"At one time it must have been a stunning zoo," said South African veterinarian Matt Hartley, who with his partner Stephen Van Der Spuy spent two weeks in Abidjan surveying the zoo and treating animals that were in most desperate need of attention.

"Abidjan zoo is probably one of the better zoos in west Africa, even with the current situation."

But the conflict that has divided the country and sent many of its human inhabitants into squalor has left the sanctuary that once boasted a Noah's Ark of feral cats, birds of prey, reptiles and elephants -- the national symbol -- filthy and in horrible disrepair.

Walls for the spacious enclosures designated for rare pygmy hippos are crumbling, bars on the cages holding lions and the zoo's lone python are battered and missing and there are few lights in the exhibits that contain nocturnal animals.

"Of the species that are in the zoo, some of them are extremely rare and there are a very few number of zoos that actually have them in captivity," said Hartley, whose trip was funded by the African Association of Zoos and Aquaria (PAAZAB).

"We were very excited by the collection but the main problem is a chronic lack of repair and maintenance."

During their two weeks in Abidjan, the South African vets cured a 50-year-old chimpanzee of gastrointestinal distress, dressed wounds on the ears of several lions and eased the sore throats of a brace of crocodiles.

They also treated elephants and birds of prey laced with scars from the metal fences that surrounded their enclosures.

The care came too late for more than 100 animals, who died from neglect or malnutrition.

"These animals deserve a chance, especially the sick ones," said Van Der Spuy.

The veterinarians also used their visit to the zoo, which had at one time been a top tourist destination as well as a choice spot for locals, who pay less than 50 US cents per visit, to suggest simple and inexpensive improvements for the animal habitats, including bamboo swings for the resident primates.

Their efforts were lauded by the skeleton staff of 20 who remain committed to the zoo, backed by a roar of support from Abidjan residents.

"They are helping with the rebirth of our zoo," said zoo director Ayekoue Yapo. "Before all we could talk about was the painful deaths of some of our animals but now we can talk about rebirth."

Julien Irie, who is responsible for feeding the zoo's 213 animals, said that the experience and technical know-how imparted by the South African vets would go a long way in helping the staff take care of the 20-hectare (50-acre) sanctuary in the heart of urban Abidjan.

"Now all we need is people around here who know these things, in particular how to care for wild animals, to make this zoo a good place for people and animals again," he said.

PAAZAB aims to send a team back to Abidjan to supervise a planned move of the elephants to a new enclosure, which has been refitted thanks to the efforts of the South African vets.

"Some people would suggest that we shut down the zoo, but the animals (there) are imprinted or are used to humans," said Hartley. "With the current bush-meat situation, they are likely to be eaten anyway."

TERRA.WIRE