It has been a busy start to the year with many ADI campaign developments and we are gearing up for a major rescue. This week, I was in Kuwait beginning the planning of the rescue of five lions saved from the country’s illegal pet trade and learned there could be one more lioness we could help there. Tomorrow, I will be traveling to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary to oversee preparations for that rescue and to be there for Ruben’s upcoming dental surgery.
 
Here are just a few of the highlights from the past few weeks.

I will give a more comprehensive update next week, but we are moving as quickly as possible to get the lions home to Africa. Muheeb (pictured), Saif, Dhubiya, Saham, and Shujaa (and possibly another lion) are all victims of the illegal pet trade; they were either seized, captured after being dumped, or voluntarily surrendered. Right now, they are in the closed Kuwait Zoo where staff and volunteers have been caring for them until a home was found. Let’s bring these young lions home to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. Please donate here.

Overturning a two-year ban in Mexico City, bullfighting has resumed at Plaza México, the world’s largest bullring – a reprieve after a district judge granted a provisional suspension was only temporary. However, Mexico’s President has announced a public consultation will be held on the future of this barbaric activity.

New legislation will phase out dog meat in South Korea by 2027. Ahead of the law passing, dog farmers had threatened to unleash 2 million dogs on the capital. We hope the ban will encourage other nations to act. Help end the Yulin Festival in China. Please join us by writing to the Food and Agriculture Organisation here. 

A Washington State district has implemented a 6-month ban on the use of exotic animals in circuses, following concerns of local residents, and will prevent performances by Jordan World Circus. The board of the Greater Wenatchee Regional Public Facilities District is working to make the policy permanent. An ADI investigation of the circus showed elephants being controlled with blows, jabs, and electric shocks.

In a devastating step backwards, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has abandoned its 2019 commitment to reduce licensing and funding of testing on mammals by 30% next year. Its aim was to eliminate, in most cases, study requests and funding by 2035 and to invest in animal free testing methods.

After a beautiful summer morning, a dramatic change in weather saw incredibly powerful winds tear the roofs of the lion houses belonging to Rey Cusco and Chino and Coco at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. The lions were hunkered down, well away, in their large main habitats, seemingly unbothered and no animals were harmed. By the following evening, the roofs had been replaced and all the lion and tiger houses inspected.

After several fur free years, the British Fashion Council has formally banned fur at the annual London Fashion Week ahead of its 40th anniversary event this month. The ban is now part of the application process for each brand. It’s another step towards ending this cruel industry worldwide.

In the US, the Mink Virus Act would phase out mink farming nationwide. Please urge your Congress members to support HR3783. 

For the 6^th International Candlelight Vigil for Elephants on January 13^th, we remembered captive elephants who suffered and died in 2023, including poor Mali at Manila Zoo (pictured). Most elephants in zoos and circuses are born free but torn from their natural homes and families to suffer decades in captivity.

January saw the fourth anniversary of ADI’s Operation Liberty emptying Guatemala’s circuses, which concluded with the airlift of 17 lions and tigers to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa. It had been a grueling 19-month operation with the ADI team enduring threats, abuse, legal challenges, and attempts by armed mobs to invade our temporary rescue unit. It was all worth it as the animals took their first steps on African soil. Relive those incredible moments here.

After global calls for action, lonely giraffe Benito was moved from his tiny, bare enclosure in a zoo in Mexico, to a wildlife park with several acres of space and, most importantly, seven other giraffes. It is, however, sad that the park will be breeding, adding to the captive giraffe population with no hope of returning to the wild, rather than offering a lifeline to the other Benitos of the world.

Belgium’s parliament voted unanimously to ban the import of hunting trophies from species classed as threatened, or at risk of extinction by the trade. Italy’s ITA Airways stopped the transport of hunting trophies in passenger baggage and cargo. Canada banned elephant tusk and rhino horn hunting trophies. Permits will only be issued for zoos, museums, scientific research, or law enforcement investigations.

The Bay Area Renaissance Festival in Dade City, Florida is offering elephant rides on weekends through March 31. ADI undercover footage shows the violence used to control elephants used for rides. Please send a polite message to and call the Bay Area Renaissance Festival today urging them to no longer host elephant rides, and other performing wild animals. Call 1-800-601-4848 or Email: info@bayarearenfest.com
If you live in the area and are interested in hosting an outreach event, contact us at usa@ad-international.org.

With your support, we can continue to help animals in need. Donate here.