Lions are social animals and their families and companionship mean the world to them. Rey and Simba, now at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa, were rescued by ADI from a circus high in the Andes mountains in Peru. They have only been apart once, when Rey had to go to the hospital (watch their heartwarming reunion). They are now senior lions in their golden years, but you can see that their closeness is as strong as ever.
Little Saif (pronounced “safe”) is the youngest of the Kuwait group of illegal pet trade survivors in Kuwait who are waiting to be relocated to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa. He’s not quite as lively as his slightly older companion, Dhubiya, but also playful, friendly, and inquisitive. He is going to love the smells, sights and sounds at ADIWS and the whole range of enrichment. He could have more than 20 years ahead of him in our care, enjoying the kind of habitat that nature intended. His life as a pet with humans, and his abandonment, becoming a very distant memory.
Our herd of donkeys arrived at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in May after they were abandoned at a holiday lodge that closed. A donkey pregnancy can last up to 14 months and so our family has grown from 6 to 8 with the births of a little boy Nugget (in December) and little girl Eeyore (in February). The donkeys roam freely around several hundred acres of the sanctuary, sometimes they will be seen way in the distance up on the hillside and the next peering in the windows where you are working, or nonchalantly grazing alongside one of the lion or tiger habitats. They move as one and even wander through the barns and staff village if doors are left open. Nugget and the very playful (unlike her storybook namesake) Eeyore have a safe, peaceful home to grow up in together. They have their whole lives ahead of them – please help support their care. Donate here
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The travel crates to bring the Kuwait lions home to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary were delivered to Johannesburg Airport today (see Facebook live). Five lions. Saif (pictured), Dhubiya, Muheeb, Saham and Shujja, from Kuwait’s illegal pet trade are coming to the Sanctuary and we are trying to include the rescue of a sixth, who just arrived.
At the ADIWS, we re-purposed old crates, cutting them down, repainting and turning them into flat packed crates. On Sunday they were loaded onto a truck and at 5am this morning, headed to the airport. They will begin their journey to Kuwait on Wednesday, arriving at the weekend. The next time we see them in South Africa, they will have young lions inside.
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Ruben, the lonely lion rescued from a private zoo in Armenia, has been enjoying the recent expansion of his habitat at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa. Ruben arrived with severe difficulty walking due to spinal problems caused by poor diet and confinement. With veterinary treatment, supplements and physiotherapy thanks to his enthusiastic play with different toys such as catnip bags, Ruben’s mobility has improved significantly. There is still a long way to go, but at a January veterinary assessment, it was decided Ruben was ready for an additional half acre of more challenging space – with longer grass in places and slopes to climb to a platform. Recently, he has been using this more and more, sleeping under the platform and watching Max and Stripes (who have been captivated by seeing their neighbor up close).
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Kiara and her son Scarc, then and now. It’s been ten years since ADI reunited Kiara with her cubs and Scarc has grown into a big and impressive lion, but he’s still close to his mum.
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Muheeb is the oldest of the Kuwait5, a young 4-year-old male. A very handsome lion, we were told “His name means scary.” “Is he?” we asked. “He really isn’t,” said his carer, with a smile. He seems to have a very calm and gentle personality, and immediately came and sat beside Jan. We hope that at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, we will not only be able to give him a wonderful huge habitat, but companionship of his own kind. He will be in a single habitat at first, but is very young, and hopefully, over time, we can get him together with another rescued lion.
Our thanks to the volunteers in Kuwait and staff at Kuwait zoo, who have ensured the animals are content and cared for, until we can relocate them to their new lives.
Ruben, the lonely lion who was rescued after being left alone in a closed private zoo in Armenia for five years after all the other animals were removed, today had dental surgery at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa. Ruben arrived at ADIWS in late August with serious difficulty walking and numerous damaged teeth. He has made significant progress walking and veterinarian Dr Caldwell has been working towards building up Ruben’s health and strength ready for dental surgery.
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Prof Steenkamp and Dr Peter Caldwell were at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary for dental work on several of the lions today and will be back tomorrow. Today Rolex, Simba and Scarc, rescued by ADI from different circuses in Peru, had dental surgery, and tomorrow Ruben will be having dental surgery and Kesari will have a dental examination. Simba, Rolex and Scarc are all back in their habitats and have recovered from their treatment and are moving about.
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One of the great moments for ADI was reuniting Kiara with her cubs Mahla and Scarc after a circus in Peru tore the babies from their mother. Almost ten years later and Kiara will be spending the coming Mothering Sunday (10 March) with her family.
Mothering Sunday / Mother’s Day is marked in March in the UK, Ireland, Nigeria and most of the Middle East.
In honor of it, will you help support the care of Kiara and her beloved family so that they continue to enjoy many wonderful years together? Shop our collection of gifts for mum, which includes canvas prints of Kiara and her family, apparel, and bodycare.
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