A final recommendation on the lion’s fate will be announced Thursday to the Ministers of Environment, and Agriculture and Livestock, followed by a public announcement.
Laboratory tests conducted on the lion last month showed symptoms of chronic kidney disease. Results are now under evaluation in a laboratory in the United States.
Environment Minister Édgar Gutiérrez confirmed that the government has received three requests from organizations willing to provide Kivú with a new home and finally get him out of his cage for good.
Officials of the Fundación Pro Zoológicos, the administrator of the Simón Bolívar Zoo, announced that they will launch a fundraiser to build a new space for Kivú the lion at his current home in downtown San José.
With just over two weeks left of the year, reports of animal abuse have already surpassed by 15 percent those recorded last year, the National Animal Health Service (SENASA) reported Friday.
