Help Tarzan and Tanya stay cozy this winter

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Tarzan and Tanya’s love keeps them warm, but let’s ensure they are extra cozy! Winter has officially begun in South Africa and the coldest nights will be in July. Steadily, the ADIWS team have been preparing: screwing heavy rubber insulation onto dens under platforms, building up hay bales for insulation, and filling the dens and houses with very deep, soft teff hay.

Can you help keep our sanctuary lovebirds and our other circus survivors warm? A donation of R450 each (£18.50 / $23.50) buys one teff bedding roll.

Donate here and it will be doubled thanks to a generous matching pledge: Donate UK £ | Donate US $

Fighting climate change and saving animals

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Climate change is the greatest threat to the natural environment and the survival of many species that the world faces. The world needs dramatically reduce carbon emissions. It has always been the aim for ADIWS to play its role. We will keep planting trees and this year we aim to make the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary fully solar powered.

Our lion and tiger enclosure fencing, water pumps, motorized gates, security cameras and outdoor lights are already solar powered, but to make the entire Sanctuary solar powered is a massive step. 92 solar panels will power our offices, freezers, food preparation areas, accommodation and future veterinary clinic, the education center, film theatre and offices. Please support this important development which will be good for the planet and provide energy security for the sanctuary. Donate UK £ | Donate US $

Brothers Tomas and Kimba

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A picture that says it was worth all those months carefully reuniting brothers Tomas and Kimba at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. Separated by a circus in Guatemala and then rescued separately by ADI, the brothers were not believed to have been together for many years. Bringing two adult male lions together has to be approached with caution, carefully moving forward and with them close to each other and seeing how they interact. But lions are social animals and companionship means the world to them, as this image shows.

Sasha makes the most of her A frame

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Lioness Sasha makes the most of her new A frame at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. She has been spending most of her time relaxing and napping inside, as it provides just the right amount of shade while allowing her to see through.

It’s wonderful to see her comfortable and at peace – such a difference from her life in a Guatemalan circus, before ADI rescued her. A brutal declawing operation in the circus led to an infection that turned into cancer and spread to her leg. Thanks to groundbreaking surgery by Dr Caldwell, Sasha now has a titanium implant where the diseased bone once was. Nothing can get Sasha down now. She is living her best life.

To donate towards one (or more) A frames for the rest of our residents to enjoy (it costs UK £53 / US $66 / R1,200 each): Donate UK £ | Donate US $

Smith is home

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After a long hospital stay to identify Smith’s gastric issues, vet Dr Peter Caldwell found it was being caused by a permanent heart condition, meaning lifetime medication. Smith has restrictive cardiomyopathy which has caused scarring and damage to the heart. So far, he has responded well to medication and all of the fluid is now out of his abdomen.

Continue reading →

Kesari takes apart the play station

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Our play station was created for Sasha Lioness to exercise her titanium leg. When she finished playing with it, we decided to give other animals in the sanctuary a turn. We even went live with the Cusco Pride playing with it – links in comments 👇👇). As well as catnip, the scents of the other animals are building up. This week the play station looked pretty small next to gentle giant Kesari! He began dismantling it. Like Mahla he tore off the green ball and ran off with it – he even tore away the wooden support it was attached to! It’ll need a few repairs before heading to the next habitat.

Watch this space for a special video of all the different reactions to the play station.

Solar power

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Tarzan and Tanya bask in the sun’s last rays at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. As well as seeing two lions who escaped the misery of a circus in Guatemala to come home to their natural world in Africa, we are also seeing the greatest energy asset of the ADIWS go down for the day. This year, ADI is increasing its commitment to reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change by making the entire sanctuary solar powered. Please support this and watch out for updates.

Donate UK £ | Donate US $

Leo’s dinnertime stroll

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When it’s time for feeding and medications at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, Resident Care Manager Johannes begins calling Leo. The grand old lion is usually nowhere to be seen and it can sometimes take a while to rouse the 20 year old lion from his slumber. But eventually, his huge head appears above the grass, he strolls towards Johannes, and they walk the 200m or so together to Leo’s house. These days Leo has his own feeding routine to ensure he eats all of his food (it was identified he was getting distracted and not eating everything). He first gets his meds in small pieces of meat, fed with tongs, then the team continue to feed the entire meal. Yes, our most senior resident is hand fed – he is a king after all!

Sunny with a side of shade

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At the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, our residents enjoy freedom of choice. Here, ReyA opts to soak up some sun, while Simba chooses to snooze in the shade. The brothers were rescued by ADI from a circus in Peru, where they were confined to a tiny cage.

These A frames have been a big hit among our rescued lions and tigers who have received them so far (we hope to make more for all our residents). Lately, ReyA and Simba spend all day every day sleeping or relaxing in them – they can enjoy the shade while still seeing through them.

To help us build more for the rest of our big cats (UK £53 / US $66 / R1,200 each): Donate UK £ | Donate US $