Cuddle up with an Easter Leo

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Easter symbolizes hope and new life, and that is very much the story of our rescued lions and tigers at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. Leo is the Sanctuary father figure and the most senior lion, at 19 years old. Leo was rescued and came to the ADIWS with mate Muñeca and their children Africa, Kiara, Rolex, Chino and Coco – we were told he was daddy to many of the lions in Peru’s circuses. As befits our most senior resident, we act quickly if King Leo has a potential health issue. Most recently, he seemed to be not liking his food and losing a little weight, so we scheduled a dental check for both Leo and Muñeca. In the meantime, we tried hand-feeding with tongs with a variety of foods, cut into small pieces – and feeding him twice a day. Leo picked up straight away, and it seems he likes to be hand fed. Understanding his message, we have adjusted our level of service to boutique hotel style with gold service for seniors!

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Max looking at you

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Rescued from a circus in Guatemala as a tiny cub, where he was being passed from person to person for photos, Max now enjoys life at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa. He roams the 5+acre Kakato (by April Fong) Habitat with brother Stripes. Max is the more outgoing and inquisitive of the tigers and, as he is here, always the first to come and check out anyone passing.

Max is a reminder of why you should never support petting and photos with lion and tiger cubs. Aside from the distress to mother and babies, tigers grow up to be very big just like Max!

Adopt Max to support his care

Jade checks out her new trees

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March saw 24 more indigenous karee trees – sponsored by Trees for Tigers USA – planted at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa. This is part of our program of re-wildling the sanctuary land with indigenous plants to encourage local wildlife and provide rich habitats for our rescued lions and tigers. The sanctuary has 455 acres, much of which was denuded by farming, so we are re-planting and giving it back to the animals. These trees are an investment that will grow and grow and provide shelter for generations of rescued animals to come – we just have to keep watering them! Jade, who was rescued from a circus in Guatemala and who lives with sisters Luna, Sun and Moon, seems to approve. Although she didn’t help by tearing up the pipes we planted to water the trees and turning them into toys for her and her Spice Girl sisters!

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Simba sunbathing

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Simba basks in the sunshine at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. Simba is only 14 years old, but his bandy, hind legs which are distorted with arthritis make him look older – it’s a common ailment amongst rescued circus lions due to severe confinement and lack of exercise and living on urine soaked boards for years. Supporters will recall that in January he had a full check up at the sanctuary by Dr Caldwell who undertook one of his regular reviews of Simba’s medication to keep him comfortable. It’s now autumn/fall in South Africa with winter a couple of months away, during which Simba will appreciate the solar powered heated floor in his house in Guibord-Sprague Habitat (we are also adding a heat-lamp for extra warmth this year). Simba is also able to snuggle up with his brother Rey who was rescued from the same circus in Ayacucho in the Andes mountains in Peru. Thankfully Rey A does not have such bad arthritis.

To adopt Simba

Sun: All grown up

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None of us can forget those tiny tigers Sun and Moon rescued in the summer of 2018 from a circus in Guatemala. For the ADI team a traumatic 18 months followed. It would take another six months to finally rescue the remaining tigers in the same circus, the Temporary Rescue Unit (that the ADI team had been ordered to use) was plagued with difficulties. It was appallingly located, taking hours to reach, trucks bringing animals got stuck, veterinary visits were blocked, it even ran out of water and local sugar farmers helped out. Then came the threats and two attempted invasions by mobs. Finally, heaping huge extra costs on the rescue, an emergency relocation was needed as unscrupulous individuals attempted to get control of the animals.

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David and Easy together

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Thanks to everyone who was rooting for this lioness from a circus in Colombia and lion from a circus in Peru to find companionship together at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa. We think you will agree that this is the very definition of a very handsome couple!

Watch the moment when we really knew that David and Easy would make it as companions at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. It’s not very good phone footage but captures a key interaction after we had united them. After being brought together we had then released them into the main, almost 4-acre, Camo Habitat. They had been exploring together and we found them in the long grass at the very far end of the habitat in the morning. We wondered if they would stick together or drift apart, seeking each other out occasionally?

As the sun set we saw David heading back from the habitat. At first, we thought he was alone, then we saw Easy following. He trotted up onto the platform we made from an old water reservoir. We were so familiar with the silhouettes of Easy and sister Shakira (who passed away from cancer last year) up there but had not seen David and Easy up there together. Easy paused and then followed him.

After sitting in the fading rays of the sun for a while David decided it was time for bed. He tried to get Easy up but she ignored him and he headed off. As soon as he was gone Easy stood up, looked for him, and then jumped down after him, quickening her pace. You can also see that David turns around and comes back, as if to say “please come too!” They headed into the house for the night and slept in the same room together, and that’s where we found them in the morning at sunrise. We haven’t seen them snuggled up together, but they are always close to each other, this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship and companionship for two of our lonely hearts lions.

Tanya nuzzles Tarzan

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Doting lions Tarzan and Tanya at home at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary this morning, showing one of their displays of affection which have melted hearts around the world. They returned to the sanctuary yesterday after dental surgery and a partial lip lift for Tarzan, to repair damage from before they were rescued from a circus in Guatemala. Tarzan was attacked in the circus by a tiger, which tore his lip from his face – it healed hanging from his chin. Tanya fought to defend her Tarzan and has torn ears and is covered with scars. Another amazing thing about this incredibly close relationship is that Tarzan is huge (the vet weighed him at 189.8kg/418lbs) whereas Tanya is tiny (98.4kg/217lbs). She is almost half his size!