ADI Wildlife Sanctuary sweethearts Tarzan and Tanya are home, after a stay at the Old Chapel Veterinary Clinic for dental surgery and a partial lip lift for Tarzan. They arrived home just before sunset. Tanya headed out into the habitat while Tarzan settled down in his crate and watched the world go by as it grew dark! That’s ok, he could see Tanya and we are used to Tarzan’s very gentle pace. Tomorrow morning, they can get back to their normal routine.
Continue readingRolex
Rolex was rescued from a circus in Peru and now lives at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS) in South Africa (home to lions and tigers rescued from circuses in Peru, Colombia and Guatemala – after those countries banned animals in circuses). He was rescued with brothers Chino and Coco and in the ADI Temporary Rescue Unit in Peru, the three were inseparable. Sadly, at a facility that held the lions in South Africa before they moved to ADIWS the boys became aggressive and fell out, and Rolex has been alone since. Chino and Coco are still together at ADIWS. Rolex is currently part of our Operation Lonely Hearts program to unite him with his sisters Kiara and Africa. Although from the same circus they have never lived together.
Continue readingMonday yawning with Sasha
We hope that you have as relaxing a start to the week as indomitable lioness Sasha. Rescued from a circus in Guatemala and now living at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa, Sasha has a part titanium leg after diseased bone was removed. We dare you to flick through these and not once start to stifle a yawn. Worth checking them all out just to see what truly awesome jaws and teeth she has. Have a great week.
Tarzan gets partial lip lift
Many will remember the story of Tanya and Tarzan’s life of confinement and deprivation in a circus in Guatemala, where Tarzan was attacked by a tiger and his lower lip almost torn off – his dear Tanya still carries the scars where she defended him during the fight. Tarzan’s lip healed hanging from his chin after the horrific incident. A week ago, both Tarzan and Tanya had dental work from Dr Gerhard Steenkamp at Old Chapel Veterinary Clinic, and when Tarzan needed a second round of dental work this week, our veterinarian Dr Peter Caldwell took the opportunity to mend Tarzan’s lower lip. Handsome Tarzan has now had what we are describing as a lip lift! Dr Caldwell’s options were limited due to the lack of structure left, so Tarzan still looks his distinctive self, but with less of his lip now hanging down, which should be more comfortable. He is doing well, and the inseparable pair have remained close by each other throughout.
Continue readingDavid and Easy living like lions
Recently united, sharing the same space, David and Easy have been enjoying their 4-acre Camo Habitat at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. They stay closely together as they patrol the habitat; usually with David leading and regularly stopping to check if Easy is close by. It has been very moving to see them sitting together on top of the water tank we converted into a den, because it was such a familiar sight when we used to see Easy and sister Shakira (who passed away with cancer) in the same spot. Easy and David now follow each other into their house to sleep together. Lions are social animals and this is not about romance, but companionship – and of course the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary does not allow breeding – we are all so delighted that these two lions (rescued from different circuses in Peru and Colombia) are no longer alone.
Max peering through tall grass
If you visit a sanctuary, don’t expect to see all of the animals. This is Max at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa watching intensely from the long grass. He was rescued from a circus in Guatemala where he was in a bare cage and was torn from his mother while still suckling and handed around for photographs. Now that Max has space and freedom, he can be wary about approaching people, but that simply makes it extra special when he comes up to chuff and greet you. Animals in captivity need to be able to make the choice of when they want to be seen or not. For many species, being stared at by people can be a torture.
Continue readingTarzan and Tanya undergo dental surgery
Get well soon Tarzan and Tanya. ADI Wildlife Sanctuary sweethearts are recovering at Old Chapel Veterinary Clinic under the watchful eye of Dr Peter Caldwell following dental surgery performed by Dr Gerhard Steenkamp. Circus lions and tigers often have teeth broken when they are hit in the face and it can lead to a lifetime of silent suffering. Many will remember how subdued Tarzan was when we rescued him from a circus in Guatemala – he tucked himself in a corner while Tanya stood guard. After emergency dental work to relieve his pain in our Guatemala field hospital he bounced back and was playing with toys. That was almost four years ago and Tarzan and Tanya were both in need of more treatment. Tarzan will in fact have additional dental work later this week and Tanya will remain in hospital with him until they can return to the sanctuary together.
Kiara2 strides through the grass
Awesome. Kiara 2 striding through the grass in Davis Habitat at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa. The mighty lionesses are the mothers and hunters that hold prides together. Kiara lives with sister Africa both rescued from a circus in Peru after a dramatic chase through the desert near Piura. The circus was defying the country’s ban on animal circuses and had been in hiding for almost 8 months when ADI finally tracked them down.
Kiara and Africa are currently in a programme at ADIWS to unite them with brother Rolex from the same circus.
Kiara has a cataract in her left eye that is bein monitored by our veterinarian.
David and Easy together
Yes, David and Easy, the first of our Lonely Hearts Lions, are together. The door between their rooms in their house at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa was slowly opened and the two lions rubbed heads and then walked out to their feeding camp. It has been a slow and careful process, where David, rescued from a circus in Peru, and Easy, rescued from a circus in Colombia, have been brought close to each other and received a spray of the hormone to encourage feelings of friendship towards each other. Both were very gentle and respectful of each other, with David edging closer and closer to Easy. For a day, Easy seemed to feign disinterest in David – she didn’t seem too impressed when he started to show off, even seeming to do pull-ups! But if he walked away, she would immediately go to find him. We have been monitoring them around the clock and they have been sleeping in the same night room. Today, it is clear they have bonded as friends. They are no longer alone.
Continue readingLions and tigers play ball
Our custom made lion and tiger balls from Robust a Ball have arrived at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary and Kesari, Sasha tiger, Chino and Coco have been the first to have a ball! Sasha lioness has been enjoying our prototype of the new size for the past couple of weeks. For Sasha lioness, it is even more than enrichment, it is great physiotherapy for her leg, which has a titanium scaffold after diseased bone was removed.
Our habitats are large at the ADIWS, giving the lions and tigers space to explore, run, and play, but enrichment like this is still vital for keeping them engaged mentally and physically. You can support treats, toys and enrichment for the animals.
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ADI Wildlife Sanctuary 