Lions are social animals and their families and companionship mean the world to them. Rey and Simba, now at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa, were rescued by ADI from a circus high in the Andes mountains in Peru. They have only been apart once, when Rey had to go to the hospital (watch their heartwarming reunion). They are now senior lions in their golden years, but you can see that their closeness is as strong as ever.
Little Saif (pronounced “safe”) is the youngest of the Kuwait group of illegal pet trade survivors in Kuwait who are waiting to be relocated to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa. He’s not quite as lively as his slightly older companion, Dhubiya, but also playful, friendly, and inquisitive. He is going to love the smells, sights and sounds at ADIWS and the whole range of enrichment. He could have more than 20 years ahead of him in our care, enjoying the kind of habitat that nature intended. His life as a pet with humans, and his abandonment, becoming a very distant memory.
The travel crates to bring the Kuwait lions home to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary were delivered to Johannesburg Airport today (see Facebook live). Five lions. Saif (pictured), Dhubiya, Muheeb, Saham and Shujja, from Kuwait’s illegal pet trade are coming to the Sanctuary and we are trying to include the rescue of a sixth, who just arrived.
At the ADIWS, we re-purposed old crates, cutting them down, repainting and turning them into flat packed crates. On Sunday they were loaded onto a truck and at 5am this morning, headed to the airport. They will begin their journey to Kuwait on Wednesday, arriving at the weekend. The next time we see them in South Africa, they will have young lions inside.
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Kiara and her son Scarc, then and now. It’s been ten years since ADI reunited Kiara with her cubs and Scarc has grown into a big and impressive lion, but he’s still close to his mum.
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Prof Steenkamp and Dr Peter Caldwell were at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary for dental work on several of the lions today and will be back tomorrow. Today Rolex, Simba and Scarc, rescued by ADI from different circuses in Peru, had dental surgery, and tomorrow Ruben will be having dental surgery and Kesari will have a dental examination. Simba, Rolex and Scarc are all back in their habitats and have recovered from their treatment and are moving about.
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One of the great moments for ADI was reuniting Kiara with her cubs Mahla and Scarc after a circus in Peru tore the babies from their mother. Almost ten years later and Kiara will be spending the coming Mothering Sunday (10 March) with her family.
Mothering Sunday / Mother’s Day is marked in March in the UK, Ireland, Nigeria and most of the Middle East.
In honor of it, will you help support the care of Kiara and her beloved family so that they continue to enjoy many wonderful years together? Shop our collection of gifts for mum, which includes canvas prints of Kiara and her family, apparel, and bodycare.
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Thank you to everyone who has been supporting and sharing our appeals. In Kuwait and South Africa, we are working as quickly as possible through the legal requirements and import processes to bring Muheeb, Saif, Dhubiya, Saham, and Shujaa to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary.
The ADIWS team has re-purposed old travel crates from the Guatemala rescue. They are now flat-packed and can be re-assembled in Kuwait. Qatar Airways has again come to our aid with their WeQare scheme to move the lions free of charge – including a sixth lioness we are hoping we can add to the rescue. We are sending a travel crate for her just in case.
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Before their rescue, our circus survivors lived for years in barren cages, deprived of anything natural. Ruben had also endured years living in a concrete zoo cell, far removed from his natural world. At the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, they enjoy natural, wild space – rewilded farmland on which we’ve planted native trees and encouraged wild fauna and flora.
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Come closer and look into my eyes…..
Muheeb was bred by an animal trafficker, then sold into Kuwait’s illegal pet trade for a lonely life as someone’s misguided status symbol. By the time he was fully grown, his owner realised it was a mistake, knew Muheeb needed a better life. He surrendered Muheeb but there was nowhere for him – he is currently being cared for in Kuwait Zoo which is closed. Muheeb is 4-6 years old and finally has a chance of a home in Africa at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. Will you help Muheeb and four other lions rescued from Kuwait’s illegal wildlife pet trade make the journey to a new life? Donate
Jan and Tim report from Kuwait today. All five of the young lions who ADI is calling for help to take to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS), were victims of the illegal pet trade. They were either seized, captured after being dumped, or voluntarily surrendered. They are in custody at the closed Kuwait Zoo where the lions have been cared for until a home could be found, we are grateful to the staff and volunteers who have helped.
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ADI Wildlife Sanctuary 