At an impoverished, forlorn zoo in Sudan’s capital, the park’s few remaining lions are starving in rusted cages — their ribs protruding, eyes glassy and skin flaccid, desperate for food and water. The unsettling images, shared on social media by a local animal rights advocate, drew impassioned responses from thousands around the world. But it wasn’t enough to save two lionesses at the Khartoum zoo, said local activist Zuhair al-Sarag.
At an impoverished, forlorn zoo in Sudan’s capital, the park’s few remaining lions are starving in rusted cages — their ribs protruding, eyes glassy and skin flaccid, desperate for food and water. The unsettling images, shared on social media by a local animal rights advocate, drew impassioned responses from thousands around the world.
A malnourished lion rests in a zoo in Khartoum, Sudan. With the staff at the destitute Al-Qurashi Park, as the zoo in Khartoum is known, unable to feed and look after the animals, many have died off or were evacuated, leaving only three skeletal lions. (Image: AP)
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A malnourished lion quenches its thirst by drinking water at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan. (Image: Reuters)
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A malnourished lion walks inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan. (Image: Reuters)
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Workers assist a wildlife veterinarian as he takes samples from a malnourished lion inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan. (Image: Reuters)
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A malnourished lion walks inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan. (Image: Reuters)
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A malnourished lion rests in a zoo in Khartoum, Sudan. (Image: AP)
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A malnourished lion stands inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan. (Image: Reuters)
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A malnourished lion walks inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan. (Image: Reuters)
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A wildlife veterinarian takes samples from a malnourished lion inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan. (Image: Reuters)
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A malnourished lion walks inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan. (Image: Reuters)
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A wildlife veterinarian takes samples from a malnourished lion inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan. (Image: Reuters)
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A malnourished lion rests inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan. (Image: Reuters)
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A malnourished lion rests in a zoo in Khartoum, Sudan. (Image: AP)
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A malnourished lion rests inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan. (Image: Reuters)