Osman Salih, founder of the Sudan Animal Rescue Centre, holds an African lion cub during a medical check-up at the centre in Al Bageir, near the country's capital Khartoum. All photos: EPA
Mr Salih feeds a monkey at the centre. What started as a private rescue mission by Mr Salih, to save five starving lions in January 2020, has now become a rescue centre for numerous animals that is funded by donations and about 600 visitors weekly.
Centre manager Mansour Al Mushrif holds an African Rock Pyhton during a medical check.
A visitor takes pictures of an ostrich in an enclosure at the centre.
A group of African lions doze in the shadow in their enclosure.
Although one of the first two lions died a day after Mr Salih's rescue attempt and another died a few months later, his mission to save the animals was followed on social media and drew worldwide support.
Mr Salih now runs the rescue centre on about four hectares of land belonging to the family, hosting 20 lions, monkeys, snakes and ostriches.
Mr Salih feeds a baboon.
A worker feeds lions in their enclosure. One of the surviving lionesses named Kandaka, which was in the worst condition before being rescued, recently gave birth to a cub and is also featured on the logo of the Sudan Animal Rescue Centre.
With an African rock python. While his animal rescue centre was welcomed by many supporters, Mr Salih himself tries to keep a low profile as others also have criticised his work, saying that resources should be better diverted towards Sudan's humanitarian crisis.
