This is Maya. She was seized from the airport as she was being sold on the black market. She was covered in sores and almost dead.

Maya was taken to ADWC and Ronel and her children nursed her back to health and she is now a beautiful full grown tigress. These magnificent animals should be in their natural habitat, however, with the black market sales of big cats both live and for body parts, their fate in the wild is not certain.

We recently filmed a promotional trailer for a TV show we are filming for US television, Big Cat Rescue. The funds were generously donated for the filming from the Al Bustan Wildlife Center and HH Sh. Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan, The President of the UAE's, internal department that deals with the environment.

I would encourage everyone who is concerned about the fate of these animals to visit the ADWC to learn more about them. If you did not see the Gulf News video yet, here it is, or you can visit their website.

Photos by Ronel Smuts and Janet Hunt

Abu Dhabi Wildlife Center

If you have not seen the Gulf News video, please take a moment to watch it.

Ronel Smuts is an amazing woman! She has dedicated her heart and soul to saving these animals. To be around her is an inspiration.

She is a lovely friend who has taught me a lot about big cats. Ronel and her kids, Chrissie and Steve run the center.

We recently had a reporter from the Los Angeles Times visit ADWC and Ronel and the ADWC will be featured in the LA Times, one of the top 3 US newspapers. We are looking to get the word out about the ADWC Internationally, and the efforts the UAE is making to conserve wildlife.

Above is a photo of Chrissie and Shaggy having his milk with vitamins. He is one of three white lions at the ADWC.

Photo by Janet Hunt