Coco is back at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary after his stay in the hospital under the care of Dr. Peter Caldwell.
Continue readingCoco is home!
animal rescue
Help needed for lion cub rescue
Tim and I are flying to Israel as ADI steps in to save two illegally trafficked lion cubs after their hopes of a new life seemed to have been shattered.
Continue readingToo slow Goliath! Coralie gets the treat
Rescued French circus lions Goliath and Coralie are enjoying their first Halloween at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa. Goliath cautiously checked out spook-tastic catnip sack, only for Coralie to race up and snatch it from right under Goliath’s nose – and off she ran!
Continue readingTarzan coping with loss
We remain in shock and grief after the passing of Tarzan’s lifelong companion Tanya – our ADI Wildlife Sanctuary sweethearts.
Continue readingMay 20 He’s going home!
BREAKING: GOLIATH & CORALIE FLY TO THEIR NEW LIFE NEXT WEEK! The two lions, who endured more than a decade in a tiny circus cage in France, will be stepping out onto the land of their ancestors at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa on May 21! Huge thanks to Qatar Airways who stepped in with a free flight to freedom on a cargo aircraft – ADI’s Jan, Tim, and veterinarian Dr Peter Caldwell will be accompanying #GoliathAndCoralie.
Continue readingEaster games
Rescued lions and tigers on an Easter hunt for boxes filled with catnip and hay. Rescued from circuses, the illegal pet trade, and zoos around the world by Animal Defenders International (ADI), these big cats swapped their cramped bare cages for huge natural habitats of several acres in the heart of South Africa.
Continue readingHelp Coralie and Goliath to a new life in Africa
Coralie and Goliath spent a decade in this circus cage but now they have a chance to spend the next decade in the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. This will also signal the beginning of the end for the use of wild animals in circuses in France.
Continue readingThe master of relaxation
Rolex, son of the beloved and dearly missed Leo and Muñeca, has been a resident of the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary since we built it, 5 years ago.
Rescued from a circus in Peru with his family, he was saved on the very first day of ADI’s Operation Spirit of Freedom in 2014, a mission enforcing Peru’s ban on wild animals in circuses. His mother and sisters were brought to safety a few months later.
ADI emptied every cage in this rescue mission lasting almost two years and saving over 100 animals including 33 lions!
Happy rescue anniversary Max and Stripes!
Six years on from that junkyard rescue in Guatemala: how do you think Max and Stripes are doing?
The circus had been in hiding for months, but on November 10th 2018, an ADI team entered a junkyard with police and wildlife officials to rescue six month old Max and Stripes and four other tigers – all destined for the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa. Given a nutritious diet since the rescue the boys have grown bigger than all of the adult tigers saved that day. Today, they are confident, playful, roam acres of natural habitat with pools in Kakato Habitat and still live next to their mom Lupe.
On the prize, Smith flies
Smith has faced several health challenges in recent years but you wouldn’t believe it when he caught sight of a Halloween pumpkin on one of his platforms at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary and launched himself at it.
This picture shows why enrichment is so important for captive animals, giving them different experiences and keeping them mentally and physically stimulated.
Ten years ago Smith was the most famous lion in the world after a clip went viral of him dragging an audience member around a circus ring in Peru. A particularly irresponsible circus act, in which Smith was meant to jump over a member of the audience, went wrong. As a result ADI rescued Smith and all of the other animals that remained in the circus.
Ten years on you can see just how powerful he is and just how stupid it was to put a member of the public in a circus ring with him!
Happy Halloween Smith.
ADI Wildlife Sanctuary 