It is with great sadness we announce our dear Tarzan has passed away, a month after his beloved Tanya. The two lions, rescued by ADI from a circus in Guatemala seven years ago, had been inseparable and their devotion to each other won the hearts of people all over the world. They became known as the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary Sweethearts.

Coralie has recovered well after her veterinary procedures on Tuesday – she was up and about almost immediately! The lioness, who was rescued from a circus in France, was spayed to prevent breeding and the risk of pyometra and some cancers in later life (she previously had an implant from before she arrived at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary). Coralie also had a lump on her shoulder removed, with a biopsy sent for testing.

Muheeb was up and about the morning after his veterinary check this week. Dr Caldwell said he is looking good and has gained weight.

It’s veterinary day at the Sanctuary and Dr Peter Caldwell is with lioness Coralie. She came to the Sanctuary in May 2025 with her partner Goliath after being rescued from a circus in France, the country phasing out the use of wild animals in circuses by 2028. The pair spent 10 years in a tiny circus cage. Coralie will be spayed to prevent breeding (she currently has an implant from before she arrived) and the risk of pyometra and some cancers in later life.

Stripes has been recovering well following his successful stomach surgery. We are thrilled to see Stripes returning to his former self.

There’s about three weeks of winter to go in South Africa and we are past the coldest months but still making sure our residents keep warm.

While we mourn the loss of Tanya a week ago today, it is so important to remember the wonderful seven years that ADI supporters gave her and Tarzan. The video here was filmed in March this year at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary and shows these two incredible, loyal lions relaxed and enjoying life, home in the land of their ancestors – a long, long way away from that tiny circus cage in Guatemala we rescued them from in the summer of 2018.

Thank you for all of the kind wishes and outpouring of love around the world for Tarzan and Tanya. Their love and loyalty will always be inspirational.

Lions Tanya and Tarzan stole people’s hearts all over the world with their incredible devotion to each other and displays of affection and her passing due to cancer has left us heartbroken. Together they saw each other through the worst of times in a circus in Guatemala and the best of times together in the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS), South Africa.