We remain in shock and grief after the passing of Tarzan’s lifelong companion Tanya – our ADI Wildlife Sanctuary sweethearts.
Continue readingTarzan coping with loss
hospital
Tragic news – Ruben has passed away
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.
Continue readingRuben in hospital
As supporters know, Ruben has been struggling to walk again since his seizure and we have been discussing the possible causes with our veterinarian, Dr. Peter Caldwell. Ruben arrived at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary last year with degenerative neuropathy and spondylitis which were causing him severe difficulties walking, losing balance, and stumbling. This is due to malnutrition and poor care throughout his life, combined with confinement and inbreeding. Ruben is a senior lion at 16 years old.
This morning, Ruben was less mobile and seemed dispirited. He has had good days and less good days, but has previously been in good spirits, engaged and pleased to see his carers. Peter examined Ruben and has speculated on two possible reasons for the seizure – either it is part of the ongoing degeneration of the nervous system or spine (the scale of any damage will be key to treatment) or inflammation, which he is optimistic we can treat. So Ruben has been sedated and taken into hospital for an MRI and Peter will take the opportunity to do a closer physical examination of his spine. This will give us a full diagnosis and a decision can be made on treatment.
Continue readingJade is home!
Playful Jade – one of the tigers we rescued from a circus in Guatemala – is back at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary after a short stay at Old Chapel Veterinary Clinic and the first thing she did was rub noses with sister Luna. In hospital, Jade was thoroughly examined, including x-rays, after she was seen limping and Dr Caldwell took the opportunity to examine the problem in this family due to inbreeding and malnutrition. For Jade (and sister Luna), the malformed skull and spine connection pinches the spinal nerve, and shows as a “goose step” walk, whereas in the older females, it has caused seizures. The cause of her limp was a cut on her paw, almost certainly due to overzealous play – her followers will know what a very boisterous and noisy group our Spice Girls are! It was not infected and she is now back to her normal self and is already back out in the main habitat with Luna, Sun and Moon.
Continue readingGet well soon Jade
Our beloved, boisterous, and naughty leader of the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary Spice Girls, Jade, is in hospital. Jade bounced straight into her travel crate, seemed content throughout the journey and is now settled in Old Chapel Veterinary Clinic. Dr Caldwell is checking out the cause of her limp and taking the opportunity to assess her spondylosis – which she, her sister Luna and Ruben all have. This was cause by malnutrition in the circus and causes her to have a goose-stepping walk. We are all hoping the limp is just down to over-zealous play and our very own Tigger will be bouncing around her habitat again soon.
Continue readingSend your love for Bumba
Magnificent Bumba is the last of the great pride of six boys rescued by ADI from a circus in Colombia nine years ago. Over time, his brothers have all passed, often due to cancer. So, when Bumba appeared lethargic this week and had less appetite, we alerted Dr Caldwell immediately, just to be on the safe side. Bumba will be heading to Dr Caldwell’s Old Chapel Veterinary Clinic on Tuesday where he will get a full older lion health examination. We are all really hoping for the best. Please think of Bumba and send him your love. Join us live at the ADIWS on Tuesday 19th, as we go live periodically throughout another Big Veterinary & Dental Day. There will be health checks, dental work, and Bumba will be loaded for hospital.
Ruben watch
Ruben has been watching from the crate. He is still sleepy. He was sedated for travel two days ago and today for a veterinary check, so is sleeping it off. He was covered with a shade cloth, and there was a nice breeze, but he has since been insulated with hay bales and will be monitored through the night. Earlier, Rey Ayacucho came over to watch him (third slide below).
He will do this in his own time. Follow us on Facebook for possible live streams tomorrow.
Continue readingFace-to-face with his own kind for the first time in years
After Ruben’s long journey home from Armenia to Africa, the hold-up at the airport, and facing a night in quarantine at Dr Peter Caldwell’s Old Chapel Veterinary Clinic, his day ended with a magical moment as he came face-to-face with Easy, a lioness from the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary who is also currently at the Old Chapel clinic.
Continue readingSend your love to Easy
Easy, our gentle lioness rescued from a circus in Colombia, has been thoroughly examined by Dr Peter Caldwell at Old Chapel Veterinary Clinic, with blood tests, an X-ray and a gastroscopy.
Preliminary findings reveal a low blood count and ulcerative colitis. Easy will remain in hospital while Peter investigates the cause and options for treatment. In the meantime, she is snuggling in her teff-filled room and being closely monitored by the veterinary team.
Relief after Max’s tests
Max is recovering in hospital after being sedated for X-rays and an ultrasound. The good news is that his heart is fine and it does not appear to be cancer. He has some signs of tonsillitis and it is believed he has had feline allergic bronchitis or feline asthma. The X-rays are yet to be reviewed and Dr Caldwell will be keeping him in hospital for a week for observation. Max was weighed and came in at a handsome 159kg/350lbs.
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