It is with a truly heavy heart that we announce that our beloved ex-circus lioness from Peru, Muñeca, has passed away at 19 years of age, after 8 years in ADI care.
Continue readingCatnip toys for lions
Rey A (from Ayacucho) gets stuck into a box stuffed with hay and catnip at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. Filmed soon after Rey returned from hospital, you can see where he was shaved for an ultrasound. Rey and brother Simba were rescued from a circus in Peru and had not been apart until Rey was taken ill. The greeting the two lions gave each other when Rey returned was incredible and if you’ve not seen it, watch it here.
Continue readingKesari and catnip
Something exciting has got Kesari up on his paws at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa. Here he is clearly enjoying the catnip donated by Kunduchi Pet Products in a total state of bliss. What do you think Kesari is thinking right now?
Continue readingIron recovered after dental surgery
Good to see Iron looking back to his usual magnificent self after over three hours of dental surgery at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary at the weekend. Dr Peter Caldwell was at the sanctuary on Saturday assessing the animals and giving vaccinations. Dr Gerhard Steenkamp performed three root canals, two extractions, repaired a fractured molar in Iron who was originally rescued from a circus in Colombia.
Continue readingLeo watches over Muñeca when she gets sick
19-year-old Muñeca is now in Old Chapel Veterinary Hospital after she became lethargic and stopped eating. Leo clearly realized something was wrong and stood by his adored Muñeca, encouraging and wrapping his legs around her. A reminder of just how important social bonds are to lions.
Continue readingLion loyalty
Tarzan says “No” to food and meds until he sees his Tanya! Recently, Tarzan was unwell. Taking no chances, we took him to hospital. But he was miserable there and refused to eat or take his medication. The solution – bring his Tanya in early for her dental check! The couple were put together in the same hospital room. They were overjoyed to see each other, and Tarzan immediately took his meds, ate his dinner, and went straight to sleep, guarded by his Tanya!
Continue readingLionesses enjoying football
Congratulations to the “Lionesses” (England’s women’s football team) for winning Euro 2022. The lionesses at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary love their football as shown off here by Mahla at the weekend. The lions do however take the expression “tough tackling” to another level”!
Not to be left out, the Sanctuary’s tiger team also loves to play ball, although their rules can be hard to follow.
If you’d like to fund a ball or other enrichment, click here.
Catnip time!
Big or small, all cats go crazy for it. Huge thanks to Kunduchi Pet Products, a company based in South Africa, for donating 10kg of catnip to provide our rescued lions and tigers fun enrichment. Enrichment and play are essential for keeping rescued animals physically and mentally healthy. Enjoy these photos of our ADI Wildlife Sanctuary residents enjoying catnip stuffed into boxes with teff. Which photo is your favorite?
If you’d like to donate towards more catnip and other enrichment for our big cats to enjoy, click here.
Playful Spice
Precious Jade has one thing on her mind as she strides across the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary’s Tiger Territory: FUN! Jade has proven to be the especially playful one of the boisterous ‘Spice Girls’, a group of tigresses rescued by ADI from a Guatemalan circus, including sister Luna and sisters from another litter Sun and Moon. Jade loves to chase and be chased, and right now she’s ready to wind down and relax in the pool.
Continue readingMagnificent Max and Stripes
You remember those tiny cubs ADI rescued from a circus holed up in a junkyard in Guatemala? Well, they grew up to be really, really BIG. With good food, care and nutritional supplements, all the cubs we rescued in Guatemala – Max, Stripes, Sun and Moon – have outgrown the rest of their family, who endured lifelong malnutrition in the circus. The boys were once the shyest of the animals at the ADIWS but have steadily become increasingly friendly and inquisitive.
ADI Wildlife Sanctuary 