'Malnourished' animals report prompts Albania zoo closure
A report claiming lions and other animals were left malnourished at a private zoo in Albania has prompted Albanian authorities to order the zoo's temporary closure.
Environment Minister Blendi Klosi ordered the immediate inspection and removal of the animals from the Safari Zoo Park resort following a report in Britain's Daily Mail Tuesday with photos showing a lion with an eye infection and other apparently malnourished animals in iron cages.
But Ardjan Koci, a conservation official, said a recent inspection found all animals at the zoo in Mbrostar, 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of the capital Tirana, healthy. He said the only shortcoming was that the animals did not have enough space in their cages.
Koci said the zoo is required to offer some missing documents in eight days.
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A worker throws meat to a lion at Safari Zoo Park in Mbrostar, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of Tirana, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018. Albanian authorities have temporarily blocked the operation of the private zoo park, after the malnourishment of some lions and zebras. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina) -
Lions sit in their cage at Safari Zoo Park in Mbrostar, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of Tirana, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018. Albanian authorities have temporarily blocked the operation of the private zoo park, after the malnourishment of some lions and zebras. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina) -
A lion sits in its cage at Safari Zoo Park in Mbrostar, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of Tirana, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018. Albanian authorities have temporarily blocked the operation of the private zoo park, after the malnourishment of some lions and zebras. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina) -
Lions sit in their cage at Safari Zoo Park in Mbrostar, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of Tirana, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018. Albanian authorities have temporarily blocked the operation of the private zoo park, after the malnourishment of some lions and zebras. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
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