A video showing a visibly emaciated lion at a zoo in Liaoning Province, China, has sparked widespread concern online after visitors claimed the animal appeared extremely thin and weak.
According to reports, the footage was taken at the Benxi City Botanical and Zoological Garden, where the lion was seen lying motionless and appearing severely underweight, with its bones clearly visible. The clip quickly spread on social media, prompting public calls for the zoo and authorities to address the animal’s condition.
The zoo later issued a statement via its official WeChat account, identifying the African lion as “Damao” and thanking the public for their concern. It explained that the lion had shown signs of depression starting from December 2025, reportedly refusing food for more than 40 days while only drinking water and occasionally consuming small amounts of live prey.
The park said the animal’s condition gradually worsened due to reduced appetite and inactivity. However, it added that Damao has since received intensive medical care and treatment, and began recovering by late February 2026, with its diet slowly returning to normal.
Zoo officials said the lion is now eating around 5 kilograms of beef and chicken per day, with gradual improvements in strength, activity levels and body weight. A more recent video released by the zoo reportedly shows signs of recovery after several weeks of treatment.
The zoo also shared background information on the lion, stating that Damao arrived at the facility in April 2021 at around nine years old and is now approximately 14 years old. It added that the animal’s condition declined after the death of its mate in August 2025, which led to prolonged stress and reduced appetite.
The Benxi City Botanical and Zoological Garden is a national AAA-rated tourist attraction, known for combining conservation education, wildlife viewing and forest-based tourism. The incident has reignited discussions online about animal welfare standards in captivity.
