Lyka was born in 2013 with eyesight problems (Picture: ViralPress)

Upsetting photos show how a blind lioness is living in a small zoo cage looking ‘depressed’.

Lyka, five, was born in 2013 with eyesight problems that have become steadily worse.

She is now completely blind, with a blue and grey sheen visible over her eyes.

However, she is just being kept in a 3ft rusty enclosure at the Maasin Zoo in Iloilo, southern Philippines where she spends her time mostly lying on the ground.


A holidaymaker who went to the government-run zoo said she was heartbroken when she saw her and is urging animal welfare groups to step in.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘It was heartbreaking. I wanted to cry. Seeing such beautiful animals locked up and clearly suffering was so disheartening.

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The animals don’t have much room to move (Picture: ViralPress)

‘I asked the staff about this and they just said that she was a breeding mistake. She looks so neglected and depressed.



‘Lyka’s locked up in such a small cage, there’s no room for her to do the things she should be doing.

‘It was obvious me to me that the cage was not clean enough. We called out to her and she moved her paw a little bit but apart from that she was still. She looked weak.’

The visitor said that in a cage next to Lyka was a fully-grown lion that also looked to be in a state of ill-health.

She added: ‘I am sure that anybody who visits that that zoo doesn’t come away with a happy feeling. How could they? If they do, then they’re lying to themselves. I found it to be such a horrible place.

The zoo in Maasin (Picture: ViralPress)

‘The staff told me that they don’t have the funds to improve the zoo, but that’s just no excuse. If the animals are suffering then they should move them to another place where they’re properly cared for.’

A spokesman for Maasin Zoo said today that Lyka was ‘healthy’ and given adequate food and water.

They added: ‘If there are any problems with the animals they are treated by a vet. They are safe and healthy and receive adequate nutrition. Most visitors enjoy their time here.’

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