Five lions and 12 tigers, rescued from Guatemala circuses, make a great escape to freedom at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa. The animals were rescued during ADI’s 18-month operation to help enforce Guatemala’s ban on animals in circuses. Then, officials warned ADI to leave the country with the animals by 21 January or risk losing them. Organizing a flight like this normally takes weeks, but ADI was racing against time as flight after flight was blocked due to landing and security restrictions on flights from Guatemala. With just days to spare, ADI secured an escape route through Mexico, Belgium, and Qatar.
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Reuniting the Guatemala animals
It seems hard to believe that only last week our rescued Guatemala animals arrived at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa! The last ten days have been a whirl of activity, settling in the animals, letting them become familiar with their new surroundings, and most importantly, reuniting them with their family.
Continue readingGuatemala animals home at last
In the late afternoon of Tuesday, January 21, the remaining 12 tigers and 5 lions rescued from circuses in Guatemala arrived at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary.
Continue readingOperation Liberty Flight: Updates on the Journey Home
In the early hours of Sunday morning, January 19, the 17 lions and tigers rescued from circuses in Guatemala were loaded onto trucks that would take them to the airport. It marked the beginning of a journey of a lifetime to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa, their forever home.
Continue readingHome for the Holidays Fundraiser
Following our Home for the Holidays US fundraiser on December 8th and online appeals, we have hit our target to build the travel crates for the 17 lions and tigers rescued from circuses in Guatemala during ADI Operation Liberty and who will be coming home to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary soon!
Continue readingHelp animals as you shop!
Every holiday purchase from the ADI online store helps support the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary and our life-saving work for animals around the world.
Continue readingKesari is home – just in time for his birthday!
Homeless Kesari is now a resident of the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary.
The operation at Pretoria Zoo began at 5:30am and some of you joined us in the early hours/late at night on Facebook Live, as Kesari was loaded into his travel crate ready for the journey to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS).
21 Lions and tigers in Guatemala take a step closer to a new life
21 LIONS & TIGERS IN GUATEMALA TAKE A STEP CLOSER TO A NEW LIFE. A new Temporary Rescue Center (TRC), better climate and closer to the airport, is up and running. The tigers and lions rescued from circuses by ADI, are safe. We have armed security. This is our launch pad for the final phase of the rescue, which will see 6 lions and 12 tigers heading to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa, and 3 tigers to Big Cat Rescue in Florida.
Continue readingADI Wildlife Sanctuary: Reflecting on an incredible first year
August last year, we purchased 455 acres of land and buildings in South Africa. It was just a beautiful, blank canvas, and we knew turning it into an animal sanctuary would be a monumental task. One year ago this week, we were rolling up our sleeves and taking on that task and today, our ADI Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS) awakes each day, to the roars of our rescued lions, freed from suffering.
Continue readingADI Wildlife Sanctuary: The dream becomes a reality
In the last 12 months, we’ve made huge strides in transforming 455 acres of grassland to create the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, a place of loving kindness in South Africa.
The sanctuary is now home to 25 lions rescued by ADI from circuses in Colombia and Peru. In the coming months, they will be joined by 12 tigers and six lions rescued during Operation Liberty, the ADI mission to help enforce Guatemala’s circus ban, as well as a lion from Pretoria zoo.
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