Three lions have been trapped in legal limbo after they were removed from a private zoo in Albania but banned from going to their new home in the Netherlands.

The big cats - Lenci, Bobby and Zhaku - were among 11 animals seized from a private collection in October over concerns they were being malnourished.

But plans to fly them overseas to get proper treatment stalled after the previous owner launched a lawsuit to get them back.

Three lions called Lenci, Bobby and Zhaku were among 11 animals freed from a private zoo in Albania in October last year amid fears they were malnourished

The trio were taken to a public zoo in the capital Tirana until they could be taken to their new home in the Netherlands for proper medical treatment

But the big cats were barred from leaving the country by the government after their previous owner sued to get them back

Officials say their hands are tied until the lawsuit is resolved, but campaigners accused the government of 'bureaucratic arbitrariness'

The Albanian government says the cats must remain in the country until the lawsuit is settled, but an animal rights group who helped rescue them accused officials of 'bureaucratic arbitrariness.'

Four Paws said that the lion's current housing, in a public zoo built in the 1970s, is little better than where they were kept previously.

'They stay in these closed cages, built in the 1970s, walk on cement floors and get nervous from having people this close,' said Blandi Mustafai, one of the two Four Paws employees taking care of them.

He said the lions are in good physical health but suffering psychologically.

Animal activists say the lion's new environment is causing the animals a great deal of stress because they are kept in small cages close to people

The big cats are in physically good shape since being rescued but are suffering in their new environment, campaigners say

Activists point out that Albania was happy to send a three-legged bear to her new home in Germany last month despite the lawsuit, and urge them to do the same with the lions

Despite the lawsuit, the Albanian government this month sent a three-legged bear named Dushi to Germany.

Four Paws says Dushi spends most of her time inside her transport box since being moved, but comes out to feed on apples and grapes.

Ioana Dungler, a Four Paws director who was responsible for rescuing the animals from Safari Park Zoo, complained the government has repeatedly postponed the lions' departure.

The Environment Ministry, which is overseeing the matter, has not commented.