The owner of a lion with paralysed legs is hopeful he may walk again after thousands of people donated money online to help pay for his treatment.
Ariel, who is three years old, suffers from an autoimmune disease which has left him unable to use his legs. He is only able to lie on a mattress, with his limbs supported by toilet rolls.
Vet Livia Pereira's home in Sao Paulo, Brazil, has turned into a hospital since the lion started a landmark treatment to cure the rare autoimmune disease which paralysed his legs about a year ago. She is caring for the animal with the help of its owner Raquel Borges.
Through an internet campaign launched on social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter, Ms Borges has been managing to raise funds to pay for his $11,000 monthly hospital bills.
Nearly 60,000 people have clicked on the ‘like’ button on Facebook and hundreds of others made donations to two bank accounts linked to Borges' foundation aimed at helping abandoned animals.
The 140kg animal started limping over one year ago prompting doctors to carryout a surgery to remove a herniated disc which they believed was causing the problem.
But the procedure only made things worse and his rear legs were soon paralysed as well.
As Ariel grew weaker, Ms Borges decided to turn to alternative methods such as chiropractic therapy and acupuncture. According to Ms Pereira, head of the team of vets who have been treating the lion, he has so far responded well to the procedures.