Special habitat for a special lion

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We are counting down to moving lonely Ruben, who has not heard another lion for over five years, from Armenia to his new life at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa. Once in South Africa, his suspected neurological and spinal problems can be assessed using advanced scanning technology. 

At ADIWS we have designed a habitat to meet his special needs as he undergoes treatment, including a house with heated floor, a feeding camp with a special low-level platform and a half-acre natural habitat with a special platform with den underneath, where Ruben’s special needs are accommodated with grass slopes or gentle steps leading to the top of his viewing platform. 

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Sunny side of life

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Tomas enjoys a huge yawn as he lies contentedly in Avi habitat that he shares with Kimba at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa. The brothers were separated as cubs in a Guatemala circus, then reunited after ADI rescued them. Sasha lioness, rescued from the same circus, lives in Jacque Habitat next door and shares a fence line with the boys.

To adopt Tomas and help with his care: Adopt UK £ | Adopt US $

Home sweet home

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Saved from a circus in Guatemala, we thought you might like to see how Tarzan and Tanya are settling into their new habitat at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. During our recent veterinary day, many of you saw Tarzan and Tanya moved to a new, larger home – the 2.5+ acre Augie Habitat. The lions were initially cautious about exploring and, inevitably, it was Tanya who stepped out to do initial reconnaissance. This picture, on Sunday evening shows the devoted couple enjoying their new love nest amongst the trees. That tiny, bare circus cage in Guatemala must seem a distant memory now in the golden glow of the African sun.

Keep following ADI here and on social media to find out how you can help transform the lives of animals.

Sasha vs giant bag of catnip

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Sasha tiger is having fun swinging on and tearing into a punch bag of catnip and hay, kindly provided by Kunduchi Pet Products. Before ADI rescued her from a circus in Guatemala, she was confined to a tiny bare cage, with no room to run or play. Now she is free to have fun. Watch out for a video of these antics coming soon.

To help us continue to provide enrichment to our rescues, which is essential to their mental and physical health: Donate US $ | Donate UK £

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Kimba and Tomas head into storm

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Often just before a storm hits the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary following a hot day, several of the lions and tigers will get more active, appreciating the refreshing drop in temperature. Last week as storm clouds began to darken the skies, Tomas and Kimba headed to the most open part of their habitat and seemed to savor the changing weather – they faced into the wind, closing their eyes, smelling the air and letting it blow through their manes. The brothers were rescued from a circus in Guatemala and reunited at ADIWS, here, they looked utterly at one with their wild and natural environment.

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Family time

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No one will forget the heart-rending scenes when the circus in Peru tore Kiara’s cubs from her, how she stared into the distance looking for them for days and the joy when ADI reunited the family. That was almost nine years ago. The family is as close as ever, cubs Mahla and Scarc have grown big and powerful and now it’s them that watch over Mom. This little sequence was taken a few days ago at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa with Mahla and Scarc either side of their proud mother, enjoying the African sunshine. If you are wondering where Aunt Amazonas is, she’s directly below them under the platform sleeping in the shade. Lions are social animals. Lions need each other.

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School children meet the ADIWS lions

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Last week ADI President Jan held a 45-minute Zoom call with pre-k and kindergarten students from New Jersey’s Lacordaire Academy, as part of a study of Africa. The students were able to get up close with our rescued lions, with the Cusco pride (Kiara, Amazonas, Scarc, Mahla) making quite an impression as they played with catnip boxes and romped in their huge habitat. The kids also got to speak with Ernest, Lefaso, and Paul from the ADIWS Resident Care Team who provide food and care for the residents every day.

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Introducing Milo

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At the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, we work to ensure that everyone has the company of someone of their own kind – someone who communicates and understands the world in the same way, with similar unspoken understanding. Our resident companion, guard dog, keeper and supervisor of all human activity, Rollo, has been alone since his arrival in 2018 with just occasional dog visitors for playmates. We contacted the local SPCA and said we had a potential home for a dog in need – and met Milo! Crossbreed Milo is around 4-5 years old and has immediately made great friends with Rollo. He is also good with the chickens, guinea fowl, ducks and other small residents. For the past couple of weeks, Rollo and Milo have played together, carried out (their own version of) night patrols together, and enjoyed regular walks with Sanctuary Director Karen Williams. Rollo has a friend. Welcome to ADI, Milo.


Remember: Never buy dogs from dealers or breeders, always adopt from shelters and let a Milo into your life.

Saved from pet trade and back to the wild

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Yesterday, two wild tortoises were released at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary to begin a new life that could last many, many years. The tortoises had been illegally taken from the wild and were being offered for sale as pets on the internet, when the SPCA stepped in to save them. The SPCA asked ADIWS to take the animals and release them on our 455 acre sanctuary where we already have wild tortoises roaming. A happy ending for two lucky tortoises.

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Veterinary day in pictures

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Friday was an intense day with Dr Peter Caldwell and Professor Gerhard Steenkamp doing health and dental check-ups on seven lions: Rey Cusco, David, Tarzan, Tanya, Sasha Lioness, Kimba and Tomas. Rey Cusco and David had dental surgery. Tarzan, Tanya, Sasha Lioness, Kimba and Tomas all moved to new larger habitats. Everyone had recovered from sedation on Saturday and are eating again. If you missed them, you can check out the recordings of the live reports on our Facebook page.

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