Albania: abandoned and neglected animals of a private zoo

The Albanian authorities have today released a dozen animals from a private zoo, including several lions and other large animals. Four Paws, an Austrian animal welfare organization, had sounded the alarm because of the terrible conditions in which animals lived in pens.

Veterinarians had to sleep several other animals. The Zoo Fier, about 100 kilometers south of the capital Tirana, was closed. The owner of the zoo had initially refused access to the authorities. These then came under duress.

Physical neglect

An employee of Four Paws spoke of the terrible conditions in which the animals were imprisoned. Physical negligence and distress of animals are great, serious hygiene problems. One of the three liberated lions had been threatened with blindness because of an eye infection, but he is now cured.

Among other things, a giraffe and a bear and several antelopes were released. The surviving animals must be badfed in the Tirana Zoo, then the lions are brought to the Netherlands, the bear to a German zoo.