Sudanese vets are fighting to save four surviving lions held at a park in Khartoum after a fifth lioness died on Monday of dehydration and lack of food.
The lioness died although it received intravenous fluids for several days following the launch of an online campaign for veterinary help.
The lions had lost as much as two-thirds of their body weight as a result of going without food for weeks after Sudan's chronic cash shortage hit donations.
"It's so upsetting. These lions have been suffering for so long," said Osman Salih, a software engineer who launched the online campaign to save the lions.
"We were so late in rescuing them and were unable to save the one that died." he said, AFP reported.
A second lioness was also sick but her condition has improved.
Salih said a group of international wildlife conservationists had contacted him offering their help to save the lions.
"They are specialists and are planning to come to Khartoum with their kits and resources," he told AFP.
Al-Qureshi Park is managed by Khartoum municipality but funded in part by private donors, which have dried up in the face of the economic crisis that triggered nationwide protests though much of last year.
The online campaign launched by Salih has grown over the past few days.
