Another Lion Dies at Al Qurashi Park

Simon, one of the five lions found severely malnourished and ill at Al Qurashi Family Park, has died on Monday, 15 May 2020.

Although Simon has recovered since receiving treatment and aid from local and international veterinarians in January 2020, he suddenly fell ill again and died. The cause of death is yet to be confirmed, according to Osman Salih, who launched the #SudanAnimalRescue when he visited the park in January and found the lions in their ill state.

With great sadness I report the passing of the male lion Simon at Qurashi Park.
مع كامل الحزن والاسف اود ابلاغكم بفقداننا للاسد سايمون صباح اليوم. #SudanAnimalRescue #SaveSudanLions pic.twitter.com/BzK01T7VqD

— Osman Salih (@0smanSalih) May 15, 2020

Simon is the second lion to have died at Al Qurashi Family Park. The first lion to die was a female lion named Aswad, meaning Black. She fell severely ill and died in January 2020 when the campaign was just launched. Now, three lions remain. Many other animals have died as well due to food shortage and poor living conditions.

After pictures of five severely malnourished lions in Al Qurashi Family Park went viral on social media on 19 January 2020, launching the #SudanAnimalRescue campaign, FOUR PAWS, an international animal welfare organisation, traveled to Sudan to offer the distressed lions and other animals at the park swift and direct aid.

In February 2020, the Park announced that it will be closing and the animals will be relocated including the lions. However, the Park remains open. Some animals have been relocated. However, some animals such as Simon still remained and as a result, are still in the danger zone. In addition to the lions, the zoo at the Park is home to other animals including hyenas and tortoises. According to FOUR PAWS, there are no found species-appropriate zoos or parks in Sudan fitting for the lions, hyenas and other animals at the Park. 

There are at least 100 lions in Sudan mostly in Dinder National Park (DNP) in South East Sudan on the Sudan-Ethiopia border. African lions are classified as a “vulnerable” species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Their population dropped 43% between 1993 and 2014, leaving only around 20,000 alive today.

Sudan’s wildlife includes lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, rhinoceroses, and numerous varieties of antelope. Several species of monkeys are found in the forests. Resident birds include bustards, guinea fowl and storks. Reptiles include crocodiles and various lizards. 

Sudan has several protected nature areas, including game reserves and national parks. Dinder National Park and Radom National Park have been designated as UNESCO biosphere reserves.

*Note: The article has been updated. The article originally stated that one of the five lions, Mansour, had been relocated, according to our sources at FOUR PAWS. However, the lion has returned to Al Qurashi Family Park as seen on the Sudan Animal Rescue Facebook page.

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