Lion in Kabul Zoo Dies of Old Age

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http://www.anc.org/wildlife/wildlife_article.cfm?identifier=2002_0126_marjan

 

Lion in Kabul Zoo Dies of Old Age

 

by Jim Heintz, Associated Press Writer

 

Posted on January 26, 2002

Marjan the lion, who reigned regally at the Kabul Zoo

during 23 years of war and cruelty, knew only a few

weeks of peace and kindness before being found dead in

his cage Saturday morning.

 

He lost an eye to a grenade and lost weight in the

deprivation of the war years, but never lost his aura

of dignity. His death tore at people for whom he had

come to symbolize Afghanistan's sufferings and

aspirations.

 

" I consider myself a pretty rough guy, but I cried, "

said John Walsh, Director of International Projects of

the World Society for the Protection of Animals

(WSPA), the organization that is leading an

international drive to bring aid to the wrecked zoo's

remaining animals.

 

Walsh said he and zoo director Sheragha Omar found

Marjan dead in his cage when the zoo opened on

Saturday. They had last seen him alive the night

before when they carried him into his den from the

outside portion of his cage.

 

He hadn't moved from the place where they laid him,

Walsh said.

 

Marjan, whose name refers to a precious stone beloved

by Afghans, was 25 to 29 years old, Walsh said. The

cause of death apparently was kidney and liver failure

connected with old age, he said.

 

The lion had a hard life. In the 1990s, an Afghan

guerrilla showing off for his friends jumped over the

guardrail into Marjan's den, and the lion killed him.

The next day, the dead man's vengeful brother threw a

grenade into the cage, and the explosion took out

Marjan's eye.

 

By the time of his death, Marjan was believed to be

completely blind.

 

Last week, representatives of the WSPA toured the

shabby zoo to assess the most urgent needs in a

rehabilitation effort the group is coordinating.

 

Part of the effort included providing Marjan with

better food and heat and a padded sleeping mat in his

cage. But it became clear that Marjan was failing. In

his last days he was barely able to move and relied on

humans to position him in his favorite spots.

 

" He likes to lie in the sun, " Walsh said, lapsing into

the present tense for a moment before talking about

the hopes he and his colleagues had held for Marjan.

 

" We had a lot of plans of rehabilitation, just to keep

him ticking over, he was so symbolic " of Afghanistan,

Walsh said. " Even though blind, he was a tough, brave

old guy. "

 

With Afghanistan torn by successive conflicts, the zoo

had been in desperate straits for years even before

the Taliban took power. After the Islamic militia

fled, though, the miserable conditions at the zoo were

widely reported.

 

Fund-raising efforts for its rescue began in many

countries. Zoos around the world have raised about

$400,000 for the construction of a new zoo.

 

The WSPA also is working on alleviating the misery of

other of the zoo's few remaining animals, including a

small black bear whose nose was cut by children

teasing her with sticks and who has aggravated the

wound by rubbing her nose against the bars in

frustration.

 

Walsh said the Afghan government was discussing

whether to hold a remembrance for Marjan and he

suggested a campaign be started to build a statue to

the lion.

 

Copyright 2002 Associated Press.

 

 

 

 

 

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