circus in Colombia) and we are in the process of her being united with David (who was rescued from a circus in Peru). We are also hoping to join up Rolex and sisters Kiara and Africa, and Bumba with Iron, as they both lost their friends. We are calling the project Operation Lonely Hearts! To avoid confusion – this is not a drug and is not related in any way to drugs with “oxy” in the name!
Tarzan & Tanya head to the dentist
Sanctuary sweethearts Tarzan and Tanya, the lions ADI rescued from a circus in Guatemala, have won everyone’s hearts by their devotion to each other, but now they need dental work. Tooth damage is one of the most common problems we face when rescuing lions and tigers from circuses. When we took Tarzan from the circus in 2018, he was in pain, and both he and Tanya needed immediate attention in our Temporary Rescue Unit field hospital. Dental surgery transformed Tarzan.
At the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa we are therefore always on the alert for any problems with eating, in case it is problems with their teeth. Dr Peter Caldwell examined them both and they have been taken to his hospital to for dental work.
Obviously, if Tanya or Tarzan must go to hospital, they must go together! We will report back when they have seen the dentist, but for now, they are right next to each other and enjoying all the attention.
ADI Wildlife Sanctuary 