ADI MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

October 31, 2023

Media Contact: 07785 552548

prdesk@ad-international.org

FUR-IGHTENING HALLOWEEN FUN FOR RESCUED LIONS & TIGERS

Who knew it? Lions and tigers enjoy pumpkins at Halloween, too.

Each year at the Animal Defenders International Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS) in South Africa, things get pawsitively exciting around Halloween as the lions and tigers, rescued from circus and zoos around the world, are given pumpkins to play with.

Jan Creamer, ADI President: “The lions and tigers have huge natural habitats to explore but still enjoy finding anything new to play with. Some just destroy the pumpkins on the spot and others will charge off with them in their mouths as if they are the greatest prize ever! They have endured horrific suffering before coming to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, so it is wonderful to see them loving life.”

This year has been particularly special for a battered old lion called Ruben, who arrived at the sanctuary in late August. Once known as ‘the world’s loneliest lion’, Ruben had been left alone in a concrete cell in a zoo in Armenia. The zoo closed and the animals were removed, but Ruben was left behind, alone for five years.

Ruben’s nutrition and confinement left him with severe walking and balance difficulties, so there’s a serious side to the treats, toys, and fun for all the cats, providing mental and physical stimulation and for Ruben, vital physiotherapy!

ADI supporters donated for the treats and ADI is trying to raise enough for treats through to Christmas! https://act.ad-international.org/page/137133/donate/1

Watch this year’s big-cat Halloween fun here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deThVQpPAXY

See notes below for photo selection.

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EDITOR’S NOTES: 

Contact: 07785 552548 or prdesk@ad-international.org

Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/iw81z8t3aegfgtxl5vkse/h?rlkey=dzz3j95ujkypkxaxe8tn08lpp&dl=0

© Animal Defenders International

Animal Defenders International (ADI): 

Los Angeles – London – Bogota

Behind some of the biggest and most dangerous large scale animal rescues in the world, with daring undercover missions to expose the suffering of animals.

Active worldwide to end animal suffering, ADI’s undercover investigations inside laboratories, circuses, animal traffickers and Hollywood animal trainers, have led to prosecutions and new laws to protect animals.

Bans on all, or wild animals in circuses have been secured in almost 50 countries. In Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Guatemala, ADI has been called in to help government wildlife officials enforce the bans and empty the cages. The ADI team tracks down illegal circuses wherever they go, facing threats and abuse as they take the suffering animals to a new life. These rescues often include large-scale relocations of animals – flying over 50 monkeys to forest sanctuary habitats or 33 lions from Peru and Colombia to South Africa.

ADI cares for many of these circus survivors in their 455 acre sanctuary in South Africa, where lions and tigers roam huge natural enclosures – the lions, who once lived in cages the size of double beds, enjoy something of the life they were meant to live. ADI also cares for monkeys and bears in the natural homes in Latin America. All the animals have incredible stories of survival.

ADI is a UK registered charity, US 501(c)(3) non-profit, South Africa PBO, with operations in Colombia and Peru. Winner of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 GreatNonprofits Certificate.

Animal Defenders International: www.ad-international.org

Animal Defenders International Wildlife Sanctuary: https://adiwildlifesanctuary.org.za/

Follow ADI on social media:

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Twitter: @AnimalDefenders

Instagram: @animal_defenders_international

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