Ethiopia Abyssinian Lions

Leading economic expert Jim Rogers traveled to 150 countries over 150,000 miles in three years - follow his adventures here on FentonReport.

In this video Jim sees Abyssinian Lions in Ethiopia.


Copyright Jim Rogers, all rights reserved, provided as a special contribution to the FentonReport www.fentonreport.com


Ethiopia's black lions are being culled and sold on to taxidermists by an Ethiopian zoo, despite the continuing threat to the long-term survival of the species.

A lack of finances and zoo space has resulted in the cull of the Abyssinian lion population, according to the administrator of Addis Ababa's zoo.

Experts say only 1,000 Abyssinian lions remain in Ethiopia. Despite concern among by conservationists, the 60-year-old zoo is selling lion cubs to taxidermists because it is

unable to feed the big cats and lacks room to house them.

Muhedin Abdulaziz, the zoo's administrator, said his US $64,000 budget was simply not enough to provide for more than 16 adult lions, which cannot be reintroduced to the wild.

"There is a shortage of place and a shortage of budget and when they are over-populated, most of the time we send them to taxidermists," Muhedin said.

"It is not really good, but we do this is because of the problems we have," he said.

"For the time being our immediate solution is to send them to the taxidermists, but the final and best solution is to extend the zoo into a wider area," Muhedin said.

The Abyssinia lions, or panthera leo abyssinica, are smaller than their east African cousins and the males have distinguishable black manes.

The culling is done by a vet who kills the cubs with poison. The bodies are sold for about US $175 each to taxidermists who then retail the stuffed lions for US $400.

The zoo, built in 1949 during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie, was intended to rear the animals for exhibition as symbols of his rule. Selassie was ousted in 1974 by a

pro-Soviet Marxist-Leninist military junta.

"We have two rooms for eight cubs, but when they grow we have to send them to the taxidermist, we don't have any other alternative"

Currently, there are 15 adult lions and three cubs at Addis Ababa zoo, which receives up to 1,200 visitors daily.

The director of the wildlife division of Ethiopia's agriculture ministry said he had no idea the lions were being culled.

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[BonafideBlinger]

"Look who is talking" Babylon the oppressor who evil intentions is to rule, divide and conquer all. The same people that CAGE every living soul including MAN-kind!!!

Fire burn BABYLON!!!!

[r365z]

r u kidding me? u're saying the inadequate living conditions of these lions on "tyrannical gvmt"?C'mon,ur logic doesn't follow.I am not saying the gvmt is great. But the lack of funds would be a better reasoning for the condtion of the zoo than the ruling style of the gvmt. ppl are frustrated with the current regime but I don't think it's fair to blame the gvmt for every little thing that happens in that country. Lets not forget ppl live in worse conditions in that country than these lions.

[tigerbeast777]

another species,or poor fed

[Church2Mosque]

Tormenting caged animals for paying customers ? How low can you get. Disgusting.

[solomonpilot767]

@solomonpilot767 WELL U R VERY WELCOME!

[Simbake1000]

@solomonpilot767 That's great news! I'm so glad the lions' lives have improved!! The zoo is to be congratulated, for helping make the lions happier and healthier. Thanx for your reply, solomonpilot; this type of news has seriously made my day!! :))

[solomonpilot767]

@Simbake1000 well now they have bigger zoo and,nicer wide area 4 the lions!

[MrShebaw]

I wish the lion ate that fucking dick headed bitch's hand!

[MrBinieam]

In the future I'm buying this zoo and going to renovate the whole place make it bigger and better for the lions to live in.