The Russian oligarch opened a zoo on the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan: after his death, a lion was abandoned there, which even lost his voice from stress

The British animal welfare charity rescued Reuben the lion from an abandoned zoo on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Lion is learning to roar again after losing his voice due to horrendous conditions Dailymail.

Photo: IStock

The 15-year-old lion was so traumatized by solitary confinement in a tiny cage that he fell silent. But now Reuben is learning to growl again with the help of animal rights activists.

Jan Krimer of Animal Defenders said the zoo on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border belonged to a Russian oligarch.

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After his death, all the other animals were rescued. “Unfortunately, there was no room for Ruben,” she said. — Lions live in family groups, and roaring is their communication. He's still trying to growl. Ruben never felt the sun on his back or the wind in his mane.”

Now he will find a home in a reserve in South Africa, where, as his rescuers hope, he will roar again.

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The rescue operation was to be covertly planned and strategically timed to avoid exacerbating tensions in the region, which had worsened following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The family of the former oligarch wanted Ruben to live better and agreed to the move, for which they had to overcome several armed checkpoints.

Ruben was sedated and cared for by a veterinarian during the nine-hour journey to safety in a bear sanctuary near Armenia's capital, Yerevan. He will soon be taken to the ADI lion and tiger shelter in South Africa.

Reuben, who was born in captivity at the zoo, developed health problems due to spending a lot of time alone with little food.

His coat, once tangled with dirt and shedding, is regaining its luster, and he is getting used to a healthy diet and comfortable hay in two heated rooms and a 9m x 5m aviary.

“This is more space than he ever knew, but the real transformation will take place in Africa, where he will eventually have access to a hectare of natural habitat,” Creamer said.

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“His lifelong restrictions have weakened his muscles and he appears to have neurological damage to his spine and head, and one leg is shaking and he is dragging it. But we strengthen it with exercise and food, and it responds well. Ruben is talking to people now, which is great. His growl remained unanswered for five years, and he fell silent. But we are sure he will growl again,” she added.

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