I am always inspired by how the animals we save do not allow the suffering and abuse to break their spirit. Even when they arrive subdued to keep themselves safe, when they have space, freedom to move and safety, they embrace life with joy. Yet the physical damage often remains.
Our dear Ruben was an example of a lion whose body was broken by his years of suffering in captivity but seized life with both paws when he arrived at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. He took such delight in everything, enjoyed every day, roared to the other lions, until his health issues finally caught up with him.
Lupe is one of fifteen tigers saved by ADI from a circus in Guatemala. They endured a lifetime of severe confinement, deprivation and stress. Over half of them continue to suffer the impacts of in-breeding and malnutrition – two with spondylitis and six suffering from seizures.
Sweet Lupe lost her sisters, Sombra and Bimbi, and her mate Itza to seizures. Her son Max has now had a seizure and is receiving treatment and being monitored. Simba, one of the same family was homed to a US sanctuary and is now also being treated for seizures.
Lupe is getting the best possible veterinary treatment. CT and MRI scans have helped establish a treatment regime, but her condition restricts what she can do. Now, we want to adapt the ADIWS Tiger Territory to create a special habitat to suit Lupe’s needs – just as we did for Ruben.
We must make changes to the other tiger habitats so that Lupe can move, keeping her sons Max and Stripes next to her, to have contact through the fence. This upgrade for Lupe involves moving and construction of fencing, gates, platform dens, heating, etc., and will cost $13,889 / £10,300.
We must lay a power line from our solar power station for heat and light for all the tiger houses, an additional $10,550 / £7,850.
Our target for this work is $24,439 / £18,150.
The challenges that Lupe faces are a reminder of why your support is so important. The needs of the animals do not end the day we save them, depending on health, they can change over time and our job is to ensure their best welfare and happiness for life.
I do hope that you can help our dear Lupe, who now needs extra help to enjoy her time in the sun with her boys.
Every contribution will make a difference towards her new habitat, veterinary treatment, diagnostics, and care at ADIWS. Thank you.
