lions

Where circus survivors go home to Africa

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The ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa was founded to provide a natural home when animals in circuses are banned. ADI has undertaken huge rescues to enforce bans, emptying every cage in Peru, Colombia, Bolivia and Guatemala. These animals cannot return to the wild, they are in-bred and physically and psychologically damaged by years of abuse, so since 2019, almost all of the circus lions and tigers from Guatemala, Colombia and Peru have come here. Our 455-acre sanctuary gives them a life as close to nature as possible, living with dignity and freedom in large habitats.

Follow ADI on social media to find out how we give abused animals back their lives and our work to secure the type of laws that brought these animals home.

Catnip fun for the Cuscos

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The allure of catnip draws in Scarc, Amazonas and Mahla (the Cusco family) in a great game to tear up the punch bag. Kindly provided by Kunduchi Pet Products, our ex-circus survivors love to own anything new they find in their territory at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa.

Who do you think had the most fun?

Help keep the fun going by donating towards more enrichment – great for their mental and physical health.

Donate more enrichment

Easy and David reunited

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Easy is back with companion David after her visit to the veterinary hospital. She is being treated for an ear infection and also had an examination by the ophthalmologist. Lions are very sociable cats and they were clearly pleased to be reunited. The pair rescued from different circuses in Colombia and Peru were brought together at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary earlier this year for companionship.

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National Pumpkin Day

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We hope that you are enjoying all of the Halloween fun our ex-circus survivors are having at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. As you can imagine, a pumpkin or squash causes HUGE excitement, which means it does not necessarily last very long! To keep our residents properly entertained, we need to raise funds for more pumpkins and squashes as well as other enrichment like tires, hay bales, balls, catnip bags, and anything else they need.

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SANCTUARIES UNITED TO SAVE ANIMALS.

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The ADI Wildlife Sanctuary team was pleased to help with the release of two tigers at the new Isindile Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa. We donated two of our Guatemala travel crates to the new sanctuary.

Three weeks ago, the team from Isindile spent a day at ADIWS training with Johannes, Jan, and Lefaso covering food preparation, husbandry, feeding and safety protocols. The ADIWS team discussed the personalities of the lion and tiger residents at ADIWS and their different needs. We hope by helping another new sanctuary, we can contribute to the welfare of other rescued animals.

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A carousel for lions

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Chino and Coco enjoy our latest addition to Kornberg Habitat at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, a carousel on which tires and boxes stuffed with catnip hang. The playful boys love chasing and grappling with their toys. The brothers were rescued from a tiny cage in a circus in Peru where there was nothing to stimulate their mind or body, and no room to stretch their legs. Now at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in their native Africa, they get to explore the 2.5-acre Kornberg Habitat and they are regularly treated to enrichment, which is so vital to their health and wellbeing.

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Catnip toys for lions

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Rey A (from Ayacucho) gets stuck into a box stuffed with hay and catnip at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. Filmed soon after Rey returned from hospital, you can see where he was shaved for an ultrasound. Rey and brother Simba were rescued from a circus in Peru and had not been apart until Rey was taken ill. The greeting the two lions gave each other when Rey returned was incredible and if you’ve not seen it, watch it here.

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