The zoo from hell: Lion with an agonising infected eye languishes in dirty cramped cage along with zebras and wolves in Albania.Several animals appear malnourished and mistreated at Safari Park Zoo in Fier, Albania.Photographs taken by activists show a lion with an eye injury living in a cramped cage.The private zoo is also home to a wolf, a zebra, several deer, monkeys, and a bear.



Albanian authorities are being urged to take action against a private 'safari park from hell', after new photos appeared to expose the shocking conditions the zoo.Pictures taken at the Safari Park Zoo in Fier, southwest Albania, show a 'severely malnourished' lion living in cramped conditions with what appears to be an untreated eye injury. Other animals, including a zebra, a thin-looking wolf and several deer, were seen locked up in desolate concrete cages in the privately-owned zoological park.



A skinny-looking lion with an infected eye lies in its barren cage at a zoo in the Albanian city of Fier.



Malnourished: This photo of a wolf shows it huddled in the corner of a tiny cage at the animal park.



Appalling: A zebra is seen in its pen next to what appears to be a wildebeest.



Better than nothing: A deer is seen moving around on the concrete floor where it has at least been given some straw.

The animals suffer from a range of physical and psychological issues caused by the miserable conditions, improper veterinary care and lack of an appropriate diet.The photographer said that as well as the animals seen in the images, there are also a bear and monkeys, as well as three adult lions thought to have been there since they were cubs.It is understood they were among around 14 lion cubs born at the zoo. The rest are thought to have died, been sold or simply been given away to friends of the owner.international animal welfare organisation Four Paws, which has has been active in Albania in recent years, called the situation at the zoo 'absolutely unacceptable.



The conditions at the Safari Park Zoo do not even come close to being appropriate, particularly for large wild animals like lions and bears which have very specific environmental and dietary needs,' said Ioana Dungler, who heads up Four Paws' Wild Animals Department.

Signs of the mental and physical impact of being kept in such abject surroundings can be clearly seen on each of the poor animals at the zoo.It is undoubtedly very far from most peoples' understanding of a 'safari park' and represents an animal welfare emergency.Put simply, if something is not done soon these animals will continue to suffer and most likely die in these unspeakable conditions.

source:dailymail