Dubai: An air-conditioned room with a comfortable bed, regular fluids and 24-hour veterinary care have been given to the two lion cubs Gulf News found housed in wooden crates.
The cubs were left in the industrial area of Dhaid by their owner, an Egyptian lion trainer, hired for a show in the UAE.
Animal welfare officials from the Ministry of Environment and Water seized the cubs on Thursday night and ordered their transfer to a clinic by yesterday morning to ensure their survival.
Mohammad Hamdan, head of animal welfare, took possession of all relevant permits provided for the cubs and told the management of the circus show that they will be returned when they leave the UAE.
This was to ensure the remainder of the animals cannot be sold or smuggled out. "I must be there personally to inspect the departure of these animals from the UAE," he added.
The animals are believed to have been in the UAE since the beginning of January.
For the next two days the cubs will remain at the veterinary clinic in Jumeirah under the care of a wildlife veterinarian.
"I've been asked as courtesy from the Ministry of Environment to handle the case. My priority now is to stabilise my patients," the doctor said.
"One has a distended belly, which could be from anything. We've got them on the table and we're dealing with them step by step," he said. A team of three vets busied themselves taking blood tests, ultra-sounds and X-rays to check internal organs and increase their intake of fluids to treat dehydration.
"These are wild animals no matter how you look at it, they're not your own little domestic cats — something as simple as stress could be a catalyst for all sorts of problems," said the doctor.
The other cub is suffering from constipation, called impaction. He received a mineral oil enema to clean him out and help digestion. He is also slightly anaemic.
"The outlook is rather positive. We're going to give them a feeding schedule where they'll receive multi-vitamins similar to what they would get in the wild… we suggest to give them a soft bedding otherwise on concrete bedding they get hot spots [pressure points on the joints]," the vet said.
"It's a question of management correction. They are strong little animals. They should be alright."
Sultan Abdullah Sultan Bin Alwan, executive director for agriculture and animal affairs, said a step-by-step investigation would be carried out. Entry permits issued under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species will be verified and a report on the health of the cubs will be submitted to the ministry.
"We will study this case, but if the cubs regain their health they will likely be sent back to Egypt," he said.
Bin Alwan said it was too early to speculate whether any fines or penalties will be issued. "We are working on enforcing the law," he said.
