Our NGO, WildatLife.e.V makes an urgent appeal for support.  A Zoo in Kaduna, Nigeria has left Shadow the lion and other animals  on the brink of death. It is a sight of horror. The lion is just a skeleton. Each bone is visible through its thin fur. A visitor to a government zoo in Nigeria found this emaciated big cat in a shed-like concrete cage and contacted WildatLife.e.V. whom implement emergency help for his rescue within 24 hours to Nigeria. 

Our non profit Charity, WildatLife can confirm that medical attention to all animals is continuing and things are slowly improving but this is a heavy task and we need more support.  Our NGO is paying for all medical attention, foods for the starving animals and a disinfectant cleaning programme has started to stop the spread of disease that is rampant at the once flooded zoo. 

After just 6 days our intervention improving successful in reliving suffering - Shadow the Lion is more mobile, but is still in a critical situation and at this time the most important factor is his medical care.  With west African Lions listed as critically endangered, we are saddened to see that he has suffered within captivity, he deserves freedom! He is now under treatment for Mange and internal parasites after samples taken show Isospora and helminths present. He is also receiving vital nutrients and dietary enchantment as are all other animals  at the zoo in Kudana.

We are fighting to save his his life, and objectively his freedom within a sanctuary. 

Once the animals are out of a critical condition and confirmed stable(because you can not move a Lion in such a condition without risking his life),  then our NGO has proposed to the Government in Kudana that it was time to close down this Zoo and allow our wildlife expert team to take all the animals to reserves and sanctuaries that will help them to recover and ultimately stop wildlife exploitation.     

Findings: The zoo started to suffer after a flood in the Park. The animals could not be reached for rescue out of water nor given food for five days as told to our team. Affected animals could only survive the flood by suspending themselves above some objects to breathe while their entire bodies were submerged in the flood. This continued with loss of appetite, loss of weight and mange. 

We want to see Shadow the Lion thrive and become a roaring beauty of a Lion again. Lions symbolise FREEDOM, they represent AFRICA and are everything we strive to be.  

We encourage the government in Nigeria to assist Zoos around the country in times of Covid that see hundreds of species starving before other animals are found in the same shocking scenarios. They must protect their wildlife!

Inventory of Animals in distress found at the Zoo: 
Shadow the Lion (Male, West African Species),

Crocodiles x 3,

Baboons x 2 (Male) and 1 x (Female),
Patas monkey x 1 (Male),
Ostrich x 1 (Male),
Tortoises x 3,
Spotted hyena x 2 (Male and Female),
Tantalus x 1 (Female),
Civet x 1.

All were all left starving and riddled with disease.

About WildatLife.e.V: It is not the first rescue operation by the Frankfurt-based organization. The NGO, which is active on the African continent, also worked to save 47 animals in a zoo in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. In a video that was recorded during the inspection of the premises, an employee can be heard who cannot hold back her tears in view of the suffering animals. Here, too, the animals had not received any food for weeks. The organization took over the zoo and has been looking after the caged animals ever since with tremendous support from the ‘Foundation for the Protection of Fauna and Flora’,  and the lions and the other animals are visibly better off now.  Just a few months earlier, in September, WildatLife launched a rescue operation in South Africa. These lions were kept in a dark shed. The reason: They were bred as a hunting trophy for tourists. They would have been shot down by hobby hunters. After the successful rescue, the cats can now get used to life in freedom in a wild animal reserve.

WILDATLIFE WEBSITE: http://www.wildatlife.com  In addition to the self-sacrificing commitment of volunteers, WildatLife e.V. is also dependent on donations. "Our NGO WildatLife e.V supports and finances veterinary care, food for wild animals and works together with all local authorities." Aslihan Gedik writes on behalf of the organization that they are grateful for every donation.

Shadow’s story went viral on social media, and the Press feature our Rescue Mission all around the world:

Full article as featured on Stern.de: https://lnkd.in/gKBMVWE

Full British Article: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8933573/amp/Man-shocked-discover-malnourished-lion-dozens-neglected-animals-Zoo-Nigeria.html

 We are entirely grateful for the support to the animals at this time.