Lions, bear and zebra among animals rescued from Albanian zoo over malnourishment fears

The animals have been taken for medical treatment and will be homed elsewhere
EPA/MALTON DIBRA
Jacob Jarvis28 October 2018

A dozen animals were rescued from a private zoo on Sunday amidst fears they were malnourished.

Albanian authorities forced their way into the complex and 12 animals - three lions, a bear, a waterbuck, four deer, a fox, a zebra and a turtle.

Vets and animal welfare charity workers sedated the animals and took them for treatment at Tirana’s public zoo.

Four Paws spokesman Martin Bauer, involved in the rescue, said that they will try to relocate the animals to sanctuaries.

One of the lions being carried out
EPA

He said they wish to re-home the "three lions to our big cat center FELIDA in the Netherlands and the three-legged bear to our Bear Sanctuary Muritz in Germany."

They will also work on solutions to take the remaining animals to other places.

However, this will happen only after the animals regain their health at Tirana zoo park which may take weeks.

Workers break open a door at the zoo
EPA/MALTON DIBRA

Albania's environment and tourism ministry said the animals were taken because their living quarters were too cramped and some were sick.

Police and conservation officials pried open the main gate at the Safari Zoo Park in Mbrostar, some 60 miles south of the capital, Tirana.

The zoo was closed by owners after criticism emerged surrounding the treatment of its animals.

The owners have denied that the animals were sick or malnourished.

A lawyer speaking on their behalf, Elvis Sulejmani, said they had filled out all the necessary documentation for the animals.

They complained that authorities illegally took possession of the animals without a court verdict.

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