Injured animals rescued from ‘safari park from hell’

Jimmy NsubugaWednesday 31 Oct 2018 11:05 am

Shocking pictures have emerged showing distressed animals after they were rescued from an illegal zoo known as the ‘safari park from hell’.

Lions, Zebras and bears were among 11 animals that were found in a poor state at the private attraction in Mbrostar, in Fier County, Albania.

Authorities forced their way into Safari Park Zoo on Sunday after the Minister of Tourism and Environment, Blendi Klosi, stepped in and ordered it to be closed.

Animal welfare activists of "Four Paws" remove Lenci, a 15 years old lion, from a private zoo in Fier on October 28, 2018. - The Albanian authorities dismantled a private zoo on October 28, 2018 to save eleven animals, including lions and a bear that were kept in "hellish" living conditions according to NGOs. The animals were transferred to Tiranas zoological park after media reports. (Photo by Gent SHKULLAKU / AFP)GENT SHKULLAKU/AFP/Getty Images — Lenci, a 15 years old lion, is removed from a private zoo in Fier on October 28 (Picture: AFP/Getty)

Lenci an 15 years old male lion rests on his cage before animal welfare activists of "Four Paws" remove him from a private zoo in Fier on October 28, 2018. - The Albanian authorities dismantled a private zoo on October 28, 2018 to save eleven animals, including lions and a bear that were kept in "hellish" living conditions according to NGOs. The animals were transferred to Tiranas zoological park after media reports. (Photo by Gent SHKULLAKU / AFP)GENT SHKULLAKU/AFP/Getty Images — Lenci inside his cage (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

Mr Klosi had reacted to shocking images taken of the ‘severely malnourished’ animals earlier this month that showed them in dirty cages and without fresh water.

The unnamed photographer who took the pictures said: ‘The animals suffer from a range of physical and psychological issues caused by the miserable conditions, improper veterinary care and lack of an appropriate diet.

Authorities were assisted in the rescue by animal welfare charity Four Paws, which had previously criticised the conditions at the zoo.

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Injured animals rescued from 'safari park from hell'

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Animal welfare activists of "Four Paws" remove a zebra from a private zoo in Fier on October 28, 2018. - The Albanian authorities dismantled a private zoo on October 28, 2018 to save eleven animals, including lions and a bear that were kept in "hellish" living conditions according to NGOs. The animals were transferred to Tiranas zoological park after media reports. (Photo by Gent SHKULLAKU / AFP)GENT SHKULLAKU/AFP/Getty Images — Animal welfare activists of Four Paws remove a zebra from a private zoo in Fier (Picture: Getty Images/AFP)

epa07127092 A deers in its enclosure at the local city zoo in Fier, Albania, 28 October 2018. Members of international organization Four Paws protested at the Albanian authorities for the way this animals are mistreated and kept illegally in the country. EPA/MALTON DIBRA — A deer in its enclosure at the local city zoo in Fier, Albania (Picture: EPA)

Ioana Dungler, Director of the Wild Animals Department at Four Paws, added: ‘Four Paws brought the animals – including three lions and a three-legged bear – temporarily to a zoo in Albania’s capital Tirana.

‘As soon as the animals have recovered, Four Paws will transfer them to species-appropriate sanctuaries.

‘We are glad that we got these animals out of this rundown prison.

‘A big thank you goes to the Albanian government that made this mission possible.’

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Animal welfare activists of "Four Paws" remove Dushi the bear, from a private zoo in Fier on October 28, 2018. - The Albanian authorities dismantled a private zoo on October 28, 2018 to save eleven animals, including lions and a bear that were kept in "hellish" living conditions according to NGOs. The animals were transferred to Tiranas zoological park after media reports. https://www.facebook.com/fourpaws.org/photos/a.424367127609656/1931153663597654/?type=3&theater — Dushi the bear was removed from the private zoo (Picture: Four Paws)

Lenci an 15 years old male lion rests on his cage prior animal welfare activists of "Four Paws" remove him from a private zoo in Fier on October 28, 2018. - The Albanian authorities dismantled a private zoo on October 28, 2018 to save eleven animals, including lions and a bear that were kept in "hellish" living conditions according to NGOs. The animals were transferred to Tiranas zoological park after media reports. (Photo by Gent SHKULLAKU / AFP)GENT SHKULLAKU/AFP/Getty Images — Lenci in his enclosure (Picture: AFP/Getty)

There had reportedly been 14 lion cubs born at the zoo, with some of them dying, being sold or being gifted to people.

Veterinarian Marc Gölkel, who was part of the rescue team, said he was shocked by what he saw.

He said: ‘Lenci the lion suffers from a proliferation on the conjunctiva of his left eye that needs to be treated.

‘The three-legged female bear Dushi is very emaciated and has clear behavioural disorders.’

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