Here is Leo, our oldest ADIWS resident, enjoying sitting in the shade among the summer flowers yesterday. Leo was rescued during ADI’s Operation Spirit of Freedom which emptied Peru’s circuses, and we know is, at least, 21 years old. We rescued him ten years ago this year, and at that time, we believe Leo could have been 13 or 14 years old. Leo is father of many of the Peru ex-circus lions – certainly Kiara, Africa, Rolex, Chino and Coco, and possibly Rey and Kiara2 as well!
Sitting in the morning African sunshine, Rolex lets out a nice big yawn. The weekend is almost here for all of us, although every day is a lazy day for Rolex at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa!
Rolex was rescued from a circus in Peru during ADI’s Operation Spirit of Freedom enforcing the country’s ban on wild animals in circuses ten years ago this year! ADI emptied every cage in a rescue mission lasting almost two years and saving over 100 animals including 33 lions!
King Kesari surveys his land at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. Born in South Africa, he avoided being put up for auction, where this magnificent lion most certainly would have been a target for a trophy hunter, instead he came to ADIWS. Since his arrival four years ago, Kesari has become a huge, playful presence with a mighty roar – Ruben is roaring back now. Living in Joan & Geoff Phillips Habitat he has become friends with his neighbors Chino and Coco on one side and Simba and Rey A on the other. If you come to volunteer at ADIWS, when you open your room’s curtains in the morning you will likely see Kesari, Chino and Coco.
Help care for the lions. Donate here.
Tiny but fierce Tanya investigates her new catnip bag. Thanks to the empty coffee bags donated by Highland Coffee Roastery, the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary team are making up lots of treats for the lions and tigers. To help bring extra joy in the New Year for the big cats, you can still donate pumpkin treats and part of it will also go towards a day’s care for a lion or tiger. Donate here
Continue readingThe world’s loneliest lion had been left behind in a zoo that closed in Armenia. All alone, he had lost his roar and confinement and malnutrition left him with difficulty walking. His progress since stepping out at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in August has been beyond our dreams. His movement has improved; he has relaxed; he played with his first toy and keeps on playing; he saw and heard other lions after six lonely years; and he is roaring with other lions again. 2023 was Ruben’s year, but we hope for even more in 2024 including a bigger habitat.
From his epic journey with ADI’s Jan and Tim from Armenia to Africa to roaring with other lions again, check out these images of Ruben’s incredible 2023!
It’s sundown at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa and lionesses Kiara and Africa are inseparable as they patrol the 5-acre Davis Habitat in the fading light. Occasionally pausing to play or to chase after a mongoose or ground squirrel before it disappears underground, they check out their territory.
It’s almost ten years since ADI rescued Africa and Kiara from a tiny, circus cage in the desert region of Peru.
What a year Ruben! It seems so long ago that he walked shakily from his travel crate after arriving at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa from Armenia. Here he is enjoying his Christmas present hand made by the ADIWS team from recycled coffee sacks and filled with catnip and hay. Thank you to everyone who helped make his dreams come true.
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Our very best wishes for a Happy Holiday from all of us at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, with our grateful thanks for your support during 2023! At the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa, our rescued lions, tigers, donkeys, goats, pigs, sheep, and cow are already into their presents.
Our big cat residents at ADIWS enjoy large natural habitats where they can explore, stalk, chase small wildlife, sleep, or play but like all cats, they love anything interesting and new, especially new toys!
Thank you to everyone who contributed towards their festive treats, you can see here:
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We’d like to start with news of a new addition to our ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in time for Christmas. One of our family of donkeys has given birth to a beautiful foal. She has been checked by the veterinarian and is doing well.
The donkeys came to the sanctuary in May after being abandoned at a holiday lodge which had closed. ADIWS does not allow breeding, so Christopher the male was neutered on arrival. However, nobody knew the status of the females, and a donkey pregnancy can last up to 14 months! We did suspect that one female looked rather round and are delighted to welcome a new baby to the donkey family, being called Nugget.
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Playful Jade – one of the tigers we rescued from a circus in Guatemala – is back at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary after a short stay at Old Chapel Veterinary Clinic and the first thing she did was rub noses with sister Luna. In hospital, Jade was thoroughly examined, including x-rays, after she was seen limping and Dr Caldwell took the opportunity to examine the problem in this family due to inbreeding and malnutrition. For Jade (and sister Luna), the malformed skull and spine connection pinches the spinal nerve, and shows as a “goose step” walk, whereas in the older females, it has caused seizures. The cause of her limp was a cut on her paw, almost certainly due to overzealous play – her followers will know what a very boisterous and noisy group our Spice Girls are! It was not infected and she is now back to her normal self and is already back out in the main habitat with Luna, Sun and Moon.
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