An Iranian state-owned newspaper says authorities at the Tehran zoo have killed 14 lions that had been diagnosed with an infectious bacterial disease.
The Jam-e Jam daily reported on Monday that the lions were suffering from glanders, which is most commonly found in horses, donkeys, mules as well as other domesticated animals. It can spread from infected animals to humans.
Veterinarian Houman Moloukpour told the newspaper that mismanagement at the zoo most likely contributed to the lions getting sick. The paper did not say when the lions were killed.
Glanders is rare in the Western world, but is still endemic in parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America.
