Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

CEN/@DagmaOficial

This image shows an emaciated lion with its rib cage clearly visible that was doing well in a refuge after being saved from a circus but which has now lost more than 200 kilogrammes and can no longer stand after being moved to a zoo.

Male lion Jupiter had been living in the Villa Lorena animal shelter in the city of Cali in the Valle del Cauca Department in south-eastern Colombia after it was rescued from a circus where it was abused and had his claws cut off.

However, the Administrative Department of Environmental Management (DAGMA) announced in 2017 that the lion would have to leave the shelter as the facilities could not guarantee the welfare of the animal.

The feline was transferred to the Los Caimanes zoo in the city of Monteria in the province of Cordoba on 27th March 2019.

CEN/Nancy Cardona

Reports state that the lion which weighed around 300 kilogrammes (661 lbs) when it was transferred has now lost more than 200 kilogrammes (441 lbs).

Jupiter’s former carer at the shelter Ana Julia Torres said: “He weighs 90 kilogrammes, he cannot stand up or move, he is thin, and he has his kidneys and his liver damaged, I could not recognise him.

“I felt a heartbeat and I knew I had to come and see him. I need to look after him so he knows his mother is here. We have a special connection as mother and son, a loving connection.”

It is unclear why the lion has lost so much weight.

The Colombian Minister of Defence Carlos Homes Trujillo has announced that the lion will be transferred back to the city of Cali this Thursday.

It is unclear if it will be transferred to the Villa Lorena shelter again.

Holmes Trujillo said on Twitter: “After defining all the procedures with Dagma, the Air Force will transfer the lion Jupiter to Cali.”

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