Shocking pictures have emerged of dozens of animals starving to death in a zoo in Yemen, forcing them to resort to cannibalism to survive.
Lions, leopards and other animals can be seen with weeping wounds as they feast on members of their own prides at the park in Taiz, southern Yemen.
The 280 animals living in the zoo have been all but forgotten since armed conflict began in the country in March 2015.
Cannibalism: A male leopard eats his female companion at a zoo in Taiz, southern Yemen
Horrific: A male lion at the zoo can be seen with his bones sticking out of his back and legs due to starvation
Poor little ones: There are some 280 animals living in the zoo in southern Yemen, all starving to death
The United Nations say war in Yemen is estimated to have left 21.2 million people - 82 per cent of the population - requiring some form of humanitarian or protection assistance.
Taiz Zoo has now become the focus of a brave rescue effort by several international volunteer groups via a Facebook campaign, to help some of the 20 lions and 26 rare Arabian leopards caged at the site.
As these pictures, show the male lions have lost fur from rubbing the bars of cages and many of the animals show signs of malnutrition.
Chantal Jonkergouw, on behalf of the SOS Zoo and Bear Rescue, said: 'Arabian leopards are an endangered species and they are starving to the extent that one male has started eating the corpse of his female companion.
'One of the leopards is pregnant and in the past five months, 11 lions and six leopards have already died.
Bad conditions: It is believed that the animals may have been left without food for months
Heartbreaking: One of the lions has an open wound on its hind leg, with bone sticking out of the flesh
Abandoned: Taiz Zoo and its inhabitants have been all but forgotten since armed conflict began in Yemen
'As we are taking stock of all the animals at the zoo and capture this in a detailed list with the numbers per species, the daily food and water need as well as the medical needs, we currently have a massive 281 animals to be in the zoo.
'On top of the felines, we also have lynx, hyenas, the endangered oryx, snakes, crocodiles, baboons, owls, parrots, emus, falcons, buzzards or vultures.'
Ms Jonkergouw said that although food, water and veterinary care were delivered on February 13, there is still a long way to go to save the animals.
Chantal said: 'The rescue has started, but now appears to be a daunting task which requires a lot of support on the ground in Taiz, and a lot of funds to keep the many zoo animals alive.
Injuries: A male lion has lost fur from rubbing the bars of its cage and is painfully skinny
Fight for life: Taiz Zoo has now become the focus of a brave rescue effort by several international volunteer groups via the Facebook campaign
Help is here: A social media campaign has been set up to help save the animals, but although food, water and veterinary care were delivered on February 13, there is still a long way to go to save the animals
'The SOS team has started fundraising, but is finding difficulties in getting sufficient funds fast, to cover all the needs.
'To avoid a total disaster of starvation, there is a huge need to act and to be able to pay for the daily food and water requirements.
'For instance a leopard needs 2-4kg of meat per day and a lion initially needs 4 to 5kg per day.
'For all non-meat eaters, around 100 kilos of vegetables will be required, and all animals together need 5.000 litres of water.
'Additionally, there is a screaming need for veterinary and medical care, The vet on site, Dr. Ahmed has told us he needs anaesthetics, vitamins, saline drips and antibiotics for the lions who are very weak.
'It is heartbreaking to see that the animals of Taiz zoo are becoming the victims of human conflict. The war in Yemen is therefore not only a human tragedy.'
To donate to SOS Zoo and Bear Rescue visit and help the animals of Taiz Zoo click here.
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