AFGHANISTAN-UNREST-ANIMAL-LION

AFGHANISTAN-UNREST-ANIMAL-LION

Afghan zookeeper Qurban Ali (R) attempts to intervene as Marjan a lion (C) plays at his cage in Kabul’s zoo, in Kabul on March 18, 2014. Kabul zoo unveiled its new star attraction — Marjan the lion, who lived on a private rooftop in the city until rescued by animal welfare officials last year when close to death. A businessman in the war-torn Afghan capital kept the lion on the roof of his house as a status symbol after buying him for USD 20,000. The lion was rescued in October and has recovered his health after expert care. Marjan is named a half-blind lion who lived at the zoo and became a symbol of national survival after living through coups, invasions, civil war and the hardline Taliban era before dying in 2002. AFP PHOTO/SHAH Marai