LIONS liberated from horrendous conditions in the world’s worst zoo have now arrived at their new home.
The amazing animals have been taken to Felida Big Cat Centre in the Netherlands after they were kept in cramped and filthy enclosures at Tirana Zoo, Albania.
The lion can be seen to be ‘severely malnourished’ as it lies in its filthy enclosure in AlbaniaCredit: Caters News Agency
After years of suffering, the lions can now live out the rest of their lives in peace at elida Big Cat Centre in the NetherlandsCredit: FOUR PAWS / Hazir Reka
The big cats had previously been kept in rusted cages at Tirana ZooCredit: FOUR PAWS / Hazir Reka
The centre in the Netherlands specialises in caring for cats that have been abused or neglectedCredit: FOUR PAWS / Hazir Reka
The three lions, called Zhaku, Lenci and Bobby, were born in the Albanian zoo.
Horrifying photographs of animals living in cramped concrete cages sparked a major rescue operation at the safari park last year.
The recovering lions are now in the Netherlands where they’ll inhabit an “establishment imitating their natural habitat”.
When the photographer revealed the conditions in 2018, he said: “All the animals are kept in tiny, unhygienic concrete cages with no possibility to retreat from the elements or from the prying eyes of visitors to the zoo.”
His images showed what appeared to be suffering lions languishing in desolate, dirty concrete cages surrounded by their own waste and without even the most basic provisions such as fresh water and shade.
The photographer claimed vets who have visited the macabre facility described what they were greeted with as “some of the worst animal welfare conditions they have ever seen”.
It is understood they were among around 14 lion cubs born in the zoo — the other 11 are thought to have died, been sold or simply been given away to friends of the owner.
Their paws, mouths and bodies were fully checked for any injury sustained from their deplorable conditions.
The trio will now be looked after in their new home, the Felida Big Cat Centre, which specialises in taking care of big cats that were abused and neglected.
Vets who visited the facility in Albania described what they found as ‘some of the worst animal welfare conditions they have ever seen’Credit: Caters News Agency
They were sedated before being taken to their new homeCredit: FOUR PAWS / Hazir Reka
Now they will enjoy being in an environment closer to what they would experience in the wildCredit: FOUR PAWS / Hazir Reka
Sources:four-paws.org.uk
