Horrific images show lions like ‘walking skeletons’ rescued from zoo in Nigeria
Shocking footage has revealed the state of some captive lions which have been likened to “walking skeletons” at a zoo in Nigeria.
The clip shows the lions lying down in their cages, looking emaciated with their bones on show.
The footage was taken by international NGO Wild at Life – who work to reduce and halt the illegal trade of wild animals and rescue mistreated animals from zoo s – after a call from a concerned visitor about two of the lions.
The group described the lions as looking like “walking skeletons” due to their diminished appearance – calling the establishment keeping them a “horror zoo”.
After already rescuing abused lions in Burkina Faso and Nigeria, Wild at Life deployed a team – led by Chief Conservation Officer (CCO) Aslihan Gedik – to rescue the animals, and have since given them emergency food and medical care.
Pictures show one of the skinny lions eating what appears to be raw meat after being rescued.
In a clip filmed last year, two lions can be seen lying down in their enclosure and appear to be incredibly thin.
Later as they walk around their bones are completely on show.
Pictures taken at the same time are equally upsetting, showing the lions' apparently malnourished state.
Wild at Life CCO, Aslihan Gedik said: “Wild at Life has a very strong track record and know-how on rescuing lions from various places and conducting a successful campaign against canned hunting as well.
“Our main goal is to close all the lion breeding farms once and for all. We need to keep wildlife, wild."
