Mumbai: Sanjay Gandhi National Park ailing lion Bharat battles for life amid multiple organ failure

The condition of Bharat L5 the 46yearold male Asiatic lion shifted from Sanjay Gandhi National Park SGNP to Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoological Park in Nagpur for advanced treatment has deteriorated Forest Department sources told middayA Gorewada official said ldquoThe lionrsquos condition remains extremely critical and there has been no improvement in its health parameters so farrsquoHind paresisThe lion in critical condition and reportedly refusing foodPreliminary observations reveal Bharat is unable to stand due to severe hind limb paresis partial weakness He has completely stopped eating and is currently being kept alive on intravenous IV fluids under roundtheclock monitoringEarlier injuryBharat was brought to SGNP from Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden in January 2025 under an approved animal exchange programme In April 2025 the lion began showing signs of abnormal walking involving the hind quarters An Xray conducted under anaesthesia later revealed an old fracture near the iliosacral junctionViral attackBharat seen with a severe eye infection during treatment at SGNP PicsSpecial ArrangementIn March 2026 the lion tested positive for Feline Panleukopenia a highly contagious viral disease affecting domestic and wild feline species Despite treatment and monitoring the animal did not fully recoverEye complicationsTowards the end of April 2026 swelling and prolapse of the nictitating membrane in the eye region were observed along with anorexia and wounds on both right limbs Senior veterinary experts and a veterinary ophthalmology specialist from Mumbai reviewed the case while sonography and further tests were conductedUrgent transitSuspecting systemic illness and blood parasitic infections authorities rushed Bharat to Nagpur via an airconditioned ambulance on May 22 Medical samples have been dispatched for advanced testing to trace the exact cause of the illness