Albania seizes 12 animals from zoo

TIRANA, Albania — Albanian authorities forced their way into a private zoo on Sunday and removed 12 animals because of fears that they were malnourished.

Police and conservation officials pried open the main gate at the Safari Zoo Park in Mbrostar, 60 miles south of the capital, Tirana.

The zoo had been closed by owners after criticism emerged about the treatment of its animals.

Veterinarians from Four Paws, an international animal welfare charity, sedated 12 animals — three lions, a threelegged bear, a waterbuck, four deer, a fox, a zebra and a turtle — and transported them to Tirana’s public zoo.

They couldn’t find the turtle until late afternoon, according to Four Paws spokesman Martin Bauer.

Bauer said that they will try to relocate the animals to sanctuaries. The three lions would go to the Netherlands, and the bear would go to Germany.

Four Paws will also work on solutions to take the remaining animals to other places after the animals regain their health.

Albania’s environment and tourism ministry said it took the animals because their living quarters were too cramped and some were sick.

Zoo owners have denied that the animals were sick or malnourished. Their lawyer, Elvis Sulejmani, said authorities illegally took possession of the animals without a court verdict.