With ADI’s US supporters enjoying Independence Day yesterday, my thoughts turned to all the animals taking their first steps to freedom thanks to your support – their own Independence Day.

There is something magical about those first steps from their travel crates at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa, or indeed back to the rainforest in our ADI funded facilities in Peru.

Here are a few memories and videos of these special moments…

It’s been less than 2 months since we brought Dhubiya, Shujaa, Saham, Muheeb, Aziza, and Saif home, but what a transformation we have seen in this short time!

The ‘Kuwait 6’ were rescued from the illegal wildlife pet trade, after owners abandoned the young lions in the streets of the city, and some dumped in the desert to die.

It has been a joy seeing them relax and settle in. I promise this video of the young lions, exploring the world nature intended for them, will put a smile on your face.

Most of the animals we save cannot return to the wild. They are in-bred and often mutilated with toes cut off to stop claws growing and teeth broken, leaving them defenceless and without the tools necessary for survival. So, it is special when we can rehabilitate and return animals to the wild.

We have released hundreds of rescued tortoises and turtles in Peru and at ADIWS. I have fond memories of the fox we saved from an illegal Peruvian zoo, bolting out of the crate for freedom. Although there is a special place in my heart for Maruja, Peru’s last circus monkey. Watch the moving story of her rescue, reunion with her own kind and return to the rainforest.

When we emptied Guatemala’s circus cages, the gruelling 18-month operation concluded with an epic flight home to Africa for 17 tigers and lions, from Guatemala to Mexico to Belgium then Qatar for a flight change, then finally home to South Africa.

You were perhaps one of the people watching and cheering us on, as we brought the cats to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. Jade and the other cats must have felt a bit bewildered as they stepped out into the sunshine, open sky above their heads, grass beneath their feet, space all around them, but they certainly took no time at all, in embracing their new world.

This video captures the airlift and those first incredible steps.

Dear Ruben’s time with us was all too short, but from that first big paw hitting African ground, he seized every moment. He played, he drove himself on to walk, and he roared again, home in Africa. In seven months in the land of his forefathers he transformed and inspired us all.  We miss him so much, but he will always be with us. He has left his legacy.

Next month marks ten years since Operation Spirit of Freedom saw us rescue over 100 animals from circuses in Peru and Colombia, when we flew David and 32 other lions home to South Africa. We had emptied the cages again.

The life changing first steps for these animals symbolise everything we work for.

It takes us many stages to achieve permanent change: our undercover investigations, exposing the evidence we film, publicity and creating awareness, securing legislation, and then those huge missions to empty every circus cage in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Guatemala.

Each time we leave behind another empty cage and another animal steps free, I think of that as an “ADI Independence Day”. Your help has given us many happy endings, I hope you will help give that gift to more animals. Donate US $ | Donate UK £