what a strange coincidence. i’m
reading
denis johnson’s
Seek : Reports from the Edges of America & Beyond
which has a short story that mentions a lion named marjan which lived in the kabul, afghanistan zoo. i thought it was timely when i read it a couple of weeks ago, even thought the book was written well before the current war.
unfortunately, it appears that marjan, a symbol of dignity to the local community,
has died:
“He lost an eye to a grenade and lost weight in the deprivation of the war years, but never lost his aura of dignity. His death tore at people for whom he had come to symbolize Afghanistan’s sufferings and aspirations.
“I consider myself a pretty rough guy . . . but I cried,” said John Walsh, international projects director of the World Society for the Protection of Animals, which is leading an international drive to bring aid to the wrecked zoo’s remaining animals.”