I know this isn't strictly theme park related, nor is it coaster related, but I really had to share this article with you all.

I don't know what paper it came from, nor do I know the date, all I know is the Headline is "A lions share of hard times" and is by David Williams. It is a very sad story, which goes as follows.

Majan, a 45-year-old-one eyed lion in the war-ravaged Afganistan national zoo in Kabul yesterday put his great left paw on a chunk of meat and ate his first real meal in more then a year. The lion, wounded almost a decade ago ravenously at the meat that replaced the scraps he has been eating, celebrating his elevation to celebraty status in Britain where he has been big news.

Two charities, the Born Free Foundation and the World Society for Animals, have joined with the Federation of British Zoos to try to prolong Marjan's already remarkable life.

"Theres huge support. We plan to make a public appeal," a spokeswomen said.

Marjan is the senior residend of Kabul Zoo, a battered institution which has somehow survivded years of sickening violence and lunatic rule.

He has been surviving on 10KG of meat a day supplied by a trusting butcher who hopes he will be paid one day.

Marjan lost his left eye in the early 1990's after Russian invaders were routed.

A guerilla, showing off to his friends, jumperd over the gaurd rail into his den and teased the lion. Marjan killed and ate him.

The next day the victim's brother tossed a hand grenade into Marjan's enclosure.

Thinking it was food, the lion pounced at it. The explosion took out an eye and nearly killed him.

Like the zoo itself, and Afganistan beyond, Marjan faces an uncertain future.

War long ago left the zoo in ruins, along with most of the city. Shells smashed the main building, shattering its fine old aquarium. Half of the cage bars are twisted with doors hanging open.

Where were once 39 species on view, there are now 17. The elephant has long gone, killed by a rocket powered grenade fired for fun by another guerilla.

The 11 staff haven't been paid since July and there is no money to treat Khers, a five-year-old giant Afgan bear whit large open sores on his nose caused by Taliban visitoys who amused themselves by smacking it with sticks. One soldier cut off the tip off the tip of the bear's nose with a bayonet.

Those men are gone now, and since the liberation of Kabul, zoo visits have doubled to 200 men, women and children a day.

Zoo director Sheragha Omar is determined to keep the attraction open.

"We cannot let these animals die," he said. "It is out Pashtun honour. I know many people and children are hungry and some might ask, 'Why feed animals at a time like this?' But I would say that seeing creatures like Marjan can lift the spirits od people and remind them of better times.




Thats the story, and finally, a bit of good news: I can confirm that Village Warner theme parks have donated $500 to the zoo along with other zoo's from around the world to help the situation over there.

Thank you for reading :)

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American Dream 2003 - SFMM, KBF, DL, DCA, SFT, SFOT, SFAW, SWO, IoA, US, DW, AK, EPCOT, MGM, SFOG, PKI, CP, SFWoA, SFDL, SFGE here I come!

Thats a really moving story, I hope that lion gets looked after well now that it shouldn't have as many wories as it used to. Thanks for showing it to us.

I think this belongs in General Talk, so I'll move it there.

hey thats pretty good. i have somethin to say but ill keep it to myself. if u want to know email me

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I am #1!

everything falls apart even the people who never frown eventually break down

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They launched a missle at an elephant? I don't want to sound cruel or uncaring. But wouldn't that be cool to see? It's be like that whale that was blown up here in the states.

But seriously, I hope all those animals are properly cared for now.

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That is fascinating, Thom Yorke! You are very very interesting, and very very perceptive! So interesting and so perceptive that I think we will now fight with knives!
Yeah! To the death! Photo Trip Report!

Hey, thats is pretty good!!!

I don't understand why we care so much about Lions, but eat cows and chickens. I mean, maybe you don't and that's understandable to be "moved" by this, but I have a feeling that some of you eat meat. I love meat, and would probably eat that lion....and your puppy.

I think its an incredible story and I think some people have missed the point of it.

Imagine the determination it would have taken to keep that zoo going and all those animals alive. When most would have given up and left the animals to die, the keepers there cared enough to stay back, without pay, to keep them alive, when everyone else was trying to kill them. I don't know about what the attitude of the people on this site is, but I personally love animals, and this really does move me.

No it wouldn't be cool to see a heathy elephant shot at with a rocket powered grenade and killed. I personally have the most sincer admeration of those people who stayed behind and did this, its sets a good example to everyone else, to get on with life, and not to get caught up in the troubles of the world, no matter how they affect you.

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American Dream 2003 - SFMM, KBF, DL, DCA, SFT, SFOT, SFAW, SWO, IoA, US, DW, AK, EPCOT, MGM, SFOG, PKI, CP, SFWoA, SFDL, SFGE here I come!

I've been following this story for a while. I think it was CNN that had reported on it a couple of months ago. Makes you wonder who belonfgs in the cages, people or "wild" animals?

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Nothing like a big woodie first thing in the morning and before going to bed at night.

I can't believesome of the responses in this thread. Some people don't eat meat and why should people not care for a lion just because they choose to eat meat? That's like not caring for a human because you eat chickens. And I imagine seeing an elephant being killed would be horrific, can you imagine the pain it would go through just to be humiliated by people for fun? how can people even think of wanting know what that would be like?

Besides that, thanks for posting that joz...nice to see there are still some cqaring people left in the world :)

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Coaster Boy [/i]
[B]They launched a missle at an elephant? I don't want to sound cruel or uncaring. But wouldn't that be cool to see? It's be like that whale that was blown up here in the states.

But seriously, I hope all those animals are properly cared for now. [/B][/QUOTE]

I'd rather see people with this sort of attitude blown up than any elephants. J/K! And I know the whale you mean - that would be the one in California that they made a complete mess of and ended up covering the entire town in bits of blown-up whale. On a rating scale of 0 - 10, that gets a big fat zero!

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Andy Rathe

I saw the picture of the lion that had his face scarred by a grenade. It is so sad. So many victims.......

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Working here is like an amusement park! There's excitement! There's challenge...and it will often make you sick.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Rob Wootten [/i]
[B]I can't believesome of the responses in this thread. Some people don't eat meat and why should people not care for a lion just because they choose to eat meat? That's like not caring for a human because you eat chickens. And I imagine seeing an elephant being killed would be horrific, can you imagine the pain it would go through just to be humiliated by people for fun? how can people even think of wanting know what that would be like?

Besides that, thanks for posting that joz...nice to see there are still some cqaring people left in the world :) [/B][/QUOTE]

Oh I care for the world, but I don't think this is as big of a deal as the article is making it. I'm not saying "don't care about this lion", but rather...we do a lot more inhumane things to the animals we eat. Have you ever been to a slauter house? That's one place I'll never go back to. Horrible idea for a High School field trip.

It's kinda like...we'd kill a fly without thinking, but killing a butterfly is some kinda sin because "it's beautiful".

Yeah, I get what you mean about that. I didn't mean to sound so anti-antiism in that post......obviously forgot my caffein yesterday ;) That last comment wasnt actually directed directly at anyone in particular......just I think the world's going crazy.....you can sue someone if you cut yourself on a broken window whilst breaking into their house and yet you can actually try and do something productive with your life..like going to uni and get huge debts shuved in your face. Time for another cup of tea....lol

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by I_heart_airtime [/i]
[B]I don't understand why we care so much about Lions, but eat cows and chickens. I mean, maybe you don't and that's understandable to be "moved" by this, but I have a feeling that some of you eat meat. I love meat, and would probably eat that lion....and your puppy. [/B][/QUOTE]

It's an endangered specie, and most people don't eat lion because of that and that it is a wild undomesticated animal with dwindling numbers that without, populations of other species would skyrocket, killing of the entire African savanna ecosystem eventually. Cows, pigs, and chickens aren't wild, and aren't in the food chain.

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Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan.

No clue who the guy pictured in my avatar is, but its a great picture nonetheless!

I am strongly against animal cruelty and this is one of the most horrid stories I have ever heard. I dont know how someone could be human and do these things to those animals (except for any type of incest is an exception) God but animals on this earth to keep us humans from being lonely. And this is how we repay them? Dont kill an animal unless you intend to eat it.

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'06,'05 TL, '04 Merchandise, CP, Coaster Count: 258