Conservationists try to save underfed lions in Sudanese wildlife park
A malnourished lion walks inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan January 22, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Conservationists in Sudan are trying to save four lions they say have been underfed and neglected in a wildlife park in the capital Khartoum, after one lion died earlier this week.
The emaciated lions belong to an important subspecies that exists only in limited areas including southeast Sudan and neighbouring Ethiopia, said Khalda Seliman Mahgoub of the Sudan Wildlife Research Centre.
"Since this is a particular subspecies that we should preserve, I shouldn't see them in a cage. They should be in their natural habitat," said Mahgoub.
A malnourished lion rests inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan January 22, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
It was unclear exactly where the lions had come from but the cages in Al-Qureshi park where they were being kept had been constricting their movement, she said.
The lions are now being treated after a plea from the Sudan Wildlife Research Centre and an online campaign pointing out their plight.
Al-Qureshi park receives few tourists and little revenue. Sudan has suffered decades of internal conflict and international isolation, and was rocked by months of protests and a political uprising last year.
A malnourished lion drinks water from a pipe inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan January 22, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
(This story corrects location of park where lions are being kept)
A malnourished lion walks inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan January 22, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
(Reporting by Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
Workers assist a wildlife veterinarian as he takes samples from a malnourished lion inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan January 22, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin AbdallahA wildlife veterinarian takes samples from a malnourished lion inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan January 22, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin AbdallahA wildlife veterinarian takes samples from a malnourished lion inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan January 22, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin AbdallahA malnourished lion rests inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan January 22, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin AbdallahA malnourished lion stands inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan January 22, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin AbdallahA malnourished lion stands inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan January 22, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin AbdallahA malnourished lion walks inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan January 22, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin AbdallahA malnourished lion walks inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan January 22, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
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