A lion suffering from skin cancer has been receiving treatments in a South African hospital.
The 16-year-old cat was brought to Muelmed Mediclinic in Pretoria, north-east South Africa, because there’s no radiotherapy center for animals in the country.
Chaos the lion has been receiving radiation treatment for nasal skin cancer lesions under the supervision of an oncologist and five radiotherapists.
The big cat was smuggled through the back door of the hospital in an unconscious state so as to avoid panicking other patients sharing the facility.
Chaos has spent all his life at Lory Park sanctuary.
His keeper, Kara Heynis, said his treatment was costly but totally worth it. “He is like our child so we’ll do anything we need for him,” she said.
Chaos was brought to the hospital under tight security, and the staff ensured to keep his treatment secret from other patients.
“There were no other human patients around while he was treated and he came into the hospital through a back door,” Radiation Specialist, Hanri Reynolds, revealed.
Speaking to News 24, Hanri said: “We’re a registered zoological facility so he was accompanied at all times and had all the necessary permits.
“We started the whole process of transporting him to the hospital at 10:30 and returned back home at 13:15.”
The unfortunate lion currently shares an enclosure with a lioness and will live there for around a month until his treatment ends.
Chaos’ case is rare because normally, animals without fur or hair – like elephants, hippos, and warthogs – are most likely to suffer from skin cancer.
However, farmed lions are also susceptible to getting cancer and other severe diseases.
Some photos recently emerged from a South African farm where diseased lions are being kept in shockingly cramped conditions.
These lions are almost hairless because of a skin disease called mange. Caused by parasites, the condition causes hair loss, scabs, lesions, and severe itching.
Farmed lions are sold to tourist attractions, such as safaris or ‘walking with lions’ tours.
Up to 12,000 animals are bred every year on around 200 farms in this cruel and ‘snuggle scam’ industry, according to a report by HSI.
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