farewell

More memories of Easy

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While it is heartbreaking to say goodbye to this magnificent lioness, please look through these pictures and remember how ADI supporters transformed her life. Rescued from a circus in Colombia ten years ago she crossed the world to live as a lion should at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa. In her natural homeland, the images show how lions should live, such a contrast to circus and zoo life (third from last pic shows Easy’s last day in her circus cage). The second to last pic is of Easy in the ADI Temporary Rescue Unit in Colombia, it shows how the fur on her forehead formed a heart. The mark was less clear over time but she always had a great big heart. Our thanks for the many kind comments, she touched all of our lives.

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ADI President Jan Creamer remembers Ruben

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It is with huge sadness that I bring you news of the passing of our beloved and inspirational Ruben. I realize some of you may have already seen our announcements here and on social media – dear Ruben had many friends around the world.

As our vet Dr. Peter Caldwell advised, fifteen years of captivity and malnutrition left Ruben’s body compromised by spondylitis and degenerative neuropathy; the bones in his spine were disintegrating, damaging his spinal nerve. It was down to his character and determination that Ruben seized his time in Africa with both paws, enjoying a lifetime of experiences in just seven months (the equivalent of four years for a human).

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How Ruben’s lust for life inspired us all

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This week we said goodbye to our beloved and inspirational Ruben. 15 years of captivity and malnutrition left his body compromised by spondylitis and degenerative neuropathy; the bones in his spine were disintegrating, damaging his spinal nerve. We kept fighting for Ruben after he recently suffered a seizure and became unable to stand but he passed away, despite all the efforts of Dr Peter Caldwell.

When we first saw Ruben in Armenia January 2023 he was in terrible condition, his coat was matted, he was angry and suspicious, he could barely move without stumbling and falling over. In August 2023, we returned to Armenia to bring him to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS) and saw he had deteriorated. Peter warned at the time that Ruben was “living on borrowed time” due to his multiple health issues. He prescribed medication to help Ruben move around. However, Ruben appeared to want to prove everyone wrong, and launched into his new life at ADIWS with enthusiasm, playing with his catnip toys, learning to roar again and communicate with the lion residents next door.

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Tragic news – Ruben has passed away

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We are all devastated to announce that our dear Ruben has passed away. Following a recent seizure, Ruben lost control of his back legs, leaving him struggling to get on his feet again. Despite his struggles, Ruben seemed positive, taking his medication, and responding to his carers. Sadly, his condition deteriorated and to get a more thorough diagnosis, Peter arranged an MRI to get images of Ruben’s spine, to see what could be done.

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Farewell, Leo

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It with great sadness we announce that our dear Leo, lion father of the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, has now passed away. Leo, who was over 21 years old, had become very fragile and appeared to be fading at the start of the month. But with palliative care an outpouring of love across the world, our warrior bounced back. He was back to his old self for three wonderful weeks, his appetite returned, he enjoyed the ADIWS staff constantly attending him, basked in the South African sunshine, and would walk deep into his habitat and to watch his daughters. A last hurrah in the land of his forefathers.

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Farewell Bumba

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We are heartbroken to report the passing of a giant at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, Bumba, aged around 17 years. On Tuesday, after a loss of appetite and lethargy, Bumba was sedated by Dr Peter Caldwell and taken to hospital. Many of you following on our ‘live’ feeds on veterinary day, saw Dr Caldwell express concern about Bumba’s lungs. Sadly, after blood analysis, x-rays and ultrasounds, the worst was confirmed this morning. Bumba had multiple tumours and his condition would deteriorate rapidly and radically. We took the decision to let a grand old warrior go peacefully. Rescued from a circus in Colombia, he had enjoyed 9 years of love in ADI’s care, most of it home in Africa.

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Farewell to a warrior for animals

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Yesterday, the animals lost a true champion with the passing of Alexis Diaz Limaco, ADI’s Latin America General Manager. His impact for animals was immense. The ADI family has lost a great friend and colleague.

It was a chance meeting in London over 20 years ago that led Jan and Tim to recruit a young Peruvian for ADI’s undercover team. He would prove to be the vital part of the jigsaw of skills which saw ADIs work change laws and attitudes across Latin America.

He began investigating circuses in Spain and Portugal, securing harrowing footage which subsequently help drive bans in both countries on wild animals in circuses. Then he returned to South America, and truly found his calling.

ADI had rescued Toto the chimpanzee from a circus in Chile and launched a campaign to ban animal circuses, tantalizingly close to a ban in Chile, but a major investigation of the Latin American circus industry was needed. Alexis headed home.

Alexis assembled a team. Moving from country to country, he and his team faced huge risks. In Bolivia, he fought off a gang of circus thugs with his tripod; on another occasion, his leg was broken by a circus after he was caught filming.

For two years, the team was undercover inside circuses in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil. The footage was horrific: appalling living conditions and animals were being beaten, kicked, punched, even having rocks hurled at them.

Alexis headed to the countries where we had the most evidence teaming up with local campaigners to launch the findings, getting our materials printed, organizing press conferences. The investigation shocked the continent, causing public outcry.

Alexis had been a human rights activist and now threw himself into lobbying for circus bans. Bolivia became the first South American country to ban animals in circuses and then, a new challenge emerged…

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Farewell, Bolillo

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It is with great sadness that we report that dear Bolillo has passed away.  Like many of our circus survivors, almost a decade in a tiny circus cage, enduring abuse and poor nutrition in Colombia, took its toll on this senior lion. In October, after his last hospitalization, Bolillo was on palliative care for his arthritis and failing kidneys – we kept him comfortable as possible in his African home.  He continued to enjoy life, slowly pottering around Augie Habitat dozing under the trees.  Then in the past week Bolillo retreated to the safety of his house, venturing out only to bask in the sunshine, his appetite failing. He was clearly unhappy and uncomfortable and it was becoming hard to entice him to even take his medication treats. Dr Caldwell came to see him and under anaesthetic, discovered in addition to his deteriorating bones and kidneys, Bolillo had a large stomach tumour.  It was time to do the kindest thing for him (and the toughest for us) and say goodbye to our elderly trooper.

With his spectacular mane, Bolillo had the air of a high court judge. He came across as an old-fashioned gentleman. He was one of our Colombian pride of nine, rescued over seven and a half years ago and taken into our temporary rescue center in Bucaramanga.  The pictures of the lions in their circus cages were haunting; they looked completely broken and were some of the most heartbreaking we have seen. Released from the circus and in ADI’s care, they regained their spirits and love of life and finally, we returned them to the land of their forefathers Africa.  

When ADI rescues large numbers of animals from a circus the beatings, horrific conditions, poor food, in-breeding and lack of veterinary care, we know that early suffering will likely begin to catch up with them in later life.  This has been the case over the past 18 months with the loss of several senior members of the Colombian pride. Although their lives have been shortened by circus life, it is a comfort that they got to live and roar as lions should.

So, although we are heartbroken to say “goodbye”, we celebrate his great escape from the circus and those years under the African sun.  Farewell Bolillo, it was an honour to know you and a privilege to care for you.

Thank you to everyone who helped give this lion those precious years of freedom and living as a lion should.  Please continue to support the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary and give others like our beloved Bolillo a new life.  

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