The Four Paws International team is in Sudan tending to the emaciated lions at Al Qurashi Family Park zoo. Photos of the ailing lions went viral, sparking an international call to save these animals. A team of experts, led by veterinarian Amir Khalil, embarked on the rescue mission in late January.
Read: Sudan zoo lions in harrowing condition
‘We were shocked by the pictures of the gaunt lions. It was clear to us that we had to act quickly because the animals would not last much longer. As soon as we are on site, we will provide the severely malnourished lions with proper food and medical care. The highest priority at the moment is to stabilise and improve the health condition of the animals, and determine long-term solutions for them,’ said head of the emergency mission, Amir Khalil.
‘Thanks to Osman Salih and Mansour Moshref, who started an online campaign to raise awareness about the animals in Al Qurashi Family Park zoo, we’ve been informed about the state of the lions consistently in the past days,’ said Four Paws International in a Facebook post.
The team arrived in Sudan on 27 January and have been nursing the lions back to health since. The four lions were dangerously malnourished when the team arrived. The living conditions are deplorable and two of the lions were in a critical condition. Along with the four lions, there are two hyenas, a male and female.
The team administered rehydration therapy that consists of infusions of fluids, vitamins and minerals. One lioness, Kandaka, was in the worst condition and the team tended to her first.
Kandaka. Image: Four Paws International
‘Infusion therapy for lioness Kandaka goes on for a couple of hours. Our team is ready to stay with her as long as it takes for Kandaka to get as much of the life-saving medication as she can. So far, she is doing well, but it is too early to say whether she will be able to recover from years of mistreatment,’ said Four Paws International on Facebook.
After the infusions, Kandaka’s condition began to improve, and the team fed her canned cat food. According to Four Paws, this is the best food to start her off on after being so malnourished.
By 30 January, the team began to work on one of the male lions, Mansour. He is also in a dangerously critical condition.
‘The team have continued their work at Al Qurashi zoo with a medical examination of the emaciated male lion. The vet check was combined with a training session for local vets. The lion was named Mansour, which means “Victorious” […] Much like Kandaka, Mansour was also dehydrated but is healthy enough to be anaesthetised. He was examined with ultrasound, which showed signs of early stages of chronic kidney disease. Our vets Amir Khalil and Frank Goeritz have started the treatment and Mansour was also vaccinated, microchipped, and treated against parasites. The team will continue to monitor the animals closely.’
Mansour. Image: Four Paws International Facebook
By 1 February, both Kandaka and Mansour showed signs of improvement, sparking hope in the veterinarians for their survival. ‘The emaciated lioness is responding well to here medical needs, the specific feeding times and is supportive of the help being provided to her. Day by day, it is easy to [see] her increased mobility, reduced lethargy and the general look of her body and fur improving.’
‘Mansour, one of the two lions in especially critical condition, seems to be responding positively to the therapy which was started after his medical examination performed by Dr Frank Goeritz, the FOUR PAWS team together with local vets. Like Kandaka, Mansour is looking much better and was eagerly waiting for his meals.’
While there is still a very long way to go, the lions are finally receiving the much-needed care and medical attention they need. The team is still on the ground treating the animals. The team of vets is remaining ‘cautiously optimistic’ and are in awe of the animals’ resilience to survive.
‘The team is very pleased with the response of the animals to the treatment and their unstoppable will to survive.’
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Image: Facebook/ Four Paws International
