Donkeys adopt Springbok

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The ADI Wildlife Sanctuary recently took in young Springbok rescued after being injured and chased to exhaustion by hunters with dogs.

We had expected her to join the other antelope that freely roam our 455-acre sanctuary in South Africa. However, she has been welcomed into our family of donkeys rescued last year after being abandoned at a tourist lodge that closed.

Two of the donkeys were pregnant when they arrived and so two baby donkeys, Nugget and Eeyore, have since been born at ADIWS bringing the herd to eight.

During cold nights the adult donkeys gather around the youngsters and springbok to keep them warm. The donkeys wander wherever they please on the sanctuary and are incredibly inquisitive, often coming up to look into the windows of the houses.

Indomitable

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Sasha relaxes at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary and it’s hard to believe that this is a lioness with a titanium leg implant! A brutal declawing operation in a Guatemalan circus led to an infection and then spread up her leg. For 8 years she limped in constant pain in her circus cage. Then ADIWS veterinarian Dr Peter Caldwell performed ground-breaking surgery, replacing the diseased bone with a titanium implant. After years of limping, the tendons shortened in her leg and so she still limps, but is no longer in pain and will leap onto her platforms. These days, she loves to spend time alongside brothers Tomas and Kimba from the same circus in Guatemala and in the mornings all three will chase along the fence that divides their habitats.

Please help support the indomitable Sasha, now 12 years old, by adopting her: UK store | US store

Stunning profile

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Aziza is the smallest and shyest of the Kuwait 6 lions rescued from the illegal wildlife trade – but she is growing in confidence.

Abandoned when she was no longer wanted as a ‘trophy pet’, she was found in the streets of Kuwait City and taken to the zoo. ADI was called in to relocate Aziza and five other lions (Dhubiya, Saif, Muheeb, Shujaa and Saham) to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa. When we first saw her she was extremely nervous, frantically pacing and would not come near us.

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Sasha on the prowl

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It is only when you see animals amongst nature that you truly see them – especially when they are camouflaged, concealed and alert like Sasha here. That is why circuses and zoo present such a distorted and misleading image of animals as they sit blank eyed in small, bare cages.

Sasha’s life at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary is a far cry from the small, bare cage in the Guatemalan circus we rescued her from. After her years of confinement as a young tiger, Sasha now enjoys the safety of her Stephi Habitat in a far better environment for this beautiful girl. She has space to stalk in the long grass, pools of water to soak in at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary.

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Dhubiya on alert

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Curious Dhubiya is always interested in what’s going on around her at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. Some might even call her the “nosy neighbor”. The bold, playful lioness, rescued from the illegal wildlife pet trade in Kuwait, loves to get into everything and see what everyone is doing. It’s so heartwarming to see that her harrowing past hasn’t dampened her zest for life.

Please continue to support our young lioness – she can live up to 20 years at ADIWS with your help. Donate £ /Euros /Rand | Donate US$ /CA$ 

Up close with Kimba

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The beauty of the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary is that our rescued lions and tigers have the freedom to be seen or unseen – our smallest habitats are 2.5 acres. The lions and tigers can stay as far away as they want. That’s. why it’s always an privilege when any of the animals come and check us out – because it’s their choice. Kimba was one of the first animals we rescued from a circus in Guatemala during ADI’s operation to enforce the country’s animal circus ban. He lives at ADIWS with brother Tomas.

To adopt magnificent Kimba and help support his ongoing care: UK store | US store

Running wild

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There’s nothing quite like seeing animals that have been confined and abused expressing their lust for life after a rescue. These four horses were found hobbled in a South African township street, now they roam free on the 455-acre ADI Wildlife Sanctuary site. Enjoy this phone clip taken walking the dogs a few days ago. Have a great weekend.