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
lioness
May 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 reading….Yawn
As you’d expect, lions and tigers do love a catnap and when you see a picture of a lion seemingly giving a spectacular roar it’s more likely they are having a good yawn! That’s not to say lions don’t roar a lot – anyone who watches our lives from the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary will have heard them! Here’s a few good yawns….
Continue readingKiara eye surgery
It is over three years since the cataract on Kiara’s left eye began to significantly impact her vision and she now has very little, if any, vision in that eye. Our ADI Wildlife Sanctuary team constantly monitor for any inflammation and discomfort, so it can be treated quickly. Dr Peter Caldwell examined Kiara and believes she will need surgery in the new year to remove the eye. She is believed to be 15 years old, although the ages given by circuses are often suspect, as they try to hide the length of time they have been in possession of the animals. ADI rescued her from a circus in Peru ten years ago.
Continue readingTarzan fully recovered after sedation
“DON’T YOU GO NEAR HIM AGAIN!” Tarzan has fully recovered after being sedated by Dr Peter Caldwell for tests – a possible kidney issue is being investigated and we await the results.
Continue readingPoetry in motion
Mahla lounges on her new platform for a couple of hours at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, then slips elegantly down to the ground. We’d like to thank everyone who contributed to building the new platform after the boisterous Cusco pride broke the last one. Mahla was rescued as a cub by ADI from a circus in Peru ten years ago.
Turn the tide against trophy pets
Today is World Lion Day. LET’S TURN THE TIDE AGAINST TROPHY PETS. Aziza is a beautiful young lioness, with dainty, elegant features. Perhaps it’s not surprising that someone thought it would be cool to have her as a status symbol pet. But then they tired of her and she was discarded like a fashion accessory they had tired of. She was dumped in the streets of Kuwait City. ADI stepped in to bring Aziza and five other lions, abandoned in the same way, home to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary.
Continue readingIndomitable
Sasha relaxes at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary and it’s hard to believe that this is a lioness with a titanium leg implant! A brutal declawing operation in a Guatemalan circus led to an infection and then spread up her leg. For 8 years she limped in constant pain in her circus cage. Then ADIWS veterinarian Dr Peter Caldwell performed ground-breaking surgery, replacing the diseased bone with a titanium implant. After years of limping, the tendons shortened in her leg and so she still limps, but is no longer in pain and will leap onto her platforms. These days, she loves to spend time alongside brothers Tomas and Kimba from the same circus in Guatemala and in the mornings all three will chase along the fence that divides their habitats.
Please help support the indomitable Sasha, now 12 years old, by adopting her: UK store | US store
Stunning profile
Aziza is the smallest and shyest of the Kuwait 6 lions rescued from the illegal wildlife trade – but she is growing in confidence.
Abandoned when she was no longer wanted as a ‘trophy pet’, she was found in the streets of Kuwait City and taken to the zoo. ADI was called in to relocate Aziza and five other lions (Dhubiya, Saif, Muheeb, Shujaa and Saham) to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa. When we first saw her she was extremely nervous, frantically pacing and would not come near us.
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