Our rescue work is usually challenging, but in 2026, unforeseen events have increased the pressure on our work worldwide and the costs we face, including major unplanned rescues and a war.

In January, a wildfire reduced Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa to ashes.  Animals were injured and one tiger died. ADI was on the scene within 24 hours. We evacuated two white lionesses, Elsa and Lei-ah, to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary for as long as they needed.

A planned rescue of two young lions seized from the illegal pet trade in Israel, Ben-Tzur and Ori, would have collapsed, so we took over the rescue and committed to give them a lifetime home at ADIWS. In February, Tim and I flew to Israel to see Ben-Tzur and Ori, organize travel crates to be built locally, organize veterinary, CITES, transport permits, and plan flights for them to come to South Africa.

Then, with plans for the rescue well underway, a little over 100 days ago, war broke out with Iran and all air space was closed across the region. Ben-Tzur and Ori were in a war zone. We are pleased to report that the boys and those caring for them have remained safe. Each week there has been talk of peace, only for it to evaporate.

The good news is that Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv is now operational, but flights are extremely limited, subject to security restrictions, and are repeatedly cancelled because of the conflict. We are in touch with our export agents there and they are doing their best to get them, and us, out (we will fly with them).

We are hoping to secure a flight from Israel to Germany and from there to South Africa, but the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has caused prices to go up. The war has also had significant consequences for ADI in addition to the rescue. It is also causing rising costs in South Africa for our food and supplies.

Lei-ah and Elsa have settled in beautifully at ADIWS. They are relaxed, very friendly, love exploring their habitat, climbing the platforms, sleeping in dens, and always rush up to the fence to see anyone passing by. One surprise is that they love to sit at the fence with the handsome tigers in the opposite habitat, Max and Stripes! They always join us when we walk the dogs, following along the fence – especially little Milo, our near-white labrador type rescue, I am sure they see him as one of their own!

Panthera Africa recently asked if we could continue to care for Lei-ah and Elsa for a further 6 months into 2027, as they work to secure the insurance for the fire damage. Of course, I said “yes”!  As I said when we first took the ladies in – “when your neighbor’s house is on fire, you don’t hesitate”.

ADI has covered all the food, veterinary, and care costs for Lei-ah and Elsa, and will continue to do so. Given their circumstances, we do not feel we can ask for any support from Panthera Africa, but we do need to start planning how we manage this situation, as the lions are in Siddhi habitat, our quarantine unit, and it will be for much longer than expected. So, I hope you can help us fund their care.

Having these two lovely VIP guests has had other consequences. For us to look after them for an unspecified time, South African CITES required us to modify the Siddhi quarantine unit, which we did, but more importantly, this means we lost a 2.5-acre receiving unit and habitat for new animals, for similar emergencies. So Ben-Tzur and Ori will not be able to go in Siddhi Habitat.

With Ben-Tzur and Ori on their way, we knew we had to prepare a new habitat for them, and so we have made major changes and moved some of our ADIWS residents around.

We built the new Non-Predator Reception Area, so we could move cow Matilda and her family of goats, sheep, calves, springbok, horses, and birds out of Antonia Habitat (pigs Roosevelt and Churchill will also join them). We did some reconstruction on Antonia and moved in lion Smith Cusco, and he can see and hear his family in the next habitat.

That allowed us to do some reconstruction on the Sam & Eric Habitat, to make it suitable for the Kuwait lion family – Aziza, Dhubiya, Saif, and Muheeb. We built a new three-room house, changed the fencing, and they have now moved happily into their new forever home. Muheeb’s cancer diagnosis means he cannot be in the same space as the Kuwait youngsters, but they are fond of each other (especially Aziza), so to keep him close, we built Muheeb a new habitat and two-room house right next door to his friends. 

The final stage of all this, is the reconstruction in Kakato Home Sweet Home Habitat following the departure of the Kuwait family – change fencing, build a new two-room house with solar-heated floor to replace the single-room houses, and refurbish platforms and dens. This will be the forever home for the two boys from Israel, Ben-Tzur and Ori.

All this preparation at ADIWS to make space for BenTzur, Ori, Lei-ah, and Elsa, with capacity for other emergencies, is going to cost us $92,000 / more than £68,000. Can you help us?

We are hoping for an announcement on flights this week. And although we hope to fly in July/August (allowing time for permits) we will need to lock the flight immediately. 

Ben-Tzur and Ori’s flights, permits, handling, ground transport, etc., will be around $30,000 / £40,000. If all goes well, we could book the flight in the coming days and be flying in the coming weeks– so I need to be ready to pay.

We are also raising funds for the lifetime care at ADIWS for Ben-Tzur and Ori, for the next 20 years or more. Please help support them for life.

Can you help me cover these costs for all our new arrivals, and get the boys home at the first opportunity?  Donate US $, CA $ | Donate UK £, Euros, Rand.