This week we lost our beloved 18-year Simba who passed away peacefully at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, after eleven and half years in our care. I will be doing a special tribute to this magnificent lion, whose life I shared since rescuing him in the Peruvian mountain town of Ayacucho. However, this week we have been confronted by an emergency.

Yesterday, a horrific wildfire ripped through Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa’s Western Cape, leaving most of it in ashes. All 26 of their animals are being carefully monitored due to smoke exposure, and some are in critical condition. They say the sanctuary infrastructure is lost. They have asked ADI for help.

ADIWS will be providing a home for at least two lions and possibly others.

Dr Caldwell has flown down and is treating the animals. ADIWS has offered emergency space for some of Panthera’s residents for as long as they need, and travel crates to help them move other animals to other sanctuaries. Dr Caldwell recommended to Panthera that two nine-year old lionesses, Lei-ah (pictured) and Elsa should come to ADIWS due to their difficulty with their sight, as we have experience with sight-challenged big cats. They may also need us to take a male tiger.

Our team is en route to the Western Cape, and it will be a 15-hour journey back with Lei-ah and Elsa, and possibly the tiger. We were unable to fly them, or our crates, as the aircraft used for internal flights do not have the cargo capacity for our crates.

We will care for the rescues from Panthera for as long as it takes for them to rebuild (which could be a year or more, depending on damage to infrastructure). Or, they may be with us for life. So, these animals could be with us a long time and we will carry the cost.

Can you help us with these unexpected costs to relocate 2 lions and possibly one tiger, to ADIWS in the next 24 hours?  Donate UK £ / Euros / Rand | Donate US $, Can $

Or you can donate to our Facebook Fundraiser here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/1165746448882219/