Great news: Yesterday brothers Simba and Rey Ayacucho were reunited at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary after Simba’s brief stay at Old Chapel Veterinary Clinic and the boys were clearly delighted to see each other today!

Inseparable since their rescue by ADI from a small circus cage in Peru eleven years ago, there was a lot of head rubbing, kissing, and nuzzling as the two senior citizens (both over 17 years old) were reunited. Simba had been taken into hospital after suffering occasional nosebleeds.

After several days of observation with no further nosebleeds, Dr Caldwell sedated him for a thorough physical examination. He found a large soft tissue mass that could be causing the nosebleeds, but it is not something which can be tackled clinically. Simba’s long-term issues remain, he is elderly now, with chronic health issues related to his former circus life, including arthritis and spondylosis of the neck.

Dr Caldwell confirmed that Simba will continue to need close monitoring but for now he has a quality of life and the best place for him was with brother Rey. The boys certainly seemed to agree as they kissed and cuddled yesterday morning. Simba and Rey A are incredibly close and many will remember their joyous reunion a few years ago when Rey returned from hospital, they nuzzled, played and, despite his arthritis, old Simba skipped around his friend.

Across the Sanctuary, our residents enjoying their early Halloween treats thanks to everyone who has been supporting our Annual Halloween Fundraiser.

With a shortage locally of pumpkins this year (and our home-grown sanctuary pumpkins and watermelons already given out) our team threw their efforts into Halloween themed catnip sacks and boxes.

The animals clearly have a lot of fun with the different treats we provide and its worth remembering that this enrichment plays an important role keeping the them physically and mentally healthy.

Watch out next Friday for our 2025 ADIWS Halloween video, but in the meantime you can enjoy last year’s fun here.

There’s still time to support our Halloween Fundraiser because any extra funds raised will be used to keep the animals playing until the end of the year! You can still show your support through our Facebook fundraiser or ADIWS enrichment donate page for UK/Euros/Rand or US $, CA $.

Please also remember the importance of ongoing veterinary care, especially for senior residents link Simba, and consider a special donation to celebrate this old warriors homecoming: Donate UK/Euros/Rand | Donate US $, CA $.

Halloween is coming and rescued French circus lions Goliath and Coralie have already been given a spook-tastic treat at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS). Goliath cautiously checked it out, giving Coralie the perfect opportunity to race up and snatch it from right under Goliath’s nose – and off she ran!

You can help our Sanctuary residents enjoy their Halloween, while making a contribution towards their care and sponsoring a fangtastic treat. Donate through our Facebook fundraiser here or enrichment donate page US, CA $ | £, Euros, Rand and we’ll be reporting back on all the fun and games in the coming weeks!

The suffering caused by whale and dolphin shows is well known. However, despite Tui claiming that it is setting ‘a new benchmark’ for cetacean welfare in the tourism industry, the company continues to promote and sell tickets for attractions with captive dolphins, such as Loro Parque in Tenerife, where a baby dolphin was born this month. If TUI truly wants to lead on cetacean welfare, tell them they need to stop promoting these shows. Contact Tui here to ask them to drop promotion of marine parks (select No to having a booking reference).

Our thanks to all who helped make this year’s ADI Art Auction a success, raising over $2,000 for our pet trade and circus survivors at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. This would not have been possible without the talented artists who donated their beautiful work. Thank you to each and every one of them and to everyone who bid, shared, and supported the auction.
Contact us if you would like to donate art for next year’s auction: usa@ad-international.org | info@ad-international.org.

Changes in the residents’ family dynamics at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary mean we sometimes need to see whether we can help residents make new relationships. Following the loss of Jade, leader of the ‘Spice Girls’, rescued from a circus in Guatemala, the family dynamic changed. Luna had lost her sister, and Sun and Moon were without their leader. Luna initially distanced herself from the youngsters, and started to show greater interest in family member Sasha tiger, next door (Luna and Jade had lived next door to Sasha in the circus). So the ADIWS has been giving Luna time in Sasha’s habitat while Sasha is in her feeding camp, which allows them to communicate more closely. We are monitoring any interactions between Sasha and Luna to see if they would like to be companions, or whether Luna prefers Sun and Moon after all. It would be lovely to see Sasha tiger find companionship and it might be the right thing for Luna, but these are tigers, and such relationship building can take a while. Ultimately, it will be up to them!

Spain’s popular legislative initiative to end the current legal protection bullfighting enjoys as a ‘cultural heritage’ activity, was defeated by 169 votes against to 57, with 118 abstentions. A massive disappointment after the debate was requested by hundreds of thousands of Spanish citizens. The surprising number of abstentions does indicate a way forward on this horrific cruelty. The battle continues.

Following the success of the campaign to ban bullfighting in Colombia, the ADI Colombia team will be at the International Anti-Bullfighting Summit in Madrid next month, speaking about the campaign in Latin America. We must keep fighting to end this horrific cruelty.

The iconic fashion magazine will no longer feature new animal fur in editorial content or advertising, according to updated guidelines from its parent company Condé Nast. The guidelines also apply to The New Yorker, GQ, and Vanity Fair.

Spring has sprung at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, heralded with the arrival of baby geese. Proud parents Toitey and Waldo have been strutting around Chris Lee Lodge gardens showing off their goslings, who are exceptionally cute. Both Toitey and Waldo were brought to ADIWS for a permanent, safe, home, after being found in poor conditions. Waldo had been trapped in a metal supermarket trolley, unable to escape or spread his wings. At ADIWS, they roam free and have the option to fly off whenever they want. We are delighted they have decided to stay and make the Sanctuary their home, feeling safe enough to raise their family with us.

Animals on fur farms live their entire lives in intensive conditions, cramped, barren cages on wire floors. Fur farming has been illegal in the UK since 2000 but import and sale of fur continues. Ruth Jones MP introduced the Fur (Import & Sale) Bill to ban the import and sale of fur products in the UK and end this cruel trade. The private member’s bill is expected to have its second reading in Parliament in November and needs your support. Contact your MP today and ask them to support the Fur (Import and Sale) Bill.

In the US, the Mink Virus Act to phase out fur farming is now before the US Congress – can you help? Please urge your Congress members to support the Act (HR2185) to phase out mink farming nationwide. And, If you live in MA, contact your state legislators TODAY in support of House bill 990 and Senate Bill 551 to ban fur products sourced from fur farms statewide, which are both set to be heard in committee on Oct 21.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is reopening bear hunting in December 2025 having been closed since 2015. Its plan allows the killing of nearly 200 black bears—about 5% of Florida’s estimated population—despite admitted gaps in current data and using rules that allow cruel practices like bait traps and, in coming years, dogs. The state is choosing slaughter over thoughtful coexistence, ignoring non-lethal options like habitat protection and better waste management. Hunting reduces living, feeling beings to targets and trophies, treating Florida’s bears as disposable entertainment for bloodlust.
TAKE ACTION – Urge the FWC to stop this hunt and honor the lives of Florida black bears.

The Texas Renaissance Festival will be held until November 30, with elephant and camel rides, and a petting zoo. These animals suffer greatly for brief moments of “entertainment”, enduring long hours of transport in cramped, barren trailers, sometimes weeks on the road traveling from one event to another. They endure long hours of carrying members of the public, day after day. Nothing in this existence resembles anything of their natural lives. Speak up today for the elephants and other animals who suffer year after year – contact info@texrenfest.com and Pat Coveney, GM at pcoveney@texrenfest.com.

A new study has revealed that just 14 major fossil fuel and cement companies are responsible for nearly one-third of all global warming – fueling/fuelling heatwaves now far deadlier and more frequent than ever before. From the 2003 European heatwave to the Pacific Northwest’s record heat dome in 2021, researchers found that every single heatwave since 2000 was made more intense and more likely by human-caused climate change. Shockingly, up to a quarter of these heatwaves wouldn’t have happened without industrial emissions. The intensity of heatwaves has sharply increased, and the risk to human life is growing – with tens of thousands already dying annually from extreme heat. At a personal level, we can take steps to reduce our individual carbon footprint – see the 12 best ways to reduce yours.

South Africa’s Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has put a hold on the approval of trophy hunting quotas for black rhinos, elephants or leopards – for now. The Minister is awaiting a court ruling on quota setting before deciding, saying he will move forward in line with the ruling and South Africa’s “conservation objectives”. Stripping wild populations of their genetic diversity, trophy hunting does not help conservation. Neither does it help the country economically. Studies have shown how photo tourism benefits the animals and the wider local community, as tourists use services such as small hotels, restaurants, transport, benefiting local people as well as wildlife. To help stop the hunters, support measures to ban hunting trophy imports.

In the UK, urge Prime Minister Keir Starmer to bring in a ban on hunting trophy imports.
In the US, urge your lawmakers to back the ProTECT Act to prohibit taking and importing endangered or threatened species into the US as a trophy.

With your support we can continue our life-saving work for animals.
Donate US, CA $ | Donate UK, Euros, Rand

I am delighted to announce that the ADI US | UK online store is open for business, with wonderful treats for you and your loved ones to enjoy. From Christmas cards and calendars to canvas prints and clothing, animal adoptions, and more – with, in the UK, fun items for cats and dogs, cruelty free body care products and for the home – all help to support our work for animals and care for the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary residents.

Max (rescued as a cub from a circus cage in a junkyard in Guatemala) is the cover star of the 2026 ADI Animal Rescue Calendar – available from our US | UK stores – which also features Muheeb, Coralie and Goliath, Aziza, Tomas and Kimba, Rey Cusco, Tarzan and Tanya, and other Sanctuary residents – an inspiring image every month of the animals you help us rescue. Just $20/£12 each, every sale helps ADIWS and supports our work. It’s a perfect way of spreading the word, so why not buy one for a friend too? Buying an extra calendar as a gift is a great way to spread the word, so we have a SPECIAL OFFER TWO FOR $36/£22.

CARDS: We have a great selection of cards with over 25 designs in the UK with several featuring animals rescued by ADI including a brand new card celebrating our latest rescue, Goliath and Coralie from a circus in France – this features the lions first experiencing their new African home. We think they are going to have a very special Christmas!

NEW RESCUE VARIETY PACK in the US: Ten cards featuring some with two of each of these amazing animals: Scarc, Max and Stripes, Cholita, Rey C, and Pepe, all for just $9.00.

CANVAS PRINTS: Stunning images for your home of animals rescued by ADI celebrate our magnificent wildlife and the heroic stories of these individual animals. Were you one of the people cheering on the ADI team as we raided circuses across Peru, Colombia or Guatemala, or as we flew the Kuwait 6 home, or watching as Ruben played for the first time, there when Kesari took his first cautious steps, or Goliath and Coralie coming home. Available in medium and large, we have images of all our sanctuary residents plus some other old friends. Beautiful images, printed to order, to inspire you and a great talking point. Please remember you can contact us to order images we have used that may not appear in the list.

CLOTHING & BAGS: Our animal design range on our US | UK stores of organic cotton clothing and accessories are suitable for all, with options for men, women, and kids – all sustainable and environment-friendly, helping animals and creating awareness whenever you wear too.

BEAUTIFUL HOME AND BODYCARE: You’ll find a selection of animal themed items for the home on our UK store, with gorgeously fragranced bodycare and candles – all cruelty-free, naturally.

TREATS FOR CATS AND DOGS: We have a great selection of gifts for cats and dogs on our UK store including natural shampoo bar and tug toys for dogs, our incredibly popular catnip tails, and your feline friend at home can play just like the lions at ADIWS with a smaller Kunduchi catnip punchbag – none of us will ever forget Ruben with his first punchbag, now bring that fun into your home!

Check out our full range of products in store here: US store | UK store – happy shopping!

Halloween is just around the corner, and that means we must provide some treats for our lion and tiger residents at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary and have some faboolous fun!

Most of the big cats at the Sanctuary in South Africa were saved from horrific conditions in circuses, while others were rescued from the illegal wildlife pet trade. In our place of loving kindness, they have the freedom to do what they want to do, when they want to do it.

This Halloween, will you sponsor a joyful treat for one of the Sanctuary residents?

Our rescued lions and tigers roam natural habitats of several acres – we give them a life as close to nature as possible. Being clever and very playful, they love extra fun and games including treats such as pumpkins, catnip sacks and punchbags, watermelons, and boxes. Such enrichment is vital for keeping our inquisitive residents mentally and physically stimulated and having fun.

These are some of the images of our residents enjoying their enrichment at last year’s Halloween party.

It costs an average of $2,000 / £1,485 each month per animal for food, care, veterinary, maintenance, and security. That’s $68/£50 per day. Therefore, we must ask for a little something extra with each Halloween treat donation, to go towards each resident’s care.

• Halloween Treat Sponsor – $15 / £10 – covers the cost of a pumpkin or other fangtastic treat and a contribution towards a lion or tiger’s care.
• Halloween ‘Golden’ Treat Sponsor – $68 / £50 – provides a pumpkin or other spooktacular treat and one full day of care for a resident.
• ‘One-For-All’ Halloween Sponsor – $250 / £186 – a pumpkin or other eeriesistible treat and care contribution for every lion and tiger at ADIWS.

Our goal is to get enough sponsors that we can keep the cats entertained with seasonal treats through to the end of the year.

Please help with a donation today and we look forward to reporting back on the fun and games you’ve made possible in the coming weeks.

Become a Halloween treat sponsor here: US, CA $ | UK, Euros, Rand

A month after his companion Tanya passed away from cancer, dear Tarzan has reunited with his beloved and peacefully surrounded by the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary team, gathered to say goodbye. As we mourn the loss of these two inspirational warriors, we remember the loyalty and devotion which helped them through the hell of the circus and saw them come home to Africa to enjoy their golden years in peace. Watch how love conquered all for Tarzan and Tanya

It is with great sadness to announce our dear Tarzan has passed away, a month after his beloved Tanya. The two lions, rescued by ADI from a circus in Guatemala seven years ago, had been inseparable and their devotion to each other won the hearts of people all over the world. They became known as the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary Sweethearts.

Our annual ADI Art Auction helps support the care of our rescued animals at ADI Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS) in South Africa AND provides the opportunity for you to bid on one or more of the incredible pieces of animal themed artwork donated by the artists. We hope you will join the auction and place YOUR bid!

ADI founded International Primate Day on September 1, 2005, to highlight the suffering of primates. Our campaign has had some major breakthroughs since then including ending the use of chimpanzees and wild-caught monkeys in EU and UK laboratories, airport awareness drives in Peru discouraging people from purchasing primates and trafficked animals as pets, and the rescue, rehoming, and return to the wild or sanctuary for dozens of monkeys rescued from circuses, laboratories, restaurants and traffickers. There is still much to do as primates continue to suffer but with your help we are turning the tide.

This International Primate Day, we are asking for your support to end the use of primates as pets around the world.

At Animal Defenders International (ADI), we are deeply grateful for your generous support as we fight to end animal suffering worldwide. Your compassion has fueled our work, from our ground-breaking Stop Circus Suffering campaign to abolish the use of animals in circuses – which has led to bans in over 50 countries – to our ongoing investigations and work to end animal testing and replacement with advanced technology, stop fur farming, ban trophy hunting, save wild animals from the illegal pet trade, and so much more.